This weekend is a quiet one on the Munster cricket scene with the underage interprovincial tournaments forcing a number of postponements due to player unavailability and ground preparations.
Cork Harlequins are the worst effected as they see both their division one and division two matches put off due to a large group of players representing Munster in the various age group all-Ireland tournaments coupled with ground preparations ahead of next week's Under 13s series.
Cork Harlequins first team were due to renew rivalries with their old enemy Cork County at Farmers Cross in what would've been a crucial match in the close fought Munster division one. However, the two must now wait until later in the season before they get a chance to lock horns in what could potentially be a title decider.
'Quins second team's trip to O'Dowd Park in Tralee to take on County Kerry has also fallen by the wayside due to player unavailability. This will no doubt come as a relief to captain, Joe O'Mahony, with his side on the receiving end of a heavy defeat at the hands of Cork County II last week, he will need a full team available if 'Quins II are to put themselves back in the reckoning for the division two title. Clonmel's clash with Lismore has also been postponed.
Division One
There is one division one game scheduled for this weekend which sees in form Midleton host Limerick Raiders at Midleton College on Sunday. Midleton pulled off a massive win last weekend to shock defending champions Cork Harlequins and in the process close the gap on the top two. The Raiders had a break last weekend but they too have been in good form of late winning their last two matches, the first against league leaders Cork County in the league and then a huge win over WIT in the Munster Senior Cup.
Division Two
In the sole division two fixture, there's a western derby at Lydican as league leaders Galway welcome Co. Clare in what should be a cracker of game given the recent form of these two sides.
Co. Clare have recovered from their poor start to the season to leap-frog Kerry in the league table and now sit in fifth spot. In their last outing, the Shannonsiders recorded a massive 263 win over Clonmel with Conor Mullen (148) scoring his maiden century for Clare. The match against Galway will have added significance for the Clare batsman as he he made the move south from Galway earlier in the season, no doubt his former team mates will be gunning for his wicket.
Division Three
In division three, both Cork County III and Cork County IV are in action. The city side's bottom team faces the tougher of the two ties as they must travel to Carriganore to take on high-flying newcomers Waterford District at a ground that is fast becoming notoriously hard to claim a victory. County IV have yet to record a win in division three, and this looks unlikely to change this week as Waterford possess some of the most devastating players in the province, let alone the league.
For Cork County III, their task seems some what easier on paper as they host Lismore II at the Mardyke, however, games are never won on paper and if Lismore perform to their potential, this game could go down to the wire. Cork County captain, William Bradley, will have to keep tabs on Lismore all-rounder Mubbin Ashraf, as he has been the star performer for the Deise side so far this year.
Midleton II are on the road as they head west to take on league pace-setters Kerry II at O'Dowd Park. Kerry II are one of the only two sides in all divisions not to have lost a match this season, the other being Galway, and they will be keen to maintain this record. If Midleton are to pull off a victory here, they will have to keep the big scoring Krishnappa at bay; and with rising star Thomas Turkington in the wickets so far this year, this is a strong possibility.
