Cricket/Irish Senior Cup final: The captain of Ireland, Jason Molins, has been dropped from the 13-man squad for the Inter-Continental Cup world finals in Namibia at the end of October.
The opening batsman has been struggling all season with poor form despite leading his side to the World Cup finals in 2007 and the tournament in Windhoek next month.
His fitness and fielding have also been called into question, things the national coach Adrian Birrell rates as a high priority among his players.
Speaking at the final of the Irish Senior Cup in Castle Avenue yesterday, Birrell said this decision did not necessarily spell the end of Molins's international career.
"His form has not been what it should have been but the door is not closed for him," said Birrell. "His fitness, availability and form are all problems but if he overcomes those there is no reason why he can't come back."
Meanwhile, North County won their third Irish Senior Cup in five years by beating Railway Union by five wickets at Castle Avenue. It was a repeat of the 2003 final and unfortunately for Railway, it had much the same result.
Railway batted first and set County a pretty meagre target of 183 to win off 50 overs. West Indian batsman Adrian Murphy top scored for the Park Avenue side with 80 well-crafted runs. But North County's bowlers never let the normally fast-scoring Murphy settle with Reinhardt Strydom, Paul Mooney and Paddy Martin performing particularly well in that regard, putting the ball on a consistently nagging length.
After a shaky start, losing two early wickets - both taken by Roger Whelan - North County settled and despite the odd stutter, never really looked like losing the game.
Sean O'Connor (20), Strydom (30) and Paul Mooney (23) did their bit before falling but it was John Mooney who saw it through to the end.
John Boy built a fine innings under severe pressure, full of steadfast defence and the occasional mellow cover drive. By the time he saw his side home with five overs to spare, he had made 57 classy runs.
Indeed, such has been his influence this season, the younger Mooney brother can count himself unlucky not to be joining his sibling in Windhoek on Ireland duty at the end of next month.
RAILWAY UNION
G Carroll c O'Connor b J Mooney 21
K Carroll c D Armstrong b Strydom 0
C Mullen lbw Strydom 20
A Murphy c D Armstrong b Botha 80
M Tariq b Botha 4 G Black lbw Martin 18
P Johnston b Botha 13
R Whelan c Strydom b Martin 4
G O'Meara not out 5
J Rogan not out 3
Extras (4lb, 7w, 3nb) 14
--
Total (for 8, 50 overs) 182
DNB: G O'Brien. Fall: 1, 32, 73, 80, 134, 150, 160, 179. Bowling: Strydom 10-2-23-2, P Mooney 7-1-19-0, Botha 10-2-43-3, J Mooney 6-0-23-1, Harper 6-0-17-0, Martin 9-1-38-2, Conor Armstrong 2-0-15-0.
NORTH COUNTY
Conor Armstrong b Whelan 3
S O'Connor c Mullan b K Carroll 20
A Botha b Whelan 2
R Strydom c Rogan b Tariq 30
P Mooney lbw b Whelan 17
J Mooney not out 57
D Harper not out 18
Extras (15lb, 9w, 8nb) 32
--
Total (for 5, 44.2 overs) 185
Fall: 13, 19, 57, 79, 119. DNB: D Armstrong, T Garry, Cian Armstrong, P Martin. Bowling: Whelan 10-1-33-3, Black 9.2-0-41-0, Tariq 10-1-40-1, Carroll 9-0-32-1, O'Meara 2-0-11-0, O'Brien 4-0-13-0. North County won by 5 wickets. Man of the match: John Mooney (North County).
