CRICKET: Given that the Southern XI have already captured the Inter Regional Challenge 2002 title and that the Ireland squad for the European Championship has been announced, it could be argued not a lot is at stake in this weekend's two-day match between the southerners and the Northern Cricket Union XI at Castle Avenue. Karl Johnston reports.

Seven of the competing players have been named in the 13-man European Championship squad. They are Jason Molins, Peter Davy, Paul Mooney and Niall O'Brien from the Southern XI, and Kyle McCallan, Adrian McCoubrey and Andy White from the NCU team, the balance being made up of three players from the North West Cricket Union, as well as Conor Armstrong, who was not available for selection for this match, his brother, Dara, and John Mooney.

That figure would have been eight, but for the fact that Dom Joyce has pulled out because of a groin injury, and his place has gone to Ted Williamson of Cork County, who is the first Munster player to make the Southern XI in the new competition.

The Castle Avenue encounter will be useful for the players, all the more so for those who will be representing Ireland in the European Championship, which will be played at various northern venues from July 19th to July 25th.

One enforced change - and an interesting one, at that - has been made in the Southern XI, where Michael Lax (CYM) comes in for Luke Clinton (The Hills), who has cried off. South African-born Lax is a quality player and the fact he will be qualified to play for Ireland next year adds significance to his representative debut.

Both teams include one young player making his senior representative debut. The Southern XI's new cap is opening-seam bowler Roger Whelan of Railway Union while the NCU's debutant is promising batsman Simon Wells, who has been released from the Ulster Schools side, presently on tour in England, for the occasion.

On Sunday, Malahide II will have home advantage against Merrion II in their defence of the Leinster Senior II Cup, which they won last year. Seven of the team which defeated The Hills at Milverton almost a year ago will again be on duty - Stephen Rubbathan, Brian Gilmore, Robert Weir, Glenn Kirwan, Killian Byrne, Anton Weir and John Byrne.

An impressive-looking Merrion II team includes some able performers, among them Richard Dowse, David Drane, Duncan Verry, Damian Joyce, Robbie Stanton and Peter Blakeney, who has been selected in the Ireland squad for the European Under-17 Championship in Edinburgh later this month.

MALAHIDE II: G Kirwan (capt.), J Byrne, K Byrne, D Casey, B Gilmore, A Ikram, C Knight, S Rubbathan, S Smith, A Weir, R Weir. 12th man: C Elder.

MERRION II (from): J Walsh (capt.), P Blakeney, F Bronkhurst, R Dowse, D Drane, G Eden, Damian Joyce, S Morrissey, J Short, R Stanton, S Tolputt, D Verry.

IRELAND UNDER-17 SQUAD (for European Championship, Edinburgh, July 26th to 28th): W Porterfield (Donemana, capt.), P Blakeney (Merrion), J Cunningham (Downpatrick), S Dunn (Donemana), A Haire (North Down), G Kidd (Waringstown), S McDonnell (Leinster), A McGinnis (Donemana), G McKee (Cliftonville), S McMichael (Limavady), E Morgan (Malahide), R Rankin (Bready), G Wilson (Belfast Harlequins). Coach: M Quinn; Manager: B O'Brien.