News

This weekend is shaping up to be a scorcher, and not just with the weather set to stay hot for another week. Round Two of the RSA Irish Senior Cup takes place all over the country tomorrow and the ties that have been thrown up promise a mouthwatering day of cricket on show.
The Sandymount area will be the place to be for Irish Cup cricket as Merrion host North Down, YMCA welcome neighbours Pembroke to Claremont Road and Railway Union clash with North County in Park Avenue.

Merrion have done well in Cup competitions in the last few years and come into the match with North Down in top form. They crushed Coleraine in a 25-over blitz in the first round, John Anderson adding insult to injury with his 49-ball 106 coming in at number four.

The Anglesea Road side got past YMCA last week in a nail-biter in the RSA Leinster League Division 1 and are three from four in the competition, the same record as opponents North Down.

The Northern side got past an ailing Leinster side who are yet to win a match this season to make it into the second round of the RSA Irish Senior Cup. Tim Ley is top of the CricHQ MVP table for the Ulster Bank Premier League in the NCU and is one to watch in this tie while Johnny Terrett scored 78 in that match against Leinster to guide his side to victory in the first round.

Merrion captain Dominick Joyce says he’s looking forward to playing in front of a good crowd. “If Monday (against YMCA) is anything to go by, there should be a good few people down. I’ve heard a bus is coming from North Down as well so that can only add to the occasion.

“I think it will be a tough game. They have a similar record to us so far this year and they have Tim Ley who I played with in Australia a few years ago. We’re batting well and we’ll be looking for at least one of the top five to make a good score, which they have done so far this season, and hopefully we’ll improve on our bowling from last week.”

Pembroke will go into their tie against YMCA with reasonable confidence despite only one win from four in the Leinster League. They lost to Railway Union last weekend by two wickets, but ran their neighbours very close. Pembroke crushed Creevedonnell by seven wickets having dismissed them for just 70 runs in the first round. Their second outing is unlikely to be so one-sided.

Opponents YMCA played their first round match last weekend against Lisburn and would have been frustrated to find themselves chasing 178 after reducing Lisburn to 107-6. Reinhardt Strydom’s 93 at a-run-a-ball along with youngster Jack Tector’s patient 57 saw the Sandymount side home with relative ease, though.

Captain Albert Van der Merwe says he has team capable of winning competitions this year. “We’re reasonably happy with the season so far. Monday was close (the loss to Merrion) and it could have gone either way so that was a bitter pill to swallow. But, you know, we’re still in both cups so still plenty of opportunity this season. We’re confident ahead of tomorrow. It’s a D4 derby so hopefully there’ll be a big crowd and we’ll play decent cricket. There’s not much between the sides and with cup competitions, there’s always a level playing field so anything could happen.”

In another all-Leinster affair, Clontarf host Phoenix at Castle Avenue. Clontarf are second in Leinster’s Division 2 behind Dublin University. The ‘Tarf are five from five and are only in second place because they have played less matches and have less bonus points than Dublin University who have played seven and won four.

Clontarf beat Malahide in the preliminary round to make it to the first round before dispatching Ballymena with ease to make it into the second round. Bill Coghlan has been in good form, earning him a call up to the Leinster Lightning side, along with Alex Cusack, Robert Forrest and Andrew Poynter, all of whom have been in the runs.

Phoenix recorded their first win of the League campaign last week with a four-wicket victory over North County. They beat Eglinton by three wickets in the first round, chasing down 206 with over five overs to spare. Clontarf knocked them out of the Leinster Cup last weekend, and the away team will have to improve if they are to make it odds even tomorrow.

Clontarf’s Robert Forrest is relishing playing in the RSA Irish Senior Cup. “It’s a big chance to prove how good a team we are and that we want to be playing in Division 1. We beat Phoenix last weekend in the Leinster Senior Cup, so we’d be confident but you really never know with cup cricket.

“Bill Coghlan has been in super for for the last two seasons and Zander van der Merwe has been doing really well with the ball. Andre Botha made a huge 166 in the game last weekend as well so hopefully he can keep scoring.

“I suppose, looking at Phoenix we’d be wary of the two leg-spinners Andrew Leonard and Sadaf Raza. They both bowled well last weekend and the two Anders are dangerous as well.”

