CRICKET: The Leinster Cricket Union has called on all clubs playing matches over the weekend to hold a minute's silence before each game in memory of those who died in the attack in Beslan. The request comes following Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's appeal to the organisers of sporting events to observe a silence "to reflect our horror at this outrage and our solidarity with the victims".
In what is officially the final weekend of the 2004 season, there are four games today, none of which can affect the outcomes of either section of the WMK League.
The top game should be in the Park where Phoenix take on Clontarf while at the Mardyke, Munster Reds host The Hills, who have already been demoted to Section B for next season.
The champions North County do not play today and must wait until next Saturday to complete their season with a re-fixed game with The Hills at Milverton.
While it is a dead rubber as far as the league is concerned, County player Conor Armstrong will be looking to score 42 runs or more in order to pass the magic figure of 1,000 for the season. He has an outside chance of dislodging team-mate Andre Botha from top spot in the Marchant Cup for the best batsman in Leinster but he would need to hit a big, and probably unbeaten, score and rely on Botha to fail.
In Section B, YMCA travel to Kenure today, a venue that has not been a happy hunting ground this season. They lost a league game and a Leinster Senior Cup semi-final there so with Rush already promoted as champions of the section, there is only pride left to play for. At Rathmines, bottom club Leinster play Old Belvedere today with nothing at stake for either side.
Meanwhile, congratulations are due to national coach Adrian Birrell and his wife, Susan, following the safe arrival of their second son, Christopher. Despite being of South African parentage, ICU administrators will be glad to note that because he was born in Dublin, Christopher Birrell will always be eligible to play for the national team.
FIXTURES - Saturday: WMK League (12.30pm) Section A: Phoenix v Clontarf, Munster Reds v The Hills Section B: Rush v YMCA, Leinster v Old Belvedere.
