ED SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW (JULY 16TH)

The ED Sports Premier League returns this week, after last week’s break for the Senior Cup Final, and this round of fixtures sees the two cup finalists facing off against each other once again in Anglesea Road.

Elsewhere, The Hills host Phoenix in The Vineyard, whilst in Castle Avenue, Malahide are the visitors to Clontarf. Finally, in Rathmines, Pembroke make the trip to Observatory Lane to take on Leinster.

THE HILLS VS PHOENIX

The Hills go into this game without several big names once again, as both Jane and Aimee Maguire are absent due to international duty, whilst Abbi Harrison is also missing. Eve Meachen skippers the side and will likely open the batting alongside wicket-keeper Aimee Scollard, whilst they do have the all-round skills of Lara McBride available to them this time around, and she will be very valuable with both bat and ball. Neha Manoj’s left-armers offer a third spin option, whilst Tara O’Brien and Vanessa Scollard are the usual duo of seamers in the side.

Phoenix are skippered by Zara Craig, and she is one of a number of all-rounders in the side that will lead the way for the visitors this time out. Aditiba Chudasama and Darcey Dalwood have shared the new ball at times this season and could reprise that partnership once again, whilst also filling slots at number three and four in the batting order. Nevedha Saravanarajan and Lucy McDonough round out the batting line-up, whilst the bowlers are supported by the experienced Ali Keenan, and teenagers Juliet Gargan and Lily McDonagh.

Eve Meachen is the big wicket for The Hills, if Zara Craig can knock her over early on, Phoenix will fancy their chances of coming out on top.

KEY BATTLE: Eve Meachen vs Zara Craig

MERRION VS BALBRIGGAN

The cup champions host the side they saw off last weekend, and will hope to give themselves some breathing space from Balbriggan in doing so. Merrion name the same side that saw them to victory last Friday in this fixture, meaning their in-form top three will continue unchanged in the shape of overseas player Bella Armstrong and Annabel Squires at the top, whilst teenager Aisling Lawlor will bat three. Armstrong and Lawlor were in the runs last week, and will be feared once again. With the ball Niamh MacNulty leads the way alongside Síbha Bhoja, whilst Aoife Hayden offers another seam option, before the spin of Armstrong, Lawlor, Julianne Morrissey and Ashwi Manoj round out the attack.

Balbriggan meanwhile retain the strong spine to their side, with Courtney Gounden and Lara Maritz set to bat at the top of the order, whilst Madison Landsman and Julia Hoal round out a very strong top 4. Tess Maritz will bat at five, whilst the likes of Erin Bond, Erin Knight and Grace Wilson make up the all-rounders in the side. On the bowling front, Gounden looks set to be settled as the opener now, however her new ball partners have chopped and changed in recent times. Bond, Maritz and Knight are all options here, whilst with Landsman currently not bowling, it’s likely that she will continue behind the stumps, allowing Hoal to roll out her off-breaks in her place.

Balbriggan will be hoping to knock Bella Armstrong over much earlier this week, and will look to Courtney Gounden once again to try do so, however if Armstrong gets going once again, Merrion will fancy themselves to continue their march at the top of the table.

KEY BATTLE: Bella Armstrong vs Courtney Gounden

LEINSTER VS PEMBROKE

Leinster once again field a depleted team in this fixture, as they can only manage to get four of their 1^st XI starring list on the field, led by skipper Jenny Sparrow and overseas player Alex Sheedy. Orla Bagnall comes into this game off the back of runs in Monday’s 2^nd XI cup match, whilst Aisling O’Kelly also dominated in that game taking 4 wickets. Their selection headaches are worsened by just three of their 2^nd XI list coming up to fill the slots left absent due to unprecedented injuries in their 1^st team, with the extent of their availability issues shown by the fact that no fewer than five of their named team also featured in the 3^rd XI on Tuesday evening.

Pembroke meanwhile have availability issues of their own, however with Orla Prendergast, LouLou Little and Sarah Forbes all on international duty, they will hope to see them back around in the coming weeks. The batting is led by their skipper Isobel Jennings and wicket-keeper Izzy McLean who has been in good form in recent weeks including a century last week in the second team. Marama Downes and Clare Shillington bolster the batting stocks alongside Eimear Mullen who is another player who has been lighting up Division 2 this term. Susie Whaley made a century against Leinster in the Junior Cup on Monday and will look to continue her good form.

Alex Sheedy’s spell with the ball is set to be vital to the side this time out, however if Clare Shillington can get in and get going for Pembroke, the away side will be well on top.

KEY BATTLE: Alex Sheedy vs Clare Shillington

CLONTARF VS MALAHIDE

The home side are at full strength for the first time this season, as they welcome Christina Coulter-Reilly back from international duty in time to keep wicket in this fixture. She’ll open the batting alongside Robyn Searle in this game, whilst Genevieve Morrissey and Rosie Neuman-Jones will continue to blaze their trail at three and four having been in excellent form thus far this season. Alice Walsh, Julie McNally, new Australian recruit Maeve Martin, and their skipper Lucy Barry round off an excellent batting line-up that’s full of firepower particularly later in the innings. Barry will likely share the new ball with Sinead Thomson, whilst teenagers Hannah Lee and Annabel Walsh are two good seam options. Neuman-Jones and Searle are the spinners in the side, with the bowling attack strengthened by the number of wicket-keeping options that now exist in the side.

Malahide meanwhile will hope to welcome back Meg Thompson to their side after injury, however they do boast a settled side even if she does not. Freya Sargent has been in good form at the top of the order, whilst Anna Kerrison’s game-winning innings in their last league outing will no doubt see her in a confident mood going into this week’s game. Sarah Condron has made some important contributions at number three, whilst the all-round duo of Gemma Sargent and Haley Moore are also vital in the middle order with their ability to find the boundary very valuable.

Freya Sargent is a key batter for Malahide in this game, if Sinead Thomson can dismiss her early on, the hosts will have the upper hand.

KEY BATTLE: Sinead Thomson vs Freya Sargent

ED SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE

THURSDAY, JULY 16^TH ALL 18:00

At The Vineyard, The Hills vs Phoenix

At Anglesea Road, Merrion vs Balbriggan

At Observatory Lane, Leinster vs Pembroke

At Castle Avenue, Clontarf vs Malahide