CRICKET/Irish Senior Cup: Yesterday's first all-Leinster final of the Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup drew the biggest crowd to Castle Avenue since the 1999 World Cup match between the West Indies and Bangladesh, as Malahide saw off their Fingal neighbours Rush by four wickets in a low-scoring but hard-fought and tense match. Karl Johnston reports
The rival supporters proudly sported their team's colours, the vocal encouragement was loud and enthusiastic all day and over-all the atmosphere was electric.
Irish Cricket Union president Eoin McCann, in naming Brian Gilmore the man of the match, jokingly described the Malahide opening bat as "the oldest player on the field". The crack was not strictly true, but the fact remains that Gilmore's vast experience, limitless patience and concentration (not forgetting admirable skill) was simply vital in his team's victory.
Having opened the batting with skipper Dave McGeehan as Malahide chased the Rush total of 148 all out, Gilmore stayed at the crease for some two-and-threequarter hours during which he faced 134 deliveries and hit just one boundary. Gilmore was fifth out with the score on 137 and victory in sight, and by then he had given a virtuoso performance.
He got invaluable support from John Pryor with 22 and the steadfast Damien Ryan who contributed 20 runs, having earlier bowled very well, while the 37 extras so generously donated by Rush were also a help. Eventually, Malahide needed five runs to win in the 48th over, and Robert Weir hit a four to tie the scores and then struck the winning single off the last ball.
Although he had failed with the bat, the Rush captain Naseer Shaukat bowled extremely well. He trapped both McGeehan and Jim Govan leg before and then cleaned bowled Ryan and Gilmore to take 4 for 36 in his regulation 15 overs.
Earlier, although the Rush opening pair Robert McGuinness and Gavin Morgan put on 32 for the first wicket, a modest total began to look inevitable. Colm Doyle, the sixth to depart in the 40th over when he was caught by Peter Saville off Ryan's bowling, was the top scorer with a fine 40, hit off 88 balls and including six boundaries.
Gavin Morgan (who subsequently would have his young brother Eoin caught behind by Ian Worrell for only nine runs) was next highest with a bold 26. The only other Rush batsmen to reach double figures were Alan Butterly with 21 and McGuinness who scored 13.
Steve Smith got the first Malahide break-through when he removed McGuinness in the eighth over, Jim Govan bowled Gavin Morgan and then he and Ryan ripped through the Rush middle order ending up with three wickets apiece. Peter Saville, returning for his second spell, did the rest as he shot out the tail-enders.
That total of 148 may have been modest, but Malahide were then made to work hard all the way to surpass it, and may have been hard pressed to do so without the determination and dedication of Gilmore.
All told, this was a fine win, a good battle and a great cricketing day, and though Rush were disappointed, the number of promising youngsters in their line-up surely augurs well for the future.
