IBI CORPORATE FINANCE PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW (AUGUST 9TH)

The business end of the league season kicks off tomorrow, with three excellent ties set to be fought out across the six sides remaining in the IBI Corporate Finance Premier League!

The featured action will be a repeat of last weekend’s Senior Cup Final, as Pembroke play host to Clontarf, whilst in the Phoenix Park, Leinster are the visitors to fourth placed Phoenix. Finally in Park Avenue, the teams who now find themselves as the ‘bottom two’ do battle, as Merrion visit Railway Union.

PEMBROKE VS CLONTARF

The rematch of last weekend’s Senior Cup Final sees the two sides doing battle in quick succession for the second time this season, last time the pair faced off twice in one weekend, seeing Clontarf bounce straight back from a league loss with a cup win, this time around they will be aiming to do the reverse.

David Delany keeps faith in much of the same side as played in last weekend’s showpiece final, with the only change seeing David Vincent, who was cup-tied and therefore ineligible, returning in place of Andrew Delany. That means they are likely to see David Delany returning to something of a ‘floating’ role in the order, which he performed to great effect at the latter stages of the regular season. Séamus Lynch and Mitchell Thompson both threatened early last weekend, however neither kicked on as they’d have liked, and both Curtis Campher and Pat Xie will be looking to add some big runs in what ultimately is set to be a huge game for the title. Eoghan Delany is vital in the number three role, whilst where Vincent, who made 172 in their last league game, bats in this side is also set to be a point to keep a close eye on. With the ball, Reuben Wilson and David Delany will share the opening duties most likely, whilst Campher will accompany John McNally with both likely to feature as first change. Cillian McDonnell is joined by Vincent as his second spinner this weekend, whilst Ethan Marshall offers an extra seamer for his captain to turn to.

Pembroke meanwhile make just one change themselves, strengthening the bowling unit as Olly Riley comes into the side in place of Andy Balbirnie. This will likely see JJ Garth returning to the top of the order, with Jack Tector and Gavin Hoey both moving up a slot each. Blake Macdonald has been the undoubted key for the side for the last couple of weeks, with his good form propelling the side to last weekend’s cup victory. After him, Harry Tector and Lorcan Tucker are two more men ‘Tarf will need to be extremely wary of, as naturally their ability to score big runs can take the game away from an opposition. The return of Riley makes it likely that the hosts will revert to two seamers with the new balls, with Byron McDonough in fine form opening the bowling in his own right, whilst Mark Berry is the third seamer in the attack. Paul Lawson could feasibly be another option to open the bowling here, whilst he’s supported in the spin department by Hoey’s excellent leg-breaks, and Harry Tector’s offies, which were so crucial in last weekend’s victory, earning him player of the match in that game.

Blake Macdonald has, in recent weeks, began to show everyone what he’s all about with bat in hand, and if he continues to be a destructive as he has been in the last two rounds of the Leinster Senior Cup, it will set Pembroke well on their way to victory. Clontarf will look to David Delany to knock Macdonald over, and if he does so, attention will turn to the potential of keeping Pembroke to a batting effort which can be overhauled.

KEY BATTLE: Blake Macdonald vs David Delany

PHOENIX VS LEINSTER

In the Park, Phoenix are looking to bounce back, after a surprise loss against The Hills sees them under a bit of pressure if they are to keep their title charge going. Leinster meanwhile will be all-too-aware of the perils their own challenge will face if they are beaten here, so will also need to be at the top of their game.

The hosts will lean on Eknoor Singh to get them off to a good start with the bat, and his tempo is key, allowing the likes of Shane Getkate, Tyrone Kane and George Dockrell to bat around him. Joe Cotgreave at number 5 is another prolific stroke-player, again who hasn’t quite kicked on to big scores as yet but could prove important in this tie. That’s before reaching the likes of gloveman Nic Pretorius, who will look to add impetus at the back end of the innings. With the ball, left-arm quick Tom Malone has been in fine form since his belated start this season, and he’ll likely share opening duties with Tyrone Kane. Raghav Grover has been used sparingly, and may be more prominent on a fresh deck this weekend, whilst the likes of Amish Sidhu and Ben White will be hoping they can out-do Leinster’s middle order.

