CRICKET NEWS: IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Andre Botha enjoyed a dream two days with both bat and ball as North County continued their domination on all fronts over the weekend.
On Saturday, the Balbriggan side kept their defence of the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup going with a 95-run victory over Brigade, before picking up the first Leinster trophy of the season yesterday with a four-wicket win over Pembroke at Milverton in the Dublin Grass Machinery League final.
Set 208 for victory in 45 overs, Botha, who had earlier taken two wickets, hit an unbeaten 77 off 89 balls as County got home in the 42nd over.
Despite losing, Pembroke will take great heart from their efforts yesterday. Last season the Sandymount side won just one game all season, a Twenty20 affair at that.
It was a chastening experience for a young side, but the school of hard knocks seems to have produced a team with plenty of spirit. And no little talent either, with their trio of under-19 internationals bound to see them back as a force in the coming years.
Two of those, Theo Lawson and Graham McDonnell, scored half-centuries yesterday as Pembroke made 207 off their 45 overs after winning the toss and batting.
It was a target always likely to be too little on a road of a wicket at The Vineyard ripe with runs.
They dared to dream at one stage, when leg-spinner Jonno Cooke took two wickets in two balls to reduce County to 100 for five in the 20th over.
A vital partnership of 53 for the sixth wicket between Botha and Dara Armstrong (34) steadied the ship, with Ciarán Garry (25 not out) coming in to help Botha bring their side home with an unbroken partnership of 57.
On Saturday, County continued their defence of the Irish Senior Cup with their second-round victory over Brigade at Balrothery. It was the second year in a row the teams met at this stage of the competition, and yet again Conor Armstrong starred with the bat.
He fell just short of recording back-to-back centuries against the North West side, but his 94 off 101 balls back-boned County as they posted a formidable 294 for five off their 50 overs. There were also notable efforts from Brian Shields, who made 45, while Botha boxed 71 from just 47 deliveries.
Botha also shone with ball in hand, returning stunning figures of three wickets for six runs off his seven overs. Former Irish international Gordon Cooke and Stephen Smyth hit half-centuries for the visitors but they never threatened to chase down the total, finishing on 199 for nine off their 50 overs.
Ireland batsman Jeremy Bray hit his first century of the season to help The Hills to a resounding 101-run victory away to Bready. The left-hander carried his bat for an unbeaten 110 off 154 balls, putting on 141 for the first wicket with Patrick Byrne (57) as The Hills made 246.
Bready lost their first three wickets for just 12 runs and were eventually bowled out for 145 in the 42nd over, Clifford Costello taking three wickets for eight runs to wrap up proceedings.
Recent Ireland debutant Fintan McAllister made 89 as Rush chased down Clontarf's 247 in the 43rd over, while Merrion chased down the same score against YMCA in Saturday's other all-Leinster tie at Anglesea Road.
CYM sniffed a huge upset when they reduced Donemana to 17 for three in their game at The Holm, only for an unbeaten 62 from Junior McBrine to help the North West side chase down 143 for victory.
Leinster will have to replay their tie against Instonians after their match at Shaw's Bridge was abandoned after just four overs due to a dangerous pitch. Leinster were 23 for three when the umpires, including international Paddy O'Hara, called a halt. Instonians now travel to Rathmines for the refixture on Friday week.
