There were only four matches over the long weekend, one in Division 1 and three in Division 2, but they provided plenty of interest. There should have been a Division 1 match in the Village between Malahide and Clontarf, but it had to be called off because of the death of Anne Marie D'Arcy. I'm sure all Cover-Point readers will join me in expressing sincere sympathies to the D'Arcy family.
In Claremont Road early rain meant that no start was possible until the latest possible time, meaning the match became one of 20 overs. Railway Union had first dig, and thanks to 23 up front from Tom Fisher, 45 from no. 3 Graham McDonnell, and a late blast of 37* from Saad Ullah, the Wheeltappers and Shunters posted a good 150-5.
Openers Reinhardt Strydom (35) and Alan Lewis (36) had YMCA on course for a win as they passed 70 in 10 overs, but both were out and thereafter only Etesham Ahmed with 28 could put bat to ball. Kenny Carroll (2/2) and Graham McDonnell (2/14) helped themselves to a few sacrificial lambs as YM folded to 123-9 after 20 overs.
On Sunday the only show in town was in College Park where, on a damp pitch that did a bit, Pembroke's bowlers worked their way through Dublin University's batsmen, none of whom passed twenty, although five made double figures, as did Ernie Extras. There was a brief recovery from 49-4 (Allan Eastwood 4/25) to 83-4, but Paul Lawson (10-4-10-2) and Stephen Moreton (10-1-25-2) made sure the students only got as far as 101.
The 'Broke took their time after the early loss of Moreton. Theo Lawson made 26, Brian O'Rourke 38* and, new to me, R. Bahl 17*, as they got home in the 34th over. For the students, Sher Shah returned 10-2-15-0.
On Monday the square in College Park had dried out nicely, and the ball did absolutely nothing as Dublin University ran up a 50-over total of 240-5 against Rush. Ian Page top-scored with a robust 88, and Richard Forrest played some nice shots in his 55 before Eoghan Delany made 33 and Tom Bouch 20*. Shahid Iqbal was good value for his 1/29, and Amir Iqbal took 3/41.
In truth, the Rush bowling and especially fielding was so sub-standard that the students should really have got much closer to 300. But the University bowling was so poor that Rush would have chased 350. Michael Donnelly went early for 16, allowing Dan van Zyl plenty of time to play himself in and show his class.
The former Eastern Province Currie Cup player made a chanceless hundred that was a pleasure to watch, backed by 26 from Eoghan Conway, 56* from Saadat Gull and 17* from Shahid as Rush won by seven wickets in the 48th over.
Match of the Day was up at Milverton, where The Hills 2 disposed of a very weak Phoenix team for 169 off 48.4 overs. Only Conor Kelly (71) made runs, with pro Ben Larkin contributing 26 up top and Steven Neill 25* at the bottom. Matt Dwyer returned 10-2-23-3 after Malcolm Byrne bagged a brace of Flanagans (2/19) and before Andrew Moore took 2/28 at the end.
Only Ajaz made double figures as David Langford Smith (2/42), Chris Cavanagh (3/24) and Conor Kelly knocked over the first eight batsmen for 45, but Joseph Clinton was joined by Andrew Moore to take the score to 130-8. Then Moore became Kelly's fourth victim (4/29), but all four proper bowlers had by then used up their ten over allocations.
It was left to lob bowlers Lunson and Neill to dish up 27 pies, gratefully whacked for 33 by Clinton (55*) and Darren Byrne (18*), as the last pair took the Wilberries to a memorable victory with five and a half overs to spare. It's back to the drawing board (and the desk at Dublin Airport) for the Parkies.
This weekend sees the second round of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup. All the ties bar Coleraine v Clontarf are being played on the Saturday, and there is one change of venue, Pembroke now entertaining North Down at Oakhill C.C. in south Co. Wicklow.
Staying with that story, the square at Sydney Parade has been over-fertilised (visions of Monkstown RFC members up to no good after a night on the batter in the bar), and in order not to ruin the square (!?!?) Pembroke will give it a rest. The powerful Comber side must now travel another 40 miles past Dublin on the M11/N11 (turn left after the Beehive).
There they will find a replica of the Ampleforth College ground, but they shouldn't suspect a popish plot - that part of the country is as Protestant as anywhere in the Free State. Whatever chance the 'Broke had in Sydney Parade, they've less on a proper cricket pitch. Away win.
Which other of our visitors from the UK will go back with a place in the third round draw? Waringstown should have little trouble in disposing of the pride of the Punjab in Old Belvedere's Cabra Oval. And unless Phoenix buck their ideas up, Glendermott will be making an early and merry trip back up the northwest passage.
On the same road but far less cheerful will be Eglinton, who will lose comfortably to North County whether or not John Boy and Boatsy arrive back from Guyana early enough and in a fit enough state to play.
In the two all-LCU ties, Railway Union should hammer Rush at Park Avenue without Trent and one or two O'Briens, but things aren't so clear-cut at Rathmines where Leinster host a rejuvenated Terenure. I have a sneaking suspicion that this will be as far as Leinster's defence of their title, so hard-won, goes. I would love to be wrong.
What about the southern teams that have to negotiate trips to the fourth green field? The Munstermen will fall in full view of Carson's mausoleum at Stormont as Cork County lose to Civil Service North. But Clontarf should enjoy Sunday trading up at the mouth of the Bann.
Similarly, YMCA should return from Magheramason with Bready's scalp, although down the road at Strabane I don't expect Merrion to win (but, let's be honest, I never expect Merrion to win!). I know Malahide are poor, but are St. Johnston worse? They can't be, can they?
My forecasts may not be any good, but the weather forecast is dry and fine, it's a great competition, and I shall be as excited as anybody as the news trickles through on Saturday afternoon and evening. Then there's the Sunday bonus: Chelsea champions; Clontarf win; and not a Scouse Git in sight of Europe. What was it Boris Johnson said about wallowing in self-pity? Wallow, Scousers, wallow!
