THE final of the RSA Leinster Senior Cup is a great day out for supporters in the province, and there are fewer better venues to watch it than the Vineyard. There are more cherries, jaffas and plums to be seen there than grapes these days, but Malahide and Clontarf are sure to provide a full-bodied day’s entertainment.
Tarf are the form side in cup competitions – this is their 10th Leinster final of the century, and the eighth for their senior batsman Bill Coghlan. And that doesn’t count last year’s Irish Senior Cup win over Merrion.
“The guys were chatting in the bar after training last night”, Coghlan said last week, “and one of the stattos reckoned nobody has played as many as that.” Perhaps the statto was too young to remember Alan Lewis, but the YMCA man played in ten finals from 1984 to 2002 and returned to open the batting against Pembroke last year.
Coghlan played in the first of those finals in 2003, and while his early contributions were negligible (7, 0, 2, 0), he played crucial roles in 2009 (40) and 2012 (62), as well as another 40 in the 2010 defeat to Railway. “We haven’t played Malahide in a big game in years, as we’ve been in different divisions,” he said, “but they’re a very good side with a lot of guys in great form.”
No-one has been in better form than Malahide’s keeper/batsman Fintan McAllister, whose cup run includes scores of 53, 57 and 106 – an uncanny echo of the RSA National Cup campaign last year when he made 59, 67 and 63 on the way to a final-winning innings of 163no.
McAllister is no doubt his good form owes a lot to finding a new opening partner in Reinhardt Strydom. “Reiny is really aggressive”, he said, “I can work the ball around and don’t feel any pressure to worry about run-rates or overs. I’m happy to play second fiddle with him and it’s paid off so far.” The pair have given the Division 2 leaders a start many times this summer, including stands of 192 and 163 in the early rounds of the cup. When Strydom failed in the semi-final against The Hills, skipper Callum Riches stepped in and helped McAllister to put on 214.
Strydom has been a “massive addition” to the Villagers, says his partner. “We have a fantastic atmosphere in the dressing now, it’s almost a completely new team and we have a great momentum.”
Momentum is no problem to Clontarf, however, with the club still in all the cups and on the heels of the leading pair in Division 1. “I told Andy Poynter last night that he is in the form of his life, and he has to make it count”, says Coghlan. “I’ve never seen an Irish player in such nick, it’s been a joy to watch from the other end.
“We have some great youngsters coming through too and it’s been brilliant to see the likes of Colin Currie and Adam Craig step up this year.”
Coghlan too, has had a great run in the RSA-sponsored Senior Cup, making 51, 60no and 89no, and he will be keen to get off to a good start on Saturday. The toss could be crucial – or a total waste of time as Malahide have won all their games by setting a target, Clontarf by chasing one.
In contrast to Clontarf’s cup final residency, Malahide have played just twice in a decider (losing to YMCA in 1994 and Leinster in 1998) since they beat Tarf 1971 and McAllister says there’s a “huge buzz” around the village.
Forty-three years ago the John Player No.6 Cup final was held at Castle Avenue and the pre-match hype told of a souvenir cigarette lighter for the teams and umpires, and a special prize of £6 voucher for whoever hit the most sixes. That incentive wasn’t enough to persuade even one batsman to clear the ropes and the prize was carried forward to the Senior II Cup final.
The match previews also spoke of concern for the fitness of the Malahide opening bowlers, Bobby Shaw and Dougie Goodwin, but as the latter sent down 26 overs, taking 4-26, the fears were wildly misplaced!
The teams lined out thus:
Clontarf : Enda McDermott (capt), Podge Hughes, J B Bunworth, Rossa Bunworth, Fergus Carroll, Michael Carroll, Mick Delaney, Noel Grier, John Nolan, Paddy Murphy, Dickie Spence.
Malahide: Ray Daly (capt), Gerry O’Brien, Dougie Goodwin, Bobby Shaw, Geoff Ireland, Derek Connerton, Seán O’Brien, Joe Caprani, Barry O’Brien, G Ward, Ray Kelly.
Rain ruined the game and carried it into Sunday and Monday. Rossa Bunworth picked up 5-32 off 20 overs – no restrictions in those days – and Malahide battled to a barely-defendable 102, with Sean O’Brien making 22 and Gerry O’Brien (15), Ray Daly (15) and Derek Connerton (12) also reaching double figures. The £6 voucher was safe – only four fours were hit in the innings!
On Sunday evening Malahide’s second XI seamer Ray Kelly ripped out the top order, Clontarf collapsing from 33-0 to 35-3 with “JB” Bunworth , Enda McDermott and nightwatchman Michael Delaney falling in rapid succession.
On Monday afternoon Clontarf resumed on 35-3 with the rain cleared and the outfield dry and fast, but soon lost Michael Carroll for 26 to a short-leg catch by Seán O’Brien, a legendary fielder close to the wicket.
Thereafter Goodwin and Kelly were Malahide’s heroes, picking up scalps regularly as only Noel Grier (17) showed resistance. Skipper Ray Daly showed courage in persisting with attacking fields and Clontarf were routed for 73, the last catch being held by the 51-year-old Joe Caprani who, happily, is still with us.
Back in 1971, 102 beat 73 – this is safe to say: with Strydom, McAllister, Coghlan and Poynter around, there’s no chance of scores like that on Saturday.
PATHS TO THE 2014 FINAL:
MALAHIDE
beat Railway Union by 5 runs
Malahide 280-5 (R Strydom 145, F McAllister 53)
Railway Union 275-7 (P Saville 4-43)
beat Phoenix by 81 runs
Malahide 304-8 (R Strydom 94, F McAllister 57)
Phoenix 223 (A Morris 4-59, C Shoebridge 3-43)
beat The Hills by 65 runs
Malahide 245-8 (59 overs, F McAllister 106, C Riches 73)
The Hills 180 (R Strydom 4-23, P Saville 3-25)
CLONTARF
beat Terenure by 2 wickets
Terenure 188 (A Craig 3-25, Z van der Merwe 3-27)
Clontarf 190-8 (B Coghlan 51, E Delany 45)
beat Cork County by 9 wickets
Cork County 124 (D Delany 3-32)
Clontarf 125-1 (B Coghlan 60*)
beat Merrion by 60 runs (D/L)
Merrion 232-8 (J Morrissey 2-24, C D'Arcy 2-37, P Ryan 2-45)
Clontarf 165-2 (B Coghlan 89*)