Dublin sides in push for Irish Senior Cup progress

CRICKET: It's quarter-finals day today in the Irish Senior Cup with Leinster teams dominating the draw. The way it works out, in fact, Dublin will have at least two teams in the last four and may even complete a full house.

That is dependent on defending champions North County completing a successful sortie into the northwest and beating Strabane and Phoenix seeing off the challenge of a resurgent Lurgan.

Although neither side are exactly dominating their respective leagues this year, that Phoenix versus Lurgan match has the potential to be the tie of the round. On their day Phoenix still have the personnel to cause problems and Lurgan are slowly rebuilding after a period as perennial relegation contenders.

Lurgan will be without opening bowler John Guy, who took 4-11 against the mighty Donemana in the first round, middle-order batsman Neil Hinds and former YMCA all-rounder Marv van Niekerk.

But they still have a strong side with the likes of Francois Viljoen, ex-Ireland international batsman Ross McCollum and former Waringstown players Ian Morrison and Stephen Chambers in the starting 11. They will also be unveiling their new secret weapon in the form of 14-year-old left-arm spinner Cameron Grieve, who has been showing plenty of promise.

"We are really just a mid-table team at present," said captain Paul Stafford. "But we are certainly improving and getting stronger. I think Phoenix will be the favourites but if our players can perform I think we might just cause an upset," he said.

Phoenix will be without opening batsman Jason Molins but they have some players in a bit of form of late, most notably Robert Mitchell and David Langford-Smith so it could be a close contest.

Elsewhere, Clontarf and Rush fight it out in what could be another classic at Castle Avenue. Clontarf have been gradually improving through this season after a horrific start and they will be targeting this competition as a good way to salvage something from the year. Rush, on the other hand, are always tough competitors but are capable of the sublime and the shocking in almost equal measure.

In the other all-Leinster tie, The Hills face Railway Union at Milverton in what could be another fascinating game. Railway were beaten finalists in this competition in 2003 and 2005 so they will be looking to go all the way this year.

North County should be too strong for Strabane but you would never write off the northwest giants, particularly when they are at home.

Meanwhile, on Sunday the WM League resumes with Malahide hosting Clontarf, The Hills travelling to Phoenix and YMCA playing North County at Claremont Road in Section A. And in Section B, CYM play Munster Reds in Terenure, Pembroke entertain Leinster and Merrion make the short trip to Railway Union. All matches get underway at 1pm.

IRISH SENIOR CUP (quarter-finals, 1.0): Clontarf v Rush, Castle Avenue; The Hills v Railway Union, Milverton; Strabane v North County, Strabane; Phoenix v Lurgan, Phoenix Park.