IRISH CRICKET/Preview: This weekend is important in Leinster club cricket. Most senior clubs play two league matches and players will know by Tuesday whether they will be in contention for honours or avoiding the drop. While top players jostle for WMK League positions, it gives a chance for the best LCU cricketers to perform in the Senior 2 Cup final.
Laois (formerly Portlaoise) and Phoenix contest the final. Neither have won it. Laois have only been involved in Leinster competitions since 1987 but the club have senior ambitions and will see victory in the final as part of that masterplan.
Captained by Stradbally's Tom Cosby, Laois have several talented players. Former County Carlow RFC player/coach Dan van Zyl had a promising youth career as a cricketer in his native South Africa. He has dominated at this level, as has compatriot Petrus Vermaak. All-rounder Vermaak is the leading wicket-taker in Senior 2 competitions with 23 and made 85 in Laois's semi-final against Railway Union.
Mark Petriew, who plays rugby with Portarlington, is another sharp opening bowler and dangerous batsman. With the talents of Mark Ozenbrook,Wes Hampton and the experience of Willie Gibbs and Alan Little, Laois possess potential.
The Phoenix 1st XI are full of stars. In the second team Robert Mitchell, David Ford, Imran Masood and Patrick Conliffe are capable of senior cricket. Captained by Edo de Jongh, who scored 100 in the first round against Merrion, Phoenix have not been in this final since 1994.
Mitchell has been in good form in this competition, scoring 50s in the second round against Clontarf and the semi-final win over Malahide.
Jason McNeilis is their top bowler, heading the Leinster averages. But Laois will be formidable.
The final is in Malahide today starting at 11 a.m. In the other cup final, Phoenix 3 take on Merrion 3 in the Middle Cup at Sydney Parade on Monday.
LAOIS: T Cosby (capt.), W Gibbs, W Hampton, R Khan, A Little, R Muriy, M Ozenbrook, M Petriew, P Vermaak, J Yazim, D van Zyl.
PHOENIX: E de Jongh, P Conliffe, C Dickenson, D Ford, M Kumar, J McNelis, I Masood, R Mitchell, R Nandi, B Thorne, J Wardell.
FIXTURES - Saturday Senior 2 Cup final (11 a.m., Malahide): Laois v Phoenix 2; WMK League Section A: North County v Clontarf, The Hills v Phoenix, Railway Union v Munster Reds. Section B: Rush v CYM. Sunday - WMK League Section A: North County v Munster Reds. Section B: Old Belvedere v YMCA Monday Middle Cup final (1 p.m., Sydney Parade) Phoenix 3 v Merrion 3; WMK League Section A: Clontarf v Malahide, Railway Union v The Hills. Section B: Leinster v Rush, Merrion v Pembroke.
