Cricket: Weekend round-up A typically fast-scoring 75 from Ireland captain Trent Johnston saw Clontarf into the second round of the Irish Senior Cup on Saturday with a last-over victory against Brigade at Castle Avenue.
The burly all-rounder, who has been absent from most of Clontarf's disappointing season to date due to international commitments, made up for lost time, facing just 71 balls in an unbeaten innings that included seven fours and one huge six.
Brigade had made 193 for 8 off their 50 overs with Iftikar Hussain top-scoring on 43. It was never likely to be enough at that ground but the north-westerners made Clontarf work for their win, with Johnston only seeing his side home with four balls and two wickets to spare.
There was another good game up in the Meadow as YMCA successfully chased Downpatrick's formidable total of 264 for 9.
YM captain Stuart McCready showed why he has been mentioned as a possible call-up to the Ireland side with another classy knock. His 81 helped the Sandymount team to get home by three wickets as Carl Hosford (56) and Esham Ahmed (50) also played their part. Their prize is a home second round meeting with defending champions North County, who overcame Bangor by four wickets at Upritchard Park.
In total there were four centuries scored in the day across the 16 cup ties with North Down's David Kennedy (114 not out), Mark Gillespie of Strabane (110), Limavady's Stephen Smyth (104) and Instonians' Regan West (100) all making sure their sides were victorious.
Also Paddy Byrne of The Hills made 96 as the Milverton club got home against Glendermott despite the Glens getting to within 24 of the vast 311-run target set for them.
In all, it was a pretty good day for Leinster with seven of the 11 clubs from the capital making it through to next round. Merrion, Malahide, Pembroke and CYM were the ones to lose out, while Munster's Cork County were also beaten away to Eglinton.
The second round draw was made yesterday with a couple of delicious ties in the offing. Last year's beaten finalists Railway Union will have to make the tough journey to Bready while Clontarf also travel to the north-west to take on the likes of Stephen Smyth and Decker Curry at Limavady.
Champions North County make the short trip to Claremont Road to play YMCA and Phoenix will be welcoming their former star batsman Jeremy Bray back to the Park as they have been drawn against Eglinton. No doubt Phoenix's fast bowler David Langford-Smith will relish the prospect of a head-to-head with his Ireland team-mate in that tie.
All those matches are scheduled to take place on Saturday July 8th.
