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Cricket Ireland President Robin Walsh gives us his latest update from the pen of the president, reporting this time on the showcase club finals which took place over the same weekend and gave a sneak peek of the new ground at Malahide and a memorable day out at Downpatrick.
Week-ends don’t come any better than the one just passed; two major all-Ireland club finals amassing more than 1,000 runs in the splendour of the new-look Malahide and the delights of The Meadow at Downpatrick.

The sun shone in more ways than one with two first-class games of cricket, two new names on the trophies and sponsors RSA best pleased.

First up on the Saturday, Merrion and Clontarf in the final of the Irish Senior Cup at a Malahide already taking real shape for next Tuesday’s big game against England.

Supporters of both sides did the huge stand near the pavilion justice with their numbers and enthusiasm as a fine game of cricket unfolded.

Merrion took first knock to post a more than respectable 253 for 7 with healthy contributions from John Anderson with 87 and Brett Thompson with 78.

But it was not to be enough thanks to a brilliant century by Andrew Poynter which took his side to victory by six wickets. He was to be Phil Simmons’ Man of the Match – not the most difficult decision the National Coach will ever take – and helped to create a little bit of history. It was the first time Clontarf had won the much sought after trophy and it was the first time a club from outside the top division of a league had done the trick.

So a special moment for the club and not least the club’s excellent scorer Stella Downes, one of the true enthusiasts of Irish cricket. Clontarf skipper Eogan Delany’s wide-ranging speech at the end of the game paid particular tribute to Stella and rightly so. She may have carried the Ireland scorebook around the world but there’s no doubt where her heart lies.

Off to Downpatrick the next day for the Irish National Cup final between the NCU’s Derriaghy and Malahide and another excellent game in keeping with the picture-perfect ground that is The Meadow.

A total of 522 runs for the lose of 13 wickets was the treat for a more than respectable crowd as Malahide emerged champions of the second rung of Irish senior club cricket.

Their total of 284 for three was always going to prove difficult for Derriaghy and so it proved as they fell 46 runs short. But that doesn’t begin to tell the story as Derriaghy’s prolific overseas batsman Yogesh Takawala looked to be winning the game as long as he stayed in the middle. He had already scored over 1000 runs this season – including three massive centuries – and another prolific innings was taking shape. His was a brilliant century but when he departed for 109, the game was up for Derriaghy. And such was the splendid nature of the match that his efforts fell short of the Man of the Match award. Again it wasn’t the toughest decision: Malahide’s Fintan McAllister had carried his bat for a magnificent 163 not out to lay the firm foundations for victory.

Off the field of play both venues were a credit to their clubs and it was no hardship to convey Cricket Ireland’s gratitude to them. On a personal level it was a pleasure to spend more than an hour or two in the convivial company of Downpatrick’s president, Alfie Linehan.

It will be back to Malahide next Tuesday and if the preparations I saw last Saturday are any yardstick, a treat will be in store for the thousands who will be attending the England game.

Given the work already done, it was not difficult to visualise the finished product that will provide Sky television cameras with memorable pictures. And do Irish cricket proud.

Robin Walsh
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