CRICKET/Weekend Preview: The unseasonal weather has already disrupted a number of today's Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup first round matches, and yesterday there were fears of further cancellations.
The postponed games are those between Railway Union and Waringstown at Park Avenue and Cliftonville and Rush at Greenisland, while a few venues have been reversed, as Merrion now face Lurgan at Anglesea Road and Limavady will be at home to Woodvale; meanwhile, given the unpromising forecasts, it's very much a case of fingers-crossed time.
Having skittled Glendermott for 31 to win by 147 runs in the preliminary round at the start of this month, the holders North County should not be lacking in confidence as they travel to Strabane Park. Strabane's form has not been very convincing so far this season, and last Sunday they were shot out for a total of 63 runs to lose their home North West Senior League Section One match by 90 runs to Brigade.
North County show just one change compared to the team which steam-rolled Glendermott, as Cian Armstrong, a cousin of brothers Conor and Dara, comes into the side instead of Willie Andrews. A left-hand bat and a useful all-rounder, he should add to the strength of North County, who are still without Andre Botha, still recovering from his ankle injury.
These two clubs met in the second round of the Royal Liver at Balrothery last year, when batting first, North County knocked up 285 for four wickets; Botha top-scored with 87, and there were also fine contributions from Paul Mooney with 63, Conor Armstrong with 57, and an undefeated 35 from Dara Armstrong.
Strabane were all out for 93, the only resistance coming from Peter Gillespie with 25 and his brother Mark with 24.
Mark Gillespie is with Ardmore this year, but his brothers Peter, John and Michael are all in the Strabane line-up, along with Terence Patton.
With their pitch at Pollock Park unplayable, Lurgan have conceded home advantage, so their match against Merrion will be played at Anglesea Road. This means that - weather permitting, of course - that there are now six Royal Liver first round matches on offer in Dublin today.
The pick of them, it may be argued, could be that between Clontarf and Donemana at Castle Avenue. This will be no easy assignment for Clontarf, for Donemana, along with Brigade and Limavady, are unbeaten in the North West Senior League Section one, and top the table with eight points each.
In the other Dublin games, Leinster, YMCA, Malahide, CYM and Merrion are at home to Drummond, Brigade, Bready, Old Belvedere and Lurgan, respectively.
NORTH COUNTY: P Mooney (capt.), Conor Armstrong, Cian Armstrong, D Armstrong, D Harper, Paddy Martin, Paul Martin, J Mooney, J Murphy, S O'Connor, T Rooney. 12th man: D Casey.
CLONTARF: A Hancock (capt.), B Coughlan, C D'Arcy, T Fourie, G Molins, B Nolan, M Ryan, P Ryan, C Sinovich, K Spelman, I Synnott.
UMPIRES:
SATURDAY: Irish Senior Cup (1.00): At Castle Avenue: R O'Reilly, G Lyons; At Terenure: L Fourie, S McCann; At Rathmines: B Stein, R Cutland; At Malahide: A Tuffery, M Russell; At Anglesea Road: P Thew, E Gilmour; At Claremont Road: S Daultrey, D Walsh. Leinster Senior 3 League (1.30): At Phoenix Park: B Gailey, N Adams; At Sydney Parade: J Maypother, L Hewson.
SUNDAY: Leinster Senior 2 League (1.30): At Rathmines: J Joyce, M Russell; At Balrothery: P Byrne, J Maypother; At Sydney Parade: C Casserly, R Cutland; At Phoenix Park: C McEnerney, G Lyons. Leinster Senior 3 League (1.30): At Terenure: S Daultrey, N Parnell.
