Cricket - Senior Cup final: As expected, The Hills retained their Antalis Senior Cup title at Anglesea Road last night, but not before the game took a couple of exhilarating twists and turns along the way.
Needing just 70 runs to win, with 17 overs and eight wickets in hand after Saturday's play had been truncated due to rain, The Hills were securely in the box seat.
But North County's Andre Botha had other ideas, and when he took the wicket of Patrick Byrne in the first over, it sent panic through The Hills' dressingroom.
Ian O'Herlihy, Barry Archer and Shaun de Kock quickly followed, leaving them needing another 41 to win with six wickets down on an Anglesea Road track that was taking moisture with the steady drizzle in the air. Game on.
But Michael O'Herlihy and Joseph Clinton dug deep, scratched around for a few runs here and there. And then O'Herlihy took control, stroking his side to a thrilling victory against the best club bowling attack in the country.
He saw his side home with eight balls to spare by smacking Ireland international bowler John Mooney back over his head for six to bring up the winning runs. The big Hills following rushed the field and carried him off shoulder high.
It was a fine performance by O'Herlihy under the most severe pressure in difficult conditions, and his innings of 34 not out will surely go down as the most valuable he has played.
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