FIRST DAY WINS FOR TARF, MERRION, PHOENIX AND MALAHIDE (SUNDAY 26.4.2026)

The first round games in the ED Sports Women’s Premier League resulted in two home wins (at Anglesea Road and The Village) and two away wins (in Kenure and Sydney Parade).

The margin and manner of victory by Phoenix at Sydney Parade was probably the highlight of the afternoon as batting fireworks from Georgina Demspey was backed up by a strong all-round performance from Zara Craig and Alice Tector, supported by an excellent spell of bowling from Darcey Dalwood.

RUSH LOST TO CLONTARF BY 55 RUNS

Rush won the toss in Kenure and put Clontarf in to bat. There were useful contributions from all the top order such that the score had reached 79/4 in the 10th over. This brought together Sinead Thomson and Hannah Pasley for the partnership of the innings – 86 off just 10 overs - which propelled the visitors to a total of 166/6 off their allotted overs. Darcie Armstrong was best with the ball for the home side finishing with 2/28 off her 4 overs.

In reply, Rush lost wickets at regular intervals with Rosie Neuman-Jones (having recently transferred to Clontarf from North Kildare) taking the key wicket of overseas player (Cate Pedersen) to leave Rush 39/3 in the 5th over. It was very much a team effort for Clontarf in the field as they ultimately ran out winners by the significant margin of 55 runs. That said, in victory, the Tarf bowlers will reflect on the number of extras conceded which, at 53, was comfortably the highest score for the home side this afternoon. Neuman-Jones finished with 3/15 supported by Sinead Thomson (2/20) and Annabel Walsh chipping in with 2/21.

MERRION BEAT THE HILLS BY 7 WKTS

The Hills travelled to Anglesea Road, won the toss and elected to bat first and were indebted to a 59 run partnership between Jane Maguire (46) and Lara McBride (35) in an otherwise average team performance with the bat. Merrion were disciplined in the field with spin to the fore as Julianne Morrissey and Aisling Lawlor wrested control for Merrion, both finishing with 2/23 off their respective 4 overs.

Despite the early loss of Aoife Brennan (bowled by Lara McBride), Annabel Squires (46) and Aisling Lawlor steadied the Merrion chase adding 86 for the second wicket to leave Merrion 89/2 off 11.4 overs at that point. Lawlor was then joined by Ireland International Leah Paul and together they took Merrion to within 17 of victory when Lawlor became McBride’s third victim for a well-made 40 off just 37 balls. Leah Paul finished unbeaten on 31* off just 11 balls as Merrion cruised home by 7 wickets with overs to spare.  

PEMBROKE LOST TO PHOENIX BY 62 RUNS

Phoenix won the toss and chose to bat first at Sydney Parade and despite the early loss of Siuin Woods, they progressed well to a decent total of 167 for the loss of just 3 wickets. Zara Craig finished unbeaten on 47* whilst Alice Tector chipped in with a well made 30. When Tector was out, Phoenix had reached 76/2 in the 12^th over before Georgina Dempsey set about the bowling plundering a further 91 runs in partnership with Craig off the remaining 7.4 overs. Dempsey was run out off the last ball for 57 which included 8x4s and 1X6 off just 31 balls.  

Phoenix retained the momentum into the Pembroke chase reducing the home side to 46/4 in the 10th over. Zara Craig then removed Pembroke’s new overseas signing, Kiwi Marama Downes and LouLou Little for just 18 apiece to leave Pembroke still needing another 97 runs off the remaining 8 overs. Darcey Dalwood also impressed with a tight spell of 2/21 off her allotted overs. Pembroke’s chase inevitably fizzled all out for 105 in the 19th over with Phoenix completing a comprehensive win by 62 runs. 8 wickets shared by Craig, Dalwood and Tector in a fine all-round performance.  

MALAHIDE BEAT LEINSTER BY 83 RUNS

In The Village, the home side enjoyed first use of the pitch with Meg Thompson leading the way with a commanding 84 supported by Irish International Arlene Kelly who contributed 36 and Freya Sargent (following her recent transfer from Clontarf to Malahide) chipping in with 23. Leinster undoubtedly struggled in the field with a number of their front-line bowlers with Ava Canning, Laura Delany and Sophie MacMahon all unavailable. The three wicket takers for the Rathmines team were Katie Dagostino (1/27), Aisling O’Kelly (1/29) and Orla Bagnall (1/31).

Having being set a challenging 178 for victory, the Leinster reply never really got going as they limped to 94/9 off their allotted overs. It was a disciplined performance in the field from the home side with Sarah Condron the pick of the bowlers (2/15) well supported by the Sargent sisters who shared another 3 wickets. Easy win for Malahide by 83 runs.