ED SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW (MAY 30TH)

The first triple-header days of the season take place tomorrow in the ED Sports Premier League, with action in Malahide, The Hills and Leinster seeing rounds 4 and 5 of the season played out across the afternoon.

AT THE VILLAGE

MALAHIDE

Malahide started the season line a runaway train, with wide margin victories against Leinster and Balbriggan. Defeat at the hands of Phoenix hasn’t derailed them, as they followed up by once again beating Leinster on Monday to knock them out of the Senior Cup. Their side has been boosted massively this term by the addition of the Sargent sisters, Freya and Gemma, adding to a solid core batting group which is led by overseas player Meg Thompson. Added to Sarah Condron, who was vital in Monday’s cup victory and skipper Anna Kerrison, this weekend’s hosts will no doubt be looking to grab another brace of victories and stamp their mark down as title contenders. Their bowlers include both Sargents, Condron, Haley Moore, Maria O’Halloran & Isobel McCormack, and should provide them with enough firepower to be in contention

KEY PLAYER: Sarah Condron

RUSH

The Ellie McGee-led Rush will be hoping they can find their second win of the season in this tie, however there is something of an uphill battle facing them, especially considering the outcome of their cup fixture against Merrion last week, allied with Malahide’s strong form. They are however boosted by the inclusion of wicket-keeper Georgia Wilson, as well as Lucy Neely & Rebecca Lowe returning to the side this weekend. McGee has been in fine form with the bat so far this term, and alongside Cate Pedersen will make an opening partnership that will need to stand up if they are to put themselves in with a chance of winning either of these ties. They remain without Aoife Beggs and Aisling McCormack, with the pair both inching closer to returns from their respective injuries.

KEY PLAYER: Ellie McGee

MERRION

Merrion are the other form side at this level so far this season, having won their opening two league games before a Leah Paul century helped them see off Rush in the Senior Cup last week, they are weakened slightly by the loss of Paul and Rebecca Stokell due to the ongoing tri-series, however they do welcome back Bella Armstrong who has missed the beginning of the season due to New Zealand ‘A’ duty. She is likely to join Annabel Squires at the top of the order, whilst Aoife Brennan and Aisling Lawlor are others who will be key in this batting line-up. Skipper Niamh MacNulty leads the bowlers alongside Síbha Bhoja, with Brennan also likely to deliver her medium pace. The spin comes from Lawlor and Julianne Morrissey, who retains her canny knack for picking up the big wickets in opposition teams.

KEY PLAYER: Annabel Squires

AT THE VINEYARD

THE HILLS

The hosts are decimated by international call-ups and injuries going into this weekend, however they look set to welcome Abbi Harrison back into their line-up for this fixture, which will provide some much-needed support with the bat for overseas player Eve Meachen. Aimee Scollard is the other frontline batter, and is likely to slot in at the top of the order. Harrison takes over behind the stumps, and Meachen will bowl her leg-breaks, with the other spinner in the side being Neha Manoj’s left-arm orthodox. The seamers feature Tara O’Brien and the Scollard sisters, Vanessa and Caoimhe. Doubtless the absence of Aimee and Jane Maguire and Lara McBride hamstrings the side in a major way, however they will hope that stand-in skipper Meachen can produce something special and get their season up-and-running.

KEY PLAYER: Eve Meachen

BALBRIGGAN

Lara Maritz’s side are one of the only teams in the league unaffected completely by international call-ups this weekend, and no doubt they will be looking to take advantage of this. Along with Madison Landsman and Julia Hoal, they have a destructive top three to turn to, before even mentioning overseas player Courtney Gounden and last season’s captain Tess Maritz. Erin Bond and Erin Knight are the all-rounders in the side, with the ‘Brig eyeing up their chances of grabbing two victories on this short trip to Milverton. Their bowlers have been in fine form of late, none more so than Landsman, whilst skipper Maritz is an excellent strike bowling option. Indie Harper has broken through this season, claiming 2/12 last time out against Rush, and no doubt the side will be hoping to see her continue in this vein. Lara Maritz has shown herself to be equally dominant at Super Series level already this season, and they’ll be hoping she can lead from the front with the bat.

