CLONTARF GO ONE BETTER IN MINOR 2 CUP VICTORY!

A game dominated by the bowlers saw Clontarf emerge victorious, as they claimed the Minor 2 Cup title for 2026, going one better than last season when they were runners-up.

Having won the toss, Clontarf sent Malahide out to field, and at 45/0 with Ruairi Irving and Bilal Khan cruising, they would have been very happy with their start.

That was until Toby Doyle entered the attack, and removed both in an excellent spell which also featured a burst of three wickets in four balls, as he claimed 4/22 to cut Clontarf back to 69/5.

’Tarf scrambled well in the final overs to post 93/7, a score which looked to be competitive at least, with the wind making boundaries hard to come by. Irving’s 30 was the top score, which he managed without finding the rope once.

Malahide got off to the worst possible start when Sean Duffy was run out without facing a delivery in the first over. By the time that over had concluded, Onel Punchihewa had claimed two more victims and reduced them to 3/3, with 94 suddenly looking very daunting.

Nathan Coulter claimed the fourth wicket, and when he and Punchihewa had finished their opening spell, it was 11/4. Vishwajeet Vibhute also then bowled a very tight spell, claiming 2/4 as Malahide limped to the halfway stage at 22/6.

Abhishek Tiwari and Shubham Verma also claimed wickets, as Malahide could only manage 73/9 in their 20 overs, Clontarf running out 20 run winners and claiming the Minor 2 Cup title!

Congratulations to Clontarf on winning the Minor 2 Cup for 2026. Well done to all players, coaches, officials and supporters associated with the team on this brilliant achievement!