A chilled-out Mr. Grumpy...
Just as the river follows its course from source to sea, the Leinster Senior Cup Final last Saturday at Claremont Road followed its own path.
In what is probably the only 60 over competition in Europe and possibly the world, YMCA won the toss and decided to bat first, probably counting on scoreboard pressure to be applied in the second innings. However they quickly hit the rapids, full of obstacles and difficult to negotiate at the best of times. Tom Fisher fell to the first ball of the game and that seemed to set a tone. Clontarf’s M. Granger asked many questions of the batsmen and YMCA’s innings faltered. By the time the rapids were passed YMCA were taking on water at 80 for 5.
The game then slowed as YMCA tried to recover and as Clontarf’s strike bowlers took a well deserved rest. The pace came out of the game and YMCA paddled gently and with care to ensure a competitive total could be reached. Just over 200 was enough to give YMCA hope, but also well under par for a 60 over total.
Clontarf took their time, being cautious, knowing that batting 60 overs would more than likely bring the runs, the win and the cup to Castle Avenue. Bill Coghlan stood guard as Clontarf meandered their way downstream. No rapids, no hidden impediments, just a gentle cruising. YMCA did their best to force errors, but the Clontarf batsmen were not going to be denied. As the river meanders through arable futile land before reaching its goal, so Clontarf calmly proceeded.
It was a well deserved win for the Clontarf club, which cements the tag of Cup Specialists they have done so much to earn over the past few years.
YMCA did provide a fine venue for the showpiece of Leinster Cricket with refreshments for all and a fine curry lunch for some. The BBQ was busy and great value for the over 18’s and the YMCA volunteers did a fabulous job of ensuring the LCU guests were well watered and fed. A big thank you to all involved in putting it all together.
It wasn’t a great weekend for YMCA as their Seconds also lost, in the imaginatively named Senior 2 Cup Final against Laois. LCU President, Roland Bradley was delighted to see the Senior 2 Cup leaving the environs of Dublin for the first time and heading to his own Club.
Is it not time for the LCC to come up with some proper names for the Cup competitions? Senior 2 Cup, Minor 2 Cup, Middle Cup, Junior Cup, Intermediate Cup, these have all retained their names, perhaps for the sake of continuity, perhaps through tradition, despite the LCU changing the leagues from Senior, Middle, Intermediate, Junior and Minor to the much improved and far clearer numbered Divisions. I am not advocating the Cups be renamed Cup 1, Cup 2 etc., nor am I suggesting that the opportunity to include sponsors names should be discounted, but I do feel there is an opportunity here to honour some players and administrators who have given time, knowledge and expertise to Leinster and Irish cricket. Some of whom are no longer with us. The All-Ireland Cup is now named after Bob Kerr, and we do have the Alan Murray, the Whelan Cup, the Tillian Cup, so why not the Gerry Duffy Junior Cup, the Joe Caprani Minor Cup? Surely we can mark the enormous contributions of Derek Scott in such a way? It would be a fitting memorial to deserving players and administrators no longer with us, or perhaps a way of honouring and remembering our past. It is just a thought, thrown out there, for debate, for discussion, for proposing. Who would you like to see given such a tribute?
Rush Cricket Club also did a super job in hosting the Middle Cup Final, which again involved cup specialists Clontarf, as they took on Pembroke. Clontarf brought plenty of support and their blue and red flags were dotted around the ground. Pembroke went with a banner imploring “C’mon the Brook” and a smaller but just as vocal group of supporters.
Pembroke’s team was one which contained, to be kind, plenty of experience. Charlie Kavanagh continues to shine behind the stumps as he did for Pembroke’s First team for a quarter of a century. Conor and John Hoey turned the clock back with their agility and eagerness in the field as well as belligerent batting which took Pembroke to 224 off 40 overs. Barry Tucker and captain David O’Riordan commanded in the field and another former first teamer, The Wiz, Richard Hastie whirled and twirled through his overs. However, it was youngster Sanil Gupta’s 60 at the top of the innings which gave Pembroke a solid foundation.
Clontarf battled hard and unsurprisingly their running between the wickets was slightly better than Pembroke’s. Rush is not the biggest ground, but you do get value for your shots. Despite the required run rate creeping upwards to over 10 at one stage, the Clontarf bats kept themselves in the game with one big late over to bring the equation well within reach. However enough wickets were falling to keep it all very tightly balanced. 18 were needed from the last 2 overs and when a boundary was hit from the first ball of the last over, 8 were needed from 5 balls. Nevertheless Pembroke endured to triumph and carry the Cup back to Sydney Parade.
The biggest regret was that with the Final being played on the Bank Holiday Monday, the winning players had a choice of either not really celebrating, or taking the next day off work. So many finals take place on a Sunday during the season and many a winning player has had to turn up to work the next day, in the terms beloved of the tabloids, tired and emotional. Is there a real reason cup finals are scheduled for days when work impinges the next day? Can Cup Finals not be given their merited status of requiring a Saturday for the game? For many players up and down the teams, a cup final is the biggest day of the season and should it not be treated as such? The Senior Cup was played on a Saturday, why not the Minor 2 Cup and all in-between?
However, this is not a moan and groan column (for a change) and I would like to thank the Clubs who host all finals. It is a lot of work, all put in by volunteers, to provide such occasions with the gravitas they and the players warrant. It is duly noted, appreciated and very welcome. Thank you.