Clontarf win their 12th Div 1/Senior League title

Clontarf CC have picked up their 12th Cricket Leinster Division 1/Senior League title, after beating Merrion by 8 wickets in Anglesea Road yesterday, with the title being confirmed once North County had also lost to Pembroke.

Merrion's disappointing end to the season continued when they were dismissed by Clontarf for 160, with only John Blakeney passing 50 - his 56 being the second time he had passed the milestone this year. It was never going to be enough against the long Clontarf batting order, and champions elect passed the total with 82 balls to spare. Mark Collier, Bill Coghlan, Andrew Poynter and Eoghan Delany all scored well, and the target was passed with the minimum of fuss.

Clontarf's 12th league title sees them closing in on Pembroke, who lie in third place on the all time list with 13 titles. Phoenix (15) and Leinster (23) are above them. Remarkably, it was Clontarf's sixth league and cup double, following on from previous triumphs in 1992, 1995, 2000, 2007 and 2009. Only Phoenix (4), Leinster (4) and Pembroke (2) have ever won more than one double, and Clontarf's achievement is remarkable. There have only been ten doubles in the last 30 years, and Clontarf have won six of them (Leinster, North County, The Hills and YMCA are the others)

North County's fantastic season came to an end in their last match of the season against Pembroke. With the team severely depleted due to Ian Bertram's wedding, County did well to reach 221, with Tomas Sheil scoring his first 50 since late May. It was to prove too low a total for Pembroke, who have finished the season by winning their last seven matches.

Danny Hogan recorded his highest senior score (72) and Jono Cook passed 1000 senior runs with his 69, as Pembroke eased home with 34 balls and 5 wickets to spare.

The other two matches, between Cork County and Malahide, and Railway Union and YMCA were rained off. It still leaves several questions unanswered, bith at the bottom of the table, where Cork County are not yet mathematically relegated, and in the individual trophies (see below), where extra matches could make a difference.

The OCC is currently disussing the situation with the teams involved.

Highest Batting average in Division 1 - Marchant Cup (current qualification - 400 runs. Final qualification 500 runs)

The final destination of the Marchant Cup is still very much up in the air. Adiran D'Arcy played at the weekend, but didn't bat, and still needs 60 runs in Clontarf's final match against Cork County to lift the trophy. Simmi Singh lies in second place, but his average could fall with a failure against Railway Union. Andrew Poynter needs another four runs to qualify, but needs to move up to catch Singh. Jack Tector could move up with a big final innings.

Still all to play for.

 Lowest Bowling average in Division 1 - O'Grady Cup (Current Qualification - 20 wkts. Final qualification - 30 wkts)

 The O'Grady Cup looks to be between Eddie Richardson and Alex Cusack. Cusack needs anything better than 4-45 in his last match to steal the crown from Richardson. There is an outside chance for Clontarf's Joe Morrissey - something like taking seven wickets whilst only conceding five runs would do the trick.

Most Catches by a fielder in Division 1 -  Solomon Cup 

Andrew Poynter needs at least two catches (for a share of the trophy) or three catches (to win outright) in his last match. Otherwise Albert van der Merwe wins the Solomon Cup (again)

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

 WIth Lorcan Tucker having completed his season, Clontarf's Robert Forrest is the winner of the 2015 Hopkins Cup.

 Leading allrounder in Division 1 - Samuels Cup (Current Qualification 200 runs and 10 wickets/dismissals. Final Qualification 250 runs and 15 wickets/dismissals)

 Lorcan Tucker is the leading eligible contender. With one game left Simmi Singh needs 55 points (equivalent to 2 wickets and 15 runs with the bat) to steal the title from Tucker.