Adrian D’Arcy’s amazing season continues         - Division 1 round up and averages

Monday's Division 1 action could be summed up with the bland comment that the top four all won, whilst those struggling at the wrong end of the table all lost. Whilst factually correct, that would hide a day of drama and excitement, in which at least three of the bottom sides will be rueing missed chances.

The one side that was outplayed was Railway Union, who came across the new (and old) Leinster Senior Cup champions, Clontarf.  Michael Granger once again caused the initial problems, reducing Railway to 26-3, before Alex Cusack and Stephen Moreton got in on the act with a wicket a piece, leaving the home side at 59-5. Those redoubtable performers, Mo Tariq and Saad Ullah then put on 41 for the 6th wicket, before Granger returned, finishing with 5-48, as Railway could total only 137 all out. 

That was never going to be enough against the start studded Clontarf batting line up, and with Adrian d'Arcy (more below) once again anchoring the innings, Tarf won with 14 overs and six wickets to spare.

North County are still on top of Division 1, but for long periods of the afternoon, it looked like they would be knocked off their perch. A team bowling effort had kept Malahide to 165-9 from 50 overs (Will Kindley top scoring for Malahide with 23), but the chase was far from simple. With Jamie Grassi repeating his Ireland u17 form with 55, County were in a fine position at 75-1. A couple of quick wickets saw Malahide see their chance, but at  97-3, North County were still on top.

Two bowlers of differing styles - Callum Riches and Alessandro Morris then ripped the heart out of the North County middle order, as Eddie Richardson, Nathan Rooney, Grassi and Fionn Hand were quickly removed to see the visitors reduced to 105-7. When Terry Richardson and Conor Shiel also went in quick succession, there seemed no way that they could come back, requiring a further 39 for the last wicket. 

Step forward Andrew Sheridan and David Casey who added the runs to grab a famous victory, and keep the surprise league leaders at the top.

Cork County will be kicking themselves after getting close to a crucial victory in Claremont Road. YMCA made 223-9 from their 50 overs, the bulk of the runs being in a 110 run partnership for the third wicket between Tom Fisher (60) and Albert van der Merwe (90). Clontarf had showed how to chase a similar total in identical conditions on Saturday (slowly and steadily), and that approach looked to be succeeding at one stage. County had reached 149-2, with Robin Russell scoring a 73 ball 26 and Stephan Grobler amuch quicker 30. But when Morne Bauer was dismissed for 60, the rising run rate was too much for the middle and lower orders, and Cork COunty finished an agonising ten runs short, with six balls still to be used.

The final match saw some of the provinces best young talent rise to the top, in a match in which batsmen dominated, with spinners leading the way in the bowling stakes. Pembroke's Jono Cook (57), Lorcan Tucker (95) and Barry McCarthy (67 from 61 balls) were the basis of their total of 263 against Merrion. Cook and Tucker put on 114 for the second wicket, and Tucker and McCarthy added 105 for the third. For Merrion, no bowler took more than two wickets. 

A 194 run second wicket partnership between Tyrone Kane (84 from 108 balls) and David Rhoda (119* from 104 balls) looked to have swung the match Merrion's way, before Paul Lawson toook three quick wickets, as Merrion lost five wickets for 36 runs. Rhoda's South African compatriot Michael Lewis finished the game off in style though, condemning Pembroke to another defeat.

Those results meant that the table was virtually unchanged. But what has the weekend done to the race for the individual trophies?

Highest Batting average in Division 1 - Marchant Cup (current qualification - 300 runs)

David Rhoda stole most of the headlines with yet another hundred. But it was Adrian D'Arcy of Clontarf who had the more remarkable weekend. He anchored the Clontarf chase on Saturday with 88*, to lift the Leinster Senior Cup and then repeated the feat with 64* on Monday. D'Arcy now has an incredible average of 200.50, to go along with Rhoda's 234.00. It is D'Arcy who is the leading Irish qualified contender.

Lowest Bowling average in Division 1 - O'Grady Cup (Current Qualification - 13 wkts)

Eddie Richardson stays top, with Michael Granger, the Clontarf overseas player now having an impressive 31 wickets. Rachit Gaur's impressive emergence as a bowler continues, as he took 2-25 against Clontarf . 

Most Catches by a fielder in Division 1 -  Solomon Cup 

Andrew Poynter took five catches over the weekend, to draw level with Alvert van der Merwe.

Most dismissals by a wicket keeper in Division 1 - Hopkins Cup

Another four dismissals for Robert Forrest increases his lead to ten.

Leading allrounder in Division 1 - Samuels Cup (Qualification 150 runs and 6 wickets/dismissals)