For the second time on finals day at The Lawn, Waringstown, the team winning the toss opted to bat first which saw Pembroke make first use in the Men’s final. After a boundary first ball, Andy Balbirnie holed out at square leg on the second. Once again JJ Garth set the tone in a final for Pembroke, surviving an early chance to go on and top score for the day with 82(58). Jack Tector also impressed for the ‘Broke with 47(26). Two wickets in the final over that went for just five runs helped Lisburn to contain and kept Pembroke to 181-5.
Both sides were missing marquee players due to ETPL commitments, but recently capped Byron McDonough proved valuable in the second half for Pembroke. Lisburn had a less than ideal start when McDonough accounted for opener David Miller and went for just one leg bye in the first over. The partnership of 114 for the second wicket, however, saw Lisburn cruise to a commanding position in just the 11th over. But when Judd Markham went for 68(35) quickly followed by Mike Jones for 51(33) in the space of two overs, Pembroke were back in the contest.
Two further wickets fell in the ensuing two overs to see the game poised for a brilliant finish, Lisburn requiring 42 in the final five overs for victory. Tight bowling left 23 required in the final two. Captain Jack Tector turned to his ace card for the penultimate over, and McDonough didn’t disappoint. He all but finished the match with a superb display, taking three wickets and going for just two runs in his six remaining deliveries.
Lisburn could only add six in the final over which saw them fall 14 runs short and handed Pembroke another trophy in an already incredible season with the Evara Irish Senior Cup and the Leinster Cup already back in the trophy cabinet. McDonough finished with 5-20 and the Player of the Match award for his heroics.
MATCH SUMMARY
Pembroke Men v Lisburn Men, Evara All-Ireland T20 Cup, 23 August 2026
PEMBROKE 181-5 (20 overs; JJ Garth 82; J Tector 47; N Whitworth 2-38)
LISBURN 167-9 (20 overs; J Markham 68; M Jones 51; B McDonough 5-20)
Pembroke Men won by 14 runs
Scorecard here
