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Review of Divisions 1 & 2 for the weekend 2nd - 3rd July; preview of the weekend 9th - 10th July

Last Saturday saw the quarter finals of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup, a competition LCU clubs have dominated this century, winning it every year except 2003.  The LCU provided five of the quarter finalists, and were guaranteed one semi finalist.  How many others would there be?

Railway Union travelled to Shaw's Bridge to play Instonians, who won the toss and asked Railway to bat.  Tom Fisher was unluckily run out backing up, but there was no luck involved in the dismissals of Graeme McDonnell, Conor Mullen and Patrick Collins.  Railway recovered from 43-4 with a half century partnership between Trent Johnston and Mo Tariq (22).  Paddy Conliffe (24) added another fifty with the big fella, but nine, ten, jack added little, Johnston last out in the last over for 80 out of 184.  Although Instonians lost Stevenson early on, Rory McCann (21), James Shannon (59) and Andy White (73*) had no difficulty in knocking off the runs in 37 overs.

The other LCU club to travel to the NCU was Leinster, who played Waringstown at The Lawn.  In the absence of Kyle McCallan, James Hall opened with Andy Cousins, the pair putting on 143 when Cousins was out for 64.  The good news was that Lee Nelson then went for a duck.  The bad news was that this brought in Obus Pienaar.  He scored 35, James Hall 75, Johnny Bushe 23 and Josh Hall 26 as Waringstown reached 272.  Peter Byrne took 5/52.  Mark Jones (61) and Craig Mallon (28) put on 82 for the first wicket, but the other nine couldn't even double that as Leinster were all out for 154.

I was at Sydney Parade to watch Pembroke fold to 48-4 and 83-6 (Theo Lawson 37) before recovering to 196 all out, Robin Russell scoring 51, Allan Eastwood 30 and Paul Lawson 30.  Mark Simpson took 4/33 and Trevor Britton 3/42.  A fiery opening spell from Eastwood had Brigade clinging on at 8-1, but Dougherty (29) and Hussain (55) weathered the storm, and after a very iffy start Gareth McKeegan finished it off in the 45th over with 72*.

So whoever won at Anglesea Road would be the LCU's only semi finalists.  Phoenix won the toss, and Ted Williamson (42) and Rory Flanagan (34) put on 75 for the first wicket.  Ryan Gallagher, Conor Kelly and Jeremy Bray all scored 20s before David Langford-Smith finished Merrion off with a 36 ball 83, taking Phoenix to 269-8.  Merrion got a good start from Ben Ackland (22) and Dom Joyce (34), but Tyrone Kane went for a golden duck, and despite 44 from John Anderson, 22 from Kade Beasley, 30 from Matt Petrie and 24 from Damian Poder, they were never in it, being all out for 205 in the 47th over.  Sadaf Raza took 4/39 and Jeremy Bray 3/28.

Phoenix's reward was a trip to Belfast to play Instonians, while Waringstown must travel to Beechgrove to play Brigade.  Railway Union had to turn their attention to the league on Sunday when they visited Balrothery to play North County at Inch, a must win game for both sides.  Railway never got going, Fisher, Mullen and Johnston making twenties, and only a 40 run last wicket partnership between Patrick Collins (40) and Imran Aslam (20) gave them 176 to bowl at.  Josh Reeves (3/29) and Adam Coughlan (2/19) impressed with the ball.  Poor batting and the unlucky dismissal of John Mooney for 35 left County on 82-6.  Josh Reeves (41*) and Eddie Richardson (57*) knocked off the runs with ridiculous ease and rapidity.

There were two matches in Division 2 when Cork County had a Fingal double header.  At Inch on Saturday they recovered from 28-4 to 175 all out in 46.4 overs thanks to 24 from Darren Fogarty, 49 from Chris Banon and 34 from Andy Wootton.  Terry Richardson took 3/31.  When North County 2 were 27-3 and 56-5 (John Andrews 25) that looked plenty, but Terry Richardson then scored 90 of the next 120 runs in 43 balls with eight fours and eight sixes, and with David Nolan (27*) saw North County to a five wicket win in the 31st over.

Would Cork County fare any better at Milverton on Sunday?  Amer Raza saw The Hills 2 to 105-2 (Malcolm Byrne 28), before the Wilberries slipped to 117-6.  He was joined by Darren Byrne, whose 45* with his 80 got The Hills 2 to 194 all out.  George Barry took 2/16, Andy Saul 2/28 and Sidarth Joshi 3/34.  At 60-1 Cork were looking good, but Ross Durity was out for 27, Robert Duggan for 37, and thereafter the County batsmen hung in as they inched toward the target.  A patient 22 from Joshi and a more belligerent 17 from Matt Reed almost got them home, but they fell eleven runs short, all out for 183 in the 49th over.

This weekend sees not only a full programme of matches in Divisions 1 and 2 but the semi finals of the LHW Senior Cup.  On Saturday in the Cup, Clontarf travel to Merrion, where they'll win, and North County travel to Rush, where they will win.  I shall be tweeting from Kenure (@baldstu).

In Division 1 on Sunday, North County will consolidate their lead by beating YMCA at Inch.  I fancy the other three matches to go, too, with home advantage: Clontarf to beat Pembroke; Merrion to beat Railway; and The Hills to beat Phoenix, whence I shall be tweeting.

There is one match in Division 2 on Saturday, when The Hills travel to The Mardyke.  I expect Cork County to exact revenge for last Sunday's defeat at Milverton.  On Sunday, Rush will make up for their cup defeat by beating Leinster at Rathmines, Malahide will beat Old Belvedere at Cabra and Terenure will beat North County 2 in Dublin 6W.