Sport

Quartet battle for double

Cricket Weekend games: This weekend it's a case of the two cups that cheer

Karl Johnston
Sat Jul 05 2003 - 01:00

Cricket Weekend games: This weekend it's a case of the two cups that cheer. Only four clubs are in a position to attain the double - Phoenix, Pembroke, Railway Union and North County.

The quarter-finals of the Irish Senior Cup - sponsored by Royal Liver - will be played today, all bar one at Dublin venues, while tomorrow brings the quarter-finals of the Conqueror Leinster Senior Club, with the above clubs involved in both competitions.

Last year's finalists in both have fallen by the wayside: the Irish Senior Cup winners (Malahide) and runners-up (Rush) are out of contention, as are the Conqueror Cup winners (YMCA) and runners-up (Merrion).

But Merrion are still in the race for the Irish Senior Cup, with what promises to be a tough away match against North County at Balrothery today, while Rush take on Clontarf in the Conqueror Cup at Castle Avenue tomorrow.

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Today's big match could be the confrontation in the Park between Phoenix and Limavady.

The northern stranglehold on this competition since its inception in 1982 seems to have broken, for apart from Limavady, the only other Ulster club in action today is Donemana, the winners in 2000, who are at home to CYM. And at this stage the indications are that the final will again be staged at Castle Avenue.

Clontarf have yet to finalise their team to play Rush tomorrow as Paddy Lee is still bothered by a hamstring strain, and may be replaced Bill Coghlan. Old Belvedere will be without Robbie Patterson and Richie O'Donnell for their away match against North County tomorrow.

The Conqueror Cup semi-final draw will be made live on RADIO NEAR FM 101.6 at 8 p.m. tomorrow from the Clontarf clubhouse at Castle Avenue.

Meantime, Ireland's 12-man squad for next week's three matches against the English Cricket Board (ECB) XI shows just one change from the side which played Zimbabwe and South Africa last month, since the captain Jason Molins is not available. His place has gone to new cap Ralph Coetzee while the captaincy has reverted to Kyle McCallan.

The matches will be staged at Malahide on July 8th, Rathmines on July 9th and again at Malahide on July 10th.