ED SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW (JULY 30TH)

After 12 rounds of cricket in the ED Sports Premier League, teams are hurtling towards the finish line in this season’s campaign, with a three-way charge for the title still very much ongoing.

Just 20 points separate Merrion, Clontarf and Balbriggan in the table, and this week’s fixtures sees ‘Tarf hosting Balbriggan in a huge clash. Meanwhile Merrion don’t face an easy task, as they make the short trip across to Sandymount to face Pembroke. Meanwhile in the Vineyard, The Hills host Malahide, whilst finally in Rathmines, Rush visit Leinster, who remain rooted to the foot of the table.

LEINSTER VS RUSH

Leinster have been plagued by unavailability this month, and whilst the return of Laura Delany has bolstered their ranks, they haven’t seen Ava Canning since May 14^th, whilst Joanna Loughran hasn’t featured in the side for almost a month. This sees them leaning heavily on Rebecca Rolfe, Jenny Sparrow and overseas player Alex Sheedy with both bat and ball, whilst Orla Bagnall and Tash Richardson are also likely to fill positions in the middle order. Their bowling unit is led by teenagers in the seamers of Aisling O’Kelly, Katie Dagostino and Isabella Merriman, who are support by Sparrow and Sheedy.

Rush meanwhile are continuing on an upward trend in recent weeks, with impressive unbeaten half-centuries from Cate Pedersen and Aoife Beggs guiding them to a win against second-placed Clontarf. That duo, along with Ellie McGee and Elizabeth Cohr are the key to the Kenure side’s batting efforts, whilst their consistency has allowed the team to push Aadita Subramanya Ramnathpur up the order and continue her development into a key player within the unit. With the ball, the spin of McGee and Cohr has been pivotal in restricting sides through the middle overs, whilst Mabel O’Donoghue and Elyse Jones both provide strong seam options in support of regular opener Aisling McCormack.

Leinster are now heavily reliant on Laura Delany to help them into strong positions in their games, and no doubt Rush’s star spinner Ellie McGee will be tasked with trying to tie her down in the middle overs of the innings.

KEY BATTLE: Laura Delany vs Ellie McGee

CLONTARF VS BALBRIGGAN

2^nd vs 3^rd in the league sees these two sides trying to keep up the pace on the league leaders. The hosts are close to full strength once again this week, missing just Genevieve Morrissey who is on Ireland U19 duty. Christina Coulter-Reilly is set to open the innings alongside Robyn Searle, with Alice Walsh and Rosie Neuman-Jones adding plenty of boundary-hitting ability in the middle order. Julie McNally and skipper Lucy Barry are another two players who can add major impetus to their innings, and look set to be crucial. Barry and Sinead Thomson provide a strong opening duo with the ball, whilst Neuman-Jones and Searle are strong spinning options, teenager Annabel Walsh is the other seamer in the side and will likely bowl her in-swing through the middle overs.

Balbriggan meanwhile will be leaning heavily on their top four with both bat and ball this week, as Lara Maritz will look to continue her strong form with the bat, most likely alongside Courtney Gounden who has shown strong form in recent weeks, particularly since moving into the opening role. That has seen Madison Landsman to best effect at number three, where she was the catalyst for their victory over Merrion a couple of weeks ago. Julia Hoal at number four has proved to be something of a Swiss-Army Knife for the ‘Brigg, as she has been seen keeping wicket and rolling out her off-spin, as well as being adept at either the top of the order or slotting in at number 4 as she has done more recently.

Clontarf will be fully aware of the dangers Lara Maritz poses, and if they can knock her over early it could prove crucial, skipper Lucy Barry could be the key to unlocking this partnership for the home side.

KEY BATTLE: Lucy Barry vs Lara Maritz

THE HILLS VS MALAHIDE

The Hills welcome back two big names to their side this week as they go in search of just their second win of the league campaign. Skipper Eve Meachen has had to plough a lone furrow for much of the season so far, however she is joined in the top order by Jane Maguire and Lara McBride for this week’s action, and this could prove to be the key, with that trio likely to be leaned on for 12 overs of bowling and the bulk of the runs for the side. Aimee Scollard will feature behind the stumps, and is a candidate to open the batting, having done well there for much of the season. The bowling will be supported by Tara O’Brien and Vanessa Scollard, both of whom have plenty of overs under their respective belts too.

Malahide meanwhile welcome back a star of their own this week, as Amy Hunter is named in their team for the first time this season. She will undoubtedly add some X-Factor with the bat, as well as taking up a role behind the stumps that could see overseas player Meg Thompson allowed to bowl her off-breaks in this tie. Freya Sargent will feature in the top order alongside that duo, and whilst they are without regular performers in the shape of Sarah Condron and Gemma Sargent, they do boast a strong middle order which will feature Anna Kerrison, Haley Moore and Sorcha O’Carolan-Murphy and will give The Hills bowlers plenty to think about.

Malahide will be hoping that Amy Hunter can get them off to a flying start in this fixture, and no doubt she will be fully aware of the dangers of her international team-mate Jane Maguire. If Maguire can knock Hunter over, this game could be there for The Hills to take control of.

KEY BATTLE: Jane Maguire vs Amy Hunter

PEMBROKE VS MERRION

Finally in Sydney Parade, Pembroke are another team that are back approaching full strength after a challenging month of availability issues. They remain without Izzy McLean who is on Ireland U19 duties, meaning the skipper Isobel Jennings will be behind the stumps, whilst Clare Shillington also falls out of the playing 11 this week. They do however welcome back Lou Lou Little and Orla Prendergast after their international duties, with that duo adding considerable experience and skills with both bat and ball to add to some of their consistent performers in recent weeks. With the ball Anna Beale and KimLi McDonald have been crucial, whilst Susie Whaley’s all-round skills saw her play a star role in their recent win over Leinster. Overseas player Marama Downes provides plenty of depth with both bat and ball and has proven to be a destructive prospect in the middle order this term.

Merrion meanwhile could be considerably stronger this week should Leah Paul and Rebecca Stokell return to the side, and they would add hugely to a very in-form batting line-up which is usually spearheaded by the top three of Annabel Squires, Bella Armstrong and Aisling Lawlor, however Lawlor is one of three Merrion players away on Ireland U19 duty this week. Seamers Síbha Bhoja and Aoife Hayden are the other duo who are absent, meaning the side is likely to be reliant on it’s spinners once again this week, with Armstrong having claimed three wickets last time out, as well as two apiece for off-spinners Julianne Morrissey and Ashwi Manoj, the medium pace of Aoife Brennan is likely to be called upon, whilst Sophie Stewart is another option the side could turn to.

This is likely to be a battle between the two star all-rounders in either side, if Orla Prendergast can dismiss Bella Armstrong cheaply, Pembroke may fancy their chances of dragging themselves into title contention.

KEY BATTLE: Orla Prendergast vs Bella Armstrong

ED Sports Premier League

Thursday, 30^th July, all 18:00

At Observatory Lane, Leinster vs Rush

At Castle Avenue, Clontarf vs Balbriggan

At The Vineyard, The Hills vs Malahide

At Sydney Parade, Pembroke vs Merrion