CRICKET/Weekend Preview: Should either Malahide or Rush succeed in their home Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup semi-final matches this afternoon, the final will be staged at Castle Avenue on Friday, August 23rd, a pleasing prospect, indeed. Even more satisfying, of course, would be an all-Leinster final, and an all-northside one at that, a match which would be certain to draw a capacity crowd to the Clontarf venue.
But first Malahide and Rush must get past Donemana and Downpatrick, respectively. On paper, Malahide face the more difficult challenge; Donemana have won 10 of their 11 North West League Section One matches so far this season, and with seasoned campaigners like the McBrine brothers playing alongside William Porterfield and Andrew Riddles and other rising young stars in the line-up, the visitors will not be easily defeated.
Still, the memory of that cliff-hanger of a quarter-final victory over Brigade a few weeks back will be considerable encouragement for Malahide skipper Dave McGeehan and his team. A few changes have been made as Eoin Morgan comes in instead of Andy Smith and Anton Weir replaces 12th man Phil Markey.
Rush field the same team which pulled off that unexpected but thoroughly deserved quarter-final defeat of Merrion. Once again, the captain Naseer Shaukat, who hit a ton against Merrion, will be a key figure, and the selectors have maintained faith in their Ireland Under-15 player Fintan McAllister, though he will not keep wicket, as that important task is retained by the experienced Ian Worrell.
Downpatrick have no really major names in their line-up, but have been doing well in the Northern Cricket Union League. The team is captained by Paul Linehan, a nephew of that great stalwart Alfie, a former president of the Irish Cricket Union, while seam bowler Paul Tate, who has starred for the Northern Cricket Union in the Inter Regional Challenge series this season, could be influential.
Meanwhile, following the disappointment of their Conqueror Cup final defeat by YMCA last Tuesday, Merrion will be determined to consolidate their position at the top of the Section A table in the Leinster Senior 55-Overs League (sponsored by Whitney Moore and Keller) when they take on Pembroke at Sydney Parade this afternoon. Merrion lead runners-up CYM by 125 points to 85.
Three enforced changes have been announced in Ireland's team to play the MCC in next week's three-day match at The Mardyke in Cork, as Jason Molins, Derek Heasley (both injured) and Peter Davy (business commitments) have cried off.
They have been replaced by Conor Armstrong and John Mooney (both North County) and new cap David Kennedy (Ballymena), while Kyle McCallan (Cliftonville) takes over the captaincy from Molins.
MALAHIDE: D McGeehan (capt.), B Gilmore, J Govan, E Morgan, J Pryor, D Ryan, R Weir, A Weir, A Pine, P Saville, S Smith.
RUSH: N Shaukat (capt.), C Doyle, A Butterley, I Worrell, G Morgan, W Cross, J Carthy, N Mullen, L Metcalfe, R McGuinness, F McAllister.
DONEMANA: Junior McBrine (capt.), James McBrine, W Porterfield, A Riddles, J Thompson, D McGerrigle, J McGonigle, R Dougherty, T Riddles, R Kee, S Dunn.
DOWNPATRICK: P Lenihan (capt.), D McCann, P Tate, J Cunningham, D Mullan, A Bassett, N Gilston, R Shilliday, G Ringland, A Ferris, R Hazzard.