North County are another team that have won only half of their league games, and those wins were against two out of three teams below them in the table. In the first round they beat Brigade by six wickets, but they could find Railway Union a stiffer opposition. One to watch for the north-Dublin side is Adam Coughlan who scored 69 against Phoenix last weekend in the league and 110 against Leinster CC in the Leinster Cup early in the season. Coughlan think it will be a very tough match, “I think it will be a very close game tomorrow and we are really looking forward to it. We had a poor performance last week when we lost to Phoenix and we looking forward to bouncing back strongly tomorrow.”

Pat Collins has been in devastating form so far this season for Railway Union and with Kevin O’Brien performing at all levels of the game, the Park Avenue side have a couple of aces up their sleeves. They have won three from four games in the league so far, that one loss came against leaders The Hills when four batsmen got to 30 but none pushed on past 40. Railway played Downpatrick in the first round and dismissed them for 111 in just over 37 overs. They lost five wickets in the chase including those of O’Brien and Collins.

Waringstown will face down Donemana at The Lawn in one of the ties of the round. Two from three in the Ulster Bank Premier League, Waringstown beat Bonds Glen to earn their place in the RSA Irish Senior Cup second round. Former international Kyle McCallan scored an unbeaten 123 to help his team to a 95-run win while Phil Eaglestone has been consistent with the ball.

Donemana are in second in the Long’s Supervalu Premier League in the NW behind Coleraine – the only team to beat them so far. All-out for 90 in that match, they will have to make a big improvement to get past a strong Waringstown team. The McBrines, Junior, Andy and James, could hold the key for Donemana, all three miserly with the ball and consistent contributors with the bat.

Waringstown’s Kyle McCallan is glad to have got the home draw. “I think we certainly have a better chance at home than we would at Donemana! We’re playing well and had a good win last weekend so I think we have a good chance. We’ll go into the game with a positive mindset, and I’m sure there will be a good wicket and quick outfield at The Lawn.”

We had a few signings over the winter and we’ve a bit more teeth about our bowling attack now and then there’s our pro, Obus Pienaar who built up a bit of a reputation a few years ago and scored 93* last Saturday, so we’re definitely looking forward to tomorrow.”

Fox Lodge play Carrickfergus at home. Both teams beat Cork opposition to make it into the second round, the former beating Cork Harlequins by 112 runs, the latter beating Cork County by 121. Fox Lodge go into the game a week after their first win in the Long’s Supervalu Premier League over Glendermott while Carrickfergus are in the lower half of the Ulster Bank League Section 1 having won one from two.

Carrickfergus’ Ryan Eagleson is disappointed to be missing the match. “The guys are looking forward to the trip to the North West. We played well in Cork last week with some of the guys finding form. Unfortunately our professional, Micky Tiaroia, and I picked up injuries and will miss the game,” he said.

Bready welcome CSNI to Maghermason and with no wins in the Long’s Supervalu Premier League so far, cup competitions could be the club’s best chance at winning some silverware this year. They beat Lurgan in the first round, chasing down 237 to make it into the second round.

CSNI, meanwhile, are not faring too much better with one win from four matches seeing them second from bottom of the Ulster Bank Premier League. They beat Strabane by five wickets chasing 155 with the runs shared around. Players like Nigel Jones and Griffin Nieuwoudt are more than capable of making big scores and Bready could have their work cut out for them here.

Finally, holders The Hills will have to get past CIYMS without Ireland International Max Sorensen as he sits out with with a dislocated finger. They have enjoyed a flawless season so far, winning four from four in the RSA Leinster Division 1 including victories over Merrion and Railway Union. They knocked out Instonians in their rain-affected first round match, winning by 27 runs.

CIYMS will have to step up their batting performance if they are to have a chance of overturning last year’s winners. The Belfast side have only won one match from three in the Ulster Bank Premier League and have a mountain to climb to make it to round three away from home.

The Hills’ Club Chairman Michael Dwyer is looking forward to another great occasion at the club. “It’s going to be a tough game I think. We’re on a roll at the moment but anyone can have a blip. When you’re doing well, everyone’s looking at you and trying to pull you down.

“They have a few new players so they will be pretty strong but there’s a great camaraderie there within The Hills’ team which has stemmed from last season and the year we had. The good start to this season is a throwback to that. All the young lads are just enjoying their cricket and I’m looking forward to seeing a few of them that maybe haven’t performed so far doing the business tomorrow.

To follow the games click here

The Hills will have to do without their Irish fast bowler, Max Sorensen

Cricket Ireland
Merrion will have to get past North Down
Yes