by Editor
Pembroke will need to be at their best to prevent the formidable North County from reaching yet another Irish Cup semi-final.
John Mooney, captain of North County is in a rich vein of form. Fresh from cementing his place in Ireland’s Twenty20 team at the recent World Cup, ‘John Boy’ is currently in the form of his life having made 102 and taken 5/21 against Malahide in the semi-final of the Lewis Hohn Leinster Senior Cup and scoring 90 against Railway Union last weekend, in the League, since returning to domestic action.
‘It’s just a combination of hard work and a bit of luck. You know the way it is. When you’re in form, things seem to go your way,’ says Mooney. "I’m feeling very confident going into the match. We’re the only team left in the competition who has Ireland representatives. The last couple of rounds have been played when Ireland have been playing (at the Twenty20 World Cup). It shows we’ve got great strength in depth in our squad,’ says the North County captain.
Ireland in fact do have a match this weekend – a four day Intercontinental Cup match against Kenya. Andre Botha will be on Ireland duty but apart from him and the ineligible Matt Johnson, County will be at full strength.
It is a daunting task for Pembroke, going to the home of the champions of the last two years.
A key player for them will be Aussie pro, Anthony Brooks. Brooks is currently 9th in the Leinster batting averages and 3rd in the bowling averages (see Stu Daultrey’s Leinster averages compiled for Cover Point).
‘There’s a real good spirit in the team’, comments Brooks.
‘We’ve won 9 out of 11 games now, including a couple of tight ones. We’ve been doing well to stay in the game. Generally it’s been about people stepping up to the plate.’ ‘For us, Andy Balbirnie has been in good form with the bat and Andy Leonard has bowled brilliantly lately.”
John Mooney agrees that Balbirnie will be the dangerman. ‘He’s a very solid young man and a very intelligent and talented cricketer.”
The sides meet again the following weekend, in the semi-finals of the Lewis Hohn Leinster Senior Cup, this time at Sydney Parade, something Mooney isn’t too happy with.
‘I’ll be on Ireland duty then along with Andre (for the RSA one day matches against Kenya). Clontarf were able to get their match with The Hills postponed without The Hills knowing too much about it. But we need to get the agreement of Pembroke. We never seem to get any favours with these things”, says Mooney.
I expect North County to be too strong for Pembroke on Saturday.
Pembroke will have a much better chance against a depleted North County the following weekend at Sydney Parade.
Venue: The Inch, Balrothery
Time, Date: 12.30pm, Saturday 4th July
Weather Forecast: Bright or sunny spell with the possibility of scattered showers
Match Forecast: North County to win
Cover Point will provide Live Updates from the ground and A Match Report on the game will be posted on the website on Sunday 5th
Liam Rooney
Copyright: Cover Point