The Rathmines men will hope their batting can fire on all cylinders this time around, as it did to great effect against Merrion two weeks ago. Younas Ahmadzai is their key man in the middle order, with his ability to score quickly and heavily a thorn in the side of any attack he comes up against, having made runs against Phoenix in the Alan Murray Cup Final, he will come in brimming with confidence. Ahead of him, Ben Mitchell will attempt to get the side off to a flying start, whilst Tom Johnson is more reserved in his stroke play. Monil Patel has been the class act in the side for much of the season and is another man with the ability to make big scores. Following that quartet, Joey Carroll, Saqib Bahadur and Mark Tonge all hit the ball cleanly, with Bahadur in particular in good form off the back of his unbeaten 85 two weeks ago. The bowling is led by the left-arm pair of Jai Moondra and Bilal Azhar, whilst Tonge and Carroll offer right-arm options. Mitchell will likely be used throughout the middle overs and into the death as has been the case for much of this season. Bahadur is now the main spinner and plays a vital role for the side.

Leinster’s batting is the key to this tie, if it gives their bowling a chance to flourish, they will be in the box seat to win the game. As a result, their key man here is set to be Younas Ahmadzai, and if he can survive the first change spell of the tricky Ben White, it will give the side a huge chance.

KEY BATTLE: Younas Ahmadzai vs Ben White

RAILWAY UNION VS MERRION

Railway Union’s bowling attack was in full song in the last game of the regular season, as spearheaded by Liam McCarthy they gutted North County to help earn their place in the Premier League. He will once again lead the way with the ball this time around, alongside a seam attack that has plenty to it. Farman Afridi and Muhammad Sinan are two excellent options who could partner McCarthy, whilst Mark Canniffe is the third seamer. Srihan Karpe has been the frontline spinner this season, and as usual is supported by Ashil Prakash. With the bat, Philippe le Roux has been the star when he’s played, with Rob O’Brien being excellent and consistent at number three. They will be hoping for a platform from Hedayat Khogiani and Prakash to build upon, whilst McCarthy, Karpe and Ryan Smith will make up much of the middle order, ahead of their gloveman Peter le Roux.

Merrion come into this tie once again without Adam Rosslee in their middle order, however aside from his absence, they do remain very strong. Stephen Doheny and Swapnil Modgill are one of the most destructive opening pairs in the league on their day, and whilst Modgill hasn’t fired on all cylinders of late, Doheny’s form has been imperious for much of the season. Connor Blaxall-Hill will appear at 3 and is sure to continue with his aggressive style in that role, whilst Jamie Forbes has been in strong form and will hope to make the slot at number 4 his own. John Anderson is likely to continue at 5, having shown his ability to accelerate and finish innings off well in abundance so far this term, Seb Dijkstra also comes into the side off the back of an unbeaten ton for their 2^nd XI last weekend. With the ball, Melvin Devaraj will lead the line, and could be partnered by Tom Stanton once again, with his brother Sean not in the side this weekend. Hugh Kennedy and Max Sorensen will deliver their seamers as the change bowlers in the side, whilst the spin will come from the leggie Dijkstra, left-arm of Danny Forkin and off-breaks of Blaxall-Hill, in an attack that has plenty of options for Sorensen to work through.

Liam McCarthy’s opening spell will need to break the door down for Merrion in this tie, however, if Stephen Doheny gets on top of him, the away side will prove very tough to stop, that is sure to be a huge part of the momentum of the game.

KEY BATTLE: Liam McCarthy vs Stephen Doheny

IBI CORPORATE FINANCE PREMIER LEAGUE

ROUND 1, AUGUST 9^TH, 12 NOON STARTS

At Sydney Parade, Pembroke vs Clontarf

At Phoenix Park, Phoenix vs Leinster

At Park Avenue, Railway Union vs Merrion