KEY PLAYER: Lara Maritz

PEMBROKE

The Sydney Parade side are the second team which welcome their overseas player back from New Zealand ‘A’ duty this weekend, with Marama Downes adding her all-round skills to Isobel Jennings’ side. Both will feature prominently in the batting line-up, which also includes international Sarah Forbes, wicket-keeper Izzy McLean and Eimear Mullen, whilst there’s chances for Susie Whaley and Jess Duffy-Mullen, who made a century for their 3^rd XI during the week, to step up in the middle order. The bowlers are led by KimLi McDonald, who will likely share the new ball with Downes, whilst there’s more medium pace from Mhairi Nicoll and Anna Beale, in the absence of another clear spin option, Jennings could well opt to take the gloves herself and allow McLean to roll out her off-spin. The skipper has begun to find some form in recent weeks, and if Jennings is firing on all cylinders again tomorrow, it will give Pembroke plenty of cause for optimism.

KEY PLAYER: Isobel Jennings

AT OBSERVATORY LANE

LEINSTER

The hosts are without a plethora of players this weekend, with Ava Canning on international duty, Laura Delany and Sophie MacMahon both set to be absent for much of the season, and Tash Richardson & Katie Dillon both also missing for this weekend’s games. Jenny Sparrow takes over as skipper, whilst Joanna Loughran is available to take up her regular role behind the stumps. Rebecca Rolfe and overseas player Alex Sheedy will play important roles with the bat, as well as Isabel Saeed-Maguire, however much of the experience in the side is in the batting unit. The Rathmines outfit are having to dive deep in the depth chart to bulk out their bowling unit this weekend, with Aisling O’Kelly, Lauren Torpey, Ava Deacon and Ursula Oliver all pulled up from the third team into their starting 11 this weekend. Isabella Merriman and Orla Bagnall would be two of the more experienced operators at this level with ball in hand. Stand-in skipper Jenny Sparrow will need to make a big impact with bat and ball to help her side account for the number of players they are missing both short and long term this weekend.

KEY PLAYER: Jenny Sparrow

CLONTARF

Lucy Barry’s side are without their star-batter this week with Christina Coulter-Reilly on international duty, however they do get to call upon the destructive ball striking of Alice Walsh for the first time this season, and she is likely to make a straight swap at the top of the order alongside overseas player Robyn Searle. Genevieve Morrissey and Rosie Neuman-Jones will appear at three and four, with both in good nick at the moment, Morrissey off the back of runs in last week’s agonising cup loss, whilst Neuman-Jones was unbeaten on 98 for their 2nds on Tuesday evening. With the ball, the attack is young but full of skill, led by Barry and left-armer Sinead Thomson, there is support in the shape of teenagers Annabel Walsh and Katie O’Toole, whilst Neuman-Jones will provide the spin with her offies. Alice Walsh’s return at the top of the order could prove key to Clontarf’s batting this weekend, if she can get them off to fast starts in these games they should see themselves in good stead.

KEY PLAYER: Alice Walsh

PHOENIX

Finally, Phoenix come into this weekend decimated, as the tri-series call ups for Georgina Dempsey and Alice Tector are added to the already injured Gaby Lewis. There is a welcome return however for Zara Craig, who will step in to captain the side in the absence of their international trio. Siúin Woods will keep wicket and play a vital role with the bat, whilst Aditiba Chudasama will need to take a more prominent role with both bat and ball this weekend. Nevedha Saravanarajan is the other batter who has experience at the top of the order at Premier League level, however they could also see Darcey Dalwood stepping up the order to add some clean-hitting in the middle order. Juliet Gargan and Ali Keenan look set to play a role with the ball, as well as Lily McDonagh, however it’s likely that they will be looking to both Craig and Dalwood to lead the way. The return for Zara Craig offers a massive boost to Phoenix this weekend, with her new-ball bowling offering a point of difference, as well as clean striking at the top of the order, her influence could make all the difference here.

KEY PLAYER: Zara Craig