by Editor
In the end Leinster ran out comfortable and deserved winners of an exciting and entertaining final at Milverton yesterday.
Though Leinster won the toss and elected to bat on a bright breezy day, Donemana couldn’t have had a better start when Steven Dunn clean bowled West Indian pro Carlos Brathwaite with the first ball of the match.
In came JP O’Dwyer for Leinster not having had a senior match in two months due to a thigh injury. For me, the next 20 overs was the key passage of play in the match. In the 3rd over Jones was dropped off the bowling of Dunn at mid-wicket. Not an easy chance but catches win matches…
Jones however was happy to play anchor role as JP set about the bowling at the other end. His 50 came off just 58 balls and contained 3 fours and 4 sixes and by the time he was out in the 24th over with the score on 93 the platform had been built for a substantial score. In addition, crucially the tone had been set for the rest of the match – this was a confident and positive Leinster team, keen to get and stay on the offensive. In his 61, O’Dwyer hit 5 sixes and 3 fours.
Skipper Anton Scholtz was in no mood to let this opportunity pass him by and he was in sparkling form. By the time Jones departed in the 32nd over for a determined 44 with the score on 143 his job was done as well.
First Scholtz and then O’Herlihy took the game away from Donemana. Scholtz’s 50 came in just 53 balls and together he and O’Herlihy combined to hit Junior McBrine for 25 in the 43rd over.Crucially Leinster scored 91 runs in the last 10 overs.
Surprisingly Dunn only bowled 4 overs while 15-year-old Andy McBrine was impressive with figures of 2-18 from his 10 overs.
When Donemana batted after a quiet-ish beginning they found their rhythm and were doing well reaching 100-1 in the 24th over with Richard Kee and pro Shaffique looking comfortable.
However it was that man Scholtz who made the crucial breakthrough having Shaffique caught by keeper O’Herlihy for 55 with the score on 134. Junior didn’t last long, making only 2 and when Kee was out for 61 off the bowling of Miley, Donemana had slumped to 151-4 in the 34th over.
Though the men from The Holm fought hard they were always up against it from then on. Donemana supporters would have been surprised to see young Andy McBrine relegated to number 10.He played well for his 13 including a six and a four, before being the last man out in the 49th over with the score on 238.
There was a moment of controversy in the 47th over when Brathwaite bowling at pace struck Richard Dougherty on the head and with Dougherty falling to the ground, promptly walked straight back to his mark, something which didn’t endear him to the Donemana support. He hit Dougherty in the chest two balls later.
I can understand the upset of the Donemana support. However in defence of Brathwaite he is there to do a job and in his mind was just being professional.
I would raise a question directed at batsmen like Kee and Dougherty – what were they doing not wearing helmets against bowlers of the pace of Brathwaite (and Sorensen of The Hills, in an earlier round). Is that not like waving a red flag at a bull?
That said the colourful, noisy and good-humoured Donemana support added greatly to a tremendous occasion. Congratulations also to The Hills CC too for their superb hosting of the event.
Though Rob Miley took 4-46, all six Leinster bowlers used stood up to the plate and delivered and what must have been a tremendously satisfying performance for Leinster and their captain Anton Scholtz.
Hopefully the Rathmines club can build on this, their first ever All-Ireland next season and put in a challenge in the Leinster League as well. They certainly have a lot of talent at their disposal, excellent team morale and a good mix of youth and experience.
As for Donemana, with the youth structure they have in place they will be back. Andy McBrine is a fantastic prospect. However their squad overall is perhaps looking a little tired and could be freshened up during the winter.
Finally, a special mention for JP O’Dwyer. Though Adi Birrell deservedly made skipper Anton Scholtz Man of Match for his superb 75 and 2-38, including the key wicket of Shaffique, I think JP’s knock of 61 was the key to Leinster getting to 265. In addition his work in the covers was fantastic in keeping the pressure on the Donemana batsmen. Good call to come back before the end of the season and a good decision to select him!
2009 Irish Cup Final Result:
Leinster 265-8 (50.0 overs, A Scholtz 75, JP Dwyer 61, M Jones 44) beat Donemana 238 (49.4 overs, R Kee 61, A Shafique 55, R Miley 4-46) by 27 runs.
Liam Rooney
Copyright: Cover Point
