CLONTARF and Carlisle face daunting trips to the North this weekend in a bid to make it through to the second round of the Royal Liver All Ireland Cup, a competition that is invariably dominated by Northern teams.

Carlisle travel without the Molins brothers, Jason and Greg, both of whom are exam tied, while the Clontarf team is virtually unrecognisable from last year's double winning side.

Still, CYM showed the way last weekend with their surprising 24- run win over Lurgan, which ended a four-game losing streak against them. Apparently, Lurgan were so confident of victory that they booked a hotel in Cork for the next round in advance of last Saturday's game. Eddie Moore was not to know this as he took the new ball, but he seemed to bowl with extra venom, returning figures of 6 for 20.

It was Cork who were next to suffer at the hands of the CY seam attack, being rolled over for 86 on Sunday in the 50 overs league. This week's visitors to Terenure Merrion and Phoenix will be wondering what the new artificial strip has in store for them.

CY must be favourites for both games. But in Section A the contest at Rathmines is not so clear cut. Both Leinster and The Hills are in buoyant form at the moment, with maximum points from three outings.

Leinster appear to be the best organised club in Dublin at the moment. Enormous work has been put in to improve facilities and the standard of cricket, and on Thursday last they announced a lucrative sponsorship deal with AIG Insurance Group.

Skipper Clive Collcran's only gripe is that their success on the pitch is not always reflected in interprovincial or international team selections. Johnnie Byrne, who scored the first century of" the league season last week, has been included in the Development Squad for this season's interpros, but must wait until late July to stake a claim for a spot on the national side, whereas Leinster (the province) begin their campaign next weekend.

. Uel Graham (Lisburn) has been forced through injury to withdraw from the Ireland XII for next Tuesday's Benson and Hedges game against Surrey at Eglinton. His place is taken by club mate Derek Heasley.

. Indian team manager Sandeep Patil criticised Worcestershire's tactics after the opening first class match of their tour of England ended in a tame draw at New Road yesterday.

Patil was unhappy that Worcestershire delayed their declaration until the third morning, obtaining a first innings lead of 127.