ED SPORTS PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW - ROUND 2 (MAY 7TH)

This Thursday sees round 2 of ED Sports Premier League taking place, however there are only 3 fixtures taking place, with The Hills, Leinster and Merrion all having the evening off.

The action is a follows, Balbriggan are making the journey to take on Malahide, while Clontarf are hosting Pembroke who make the hop across the East-Link, finally Phoenix are making the trip to Kenure to take on Rush.

CLONTARF VS PEMBROKE

The first game on Thursday evening sees Clontarf welcome Pembroke in what promises to be a fascinating tie, with the visitors looking to bounce back after a tough opening day defeat to Phoenix.

Clontarf's batting is built around the considerable talents of Christina Coulter-Reilly, who will once again be the key figure at the top of the order alongside Sue Lawless before Genevieve Morrissey and Rosie Neuman-Jones who look set to bat at 3 and 4. The hosts are without two of their more experienced players this Thursday, with both Robyn Searle and Julie McNally unavailable, meaning there will be some added pressure on the top 4 to produce a big score this week.

The returning skipper Lucy Barry leads a battery of young seamers that also features Morrissey, Thompson, Katie O'Toole and Aoibheann Synnott, in an attack that carries plenty of variety despite the absence of a frontline spinner this Thursday.

Pembroke meanwhile will be desperate to get their season back on track after last weekend's defeat to Phoenix, and they remain a formidable side even in the absence of their star turn. Orla Prendergast was due to return for this fixture having missed the opening weekend, however a niggle has unfortunately ruled her out once again, and her absence is a significant blow both with bat and ball for the Sydney Parade outfit.

With the bat, the international opening partnership of Sarah Forbes and LouLou Little will look to set a strong platform, with skipper Isobel Jennings, the evergreen Clare Shillington and youth international duo of Izzy McLean and Zoe Bell making up a middle order that is well capable of posting a big total.

The bowling unit will be led by Hannah and LouLou Little, they will have seam support from Mhairi Nicoll, KimLi McDonald and Anna Beale, whilst Zoe Bell is likely to be the lone spinning option, with Forbes offering support in that department should it be required. Pembroke will also be missing their overseas player Marama Downes for this fixture which is another big blow.

Coulter-Reilly remains Clontarf's danger women with the bat, and Pembroke will doubtless be keen to get her early. If LouLou Little can knock her over in the opening spell, it will give the visitors a real chance of getting their season up and running.

KEY BATTLE: Christina Coulter-Reilly vs LouLou Little

MALAHIDE VS BALBRIGGAN

The second fixture of the evening see’s Malahide look to build on a sensational opening round victory, as they welcome Balbriggan to The Village for what promises to be a northside blockbuster.

Malahide were the story of round one, pulling off what would in the last few year be considered a shock result in overturning Leinster, a result that will have sent a statement around the league. Meg Thompson's return as overseas player was central to that, the opener top-scoring with a brilliant 84 to set the tone for what was a commanding 177/5 in their opening fixture.

She will once again spearhead the batting unit alongside Freya Sargent, Arlene Kelly, Anna Kerrison and Haley Moore, with the hosts doubtless hoping that Thompson can produce another dominant performance to back up her impressive opening weekend.

Malahide have plenty of options to call upon with the ball, with Maria O'Halloran, Sarah Brophy, Gemma Sargent and Sarah Condron all available in the seam department, whilst a trio of spinners in Kerrison, Freya Sargent and Thompson herself give the side a well-rounded attack that will be hoping to carry their first-round momentum into this fixture.

Balbriggan meanwhile come into this one fresh, having had the bye in round one, and will be keen to make a strong opening statement having finished third in the league last season.

Their side is built around skipper Lara Maritz, who leads both the batting and bowling attack, and she is joined in what looks to be an extremely potent top four by three more South African-born players in Courtney Gounden, Julia Hoal and Madison Landsman, giving the Jack Harper Park outfit a formidable look to their batting unit.

With the ball, Maritz will lead the way with her seamers, supported by a pair of Erin's , Bond and Knight, alongside Indie Harper and Anna Vezhakattu in a well-stocked seam attack. The spin comes from Landsman and Gounden, rounding out what is a deep and varied bowling unit that will be eager to make a mark this Thursday.

Meg Thompson's 84 last time out showed exactly what she is capable of at this level, and Malahide will be hoping she can produce another big performance here to give them reason to consider themselves title contenders this season. Balbriggan will doubtless look to Lara Maritz to get the breakthrough, and if she can dismiss the Aussie early on, it will give her side every chance of getting their 2026 campaign off to the perfect start.

KEY BATTLE: Meg Thompson vs Lara Maritz

RUSH VS PHOENIX

The final game of Thursday evening sees Rush welcome Phoenix to Kenure, with the visitors looking to build on an opening weekend victory whilst the hosts look to bounce back from a heavy defeat to Clontarf last time out.

Rush will be desperate to get their first points on the board this Thursday after a disappointing first outing against Clontarf where they were never really at the races. Their batting is built around New Zealand overseas player Cate Pederson, who will be joined at the top of the order by Ellie McGee and Aoife Beggs, who missed the opening round of games, with her sister Aisling likely to slide down a position to accommodate her return. Mabel O'Donohoe and Lauren Wilde also featured in the top five in round one, with hard-hitting wicket-keeper Eileen Foley also likely to play a role with the bat.

With the ball, the return of Beggs is a welcome boost. As last time out the bowling attack featured several new faces, with Ellie McGee’s leg-breaks the only option which was regularly made use of throughout last season. The new faces include O'Donohoe alongside overseas player Pederson, whilst there were a pair of Armstrongs, Darcie and Pippa, adding further variety to what looks a well-rounded attack.

Phoenix meanwhile arrive into this fixture in excellent spirits after their opening weekend win over Pembroke, however they do so carrying some significant injury concerns. Gaby Lewis, their international captain, remains sidelined with a quad injury, whilst the absence of Zara Craig also deprives them of a key all-round contributor, heaping yet more responsibility onto Georgina Dempsey and Alice Tector.

That pair were simply devastating last time out, with Dempsey plundering 57 from just 31 deliveries and Tector contributing a classy 30 in Phoenix's opening round batting effort, the visitors will be hoping for more of the same this Thursday. Síuín Woods and Arisha Foysal are also likely to feature prominently in the top five in the absence of Craig, whilst with the ball, Tector and Dempsey will again lead the way, supported by Darcey Dalwood's seamers. Foysal's leg-spin is the point of difference in this attack, and could prove to be the trump card should the surface offer her any assistance.

Georgina Dempsey was in breathtaking form last time out and Rush will be very much aware of the damage she can do if given any room. If Cate Pederson can knock her over early on, it will give the hosts every chance of getting their season up and running.

KEY BATTLE: Georgina Dempsey vs Cate Pederson