After Saturday's Conqueror Leinster Senior Cup semi-finals, Pembroke, who had a comfortable four wickets to spare over Railway Union at Park Avenue, and The Hills, who were handsome six-wicket victors over Clontarf, qualified to meet in the decider scheduled for Old Belvedere CC, Cabra on Saturday, July 31st.
These clubs met in the 1996 final when The Hills came out on top by 60 runs and again in 1997 when Pembroke turned the tables by capturing the trophy with a 71-run success.
An inadequate batting performance for a calamitous 118 in 50.1 overs put Clontarf under severe pressure against The Hills who cruised home in 34.4 overs. Matt Dwyer with two for 15 from 12 overs, fellow international Paul Mooney with three for 32 in 10 and Joe Clinton with two for 8 in 4.1 overs were their main wicket takers. Also worthy of a mention was the stint by Barry Archer who amazingly included seven maidens in his one-for-17 spell of 12 overs.
For Clontarf, Deryck Vincent grafted hard with fair success early on, finishing top scorer with 38 before he succumbed to a great catch taken by Gavin Ryan. However, of the remainder only Ronan O'Reilly and Angus Hancock gave the Clontarf faithful slight hopes of a recovery.
The Hills' final charge for victory was led by Ajaz Farouki who top scored with 39, while Barry Archer followed up his economical spell with the ball by hitting an unbeaten 38 and his award was the man-of-the-match prize.
At Park Avenue, Pembroke, as expected, turned in a thoroughly workmanlike performance and outplayed Railway Union who, batting first, must have been disappointed with their 155 all out after failing to bat out their 60 overs.
The Molins brothers Greg and Jason, with 43 and 30 respectively, along with Simon Milton (22), tried valiantly to wrest the initiative from the Pembroke bowlers but they found themselves under constant pressure from a well varied and accurate attack.
Emmet Whaley with three for 25 in 11.2 overs and Richard Hastie with three for 32 from his stipulated 12 overs were the most successful Pembroke bowlers. A second wicket partnership which realised a half century between Peter Davy and Brian O'Rourke closed the door on Railway's chances and to underline Pembroke's greater strength John Davy hit 48 which won him the man of the match award. Ted Williamson also made a solid undefeated 35.
Although knocked out of the Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup by Glendermott on Friday it was still a satisfactory weekend for Pembroke as they followed up Saturday's victory by advancing to the final of the 50 overs league with a comprehensive win over Clontarf at Sydney Parade yesterday. Their win was highlighted by a century from an in-form Brian O'Rourke.
In the second semi-final at Anglesea Road, Merrion showed convincing form when they demolished Leinster by a humiliating 10 wickets. Chasing a paltry score of 126 it only took Merrion's opening pair Gus Joyce and Joe Morrissey 23.4 overs to hit off the runs required for victory.
