This weekend sees the completion (weather permitting) of the Open Competitions Cup Finals with two more matches. Like last weekend which saw games in Mullingar and central Dublin, the venues again show the extent of the game across Leinster with clubs from Carlow, Kildare and both sides of Dublin city playing in matches in Fingal and Wicklow.
Minor Cup Final
Bagenalstown 2 v North Kildare 3 – Sat 20th August at Ring Commons – Start 12.30
There was a Minor Cup competition in the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s but a reorganisation led to it ceasing to exist and the trophy being used for another competition. Increasing numbers of teams in the ‘70s and ‘80s led to a new competition being introduced in 1986. The current trophy, presented to the union by Michael McGuinness of Rush dates from then.
North Kildare have made three final appearances since then, winning the trophy in 1995. Bagenalstown were unsuccessful in their only appearance in 2005. The cup has gone out of the main Dublin area before. Laois won it in 2007 and 2008 and it is the only Leinster trophy to have crossed the Shannon. For a few years around the turn of the century, a County Mayo team existed, were allowed into some Leinster competitions and won the Minor Cup in 1999. The defeated team was Merrion 7 and if memory serves, that final in Civil Service featured one of the first appearances in adult competition of the Joyce twin sisters Cecilia and Isobel, who have of course since gone on to much greater things.
Bagenalstown had victories over Halverstown, Castleknock 3 and Ashbourne to get to the final. North Kildare defeated the holders Swords 2 in the first round and then beat Dublin University 3 and Adamstown 4. Both teams are in league division 13 with North Kildare having the better record there but this is the cup.
Minor 2 Final
AIB v Clontarf 6 – Sun 21st August at Greystones (Druid’s Glen) – Start 12.30
The Minor 2 Cup is the newest Leinster cup competition having commenced in 2014. The trophy, presented by Greystones C.C. in memory of the late Sean Stanley, a Wicklow cricketer who played for various clubs.
Clontarf 6 were defeated finalists in 2015 while AIB when they were a taverners (non-league) team, had two unsuccessful appearances in Minor Cup finals in recent seasons. Either way it will be a new name on the cup.
AIB defeated Evening Herald Taverners in a preliminary round, had a walkover against Dundalk 2 and then put paid to Civil Service 5 and North Kildare 4. Clontarf won a bowl out against Adamstown 5 and went on to beat Merrion 8 and then Tyrrelstown in the semi-final
AIB took the Russell Court T20 cup some weeks ago. They are in their second season of league cricket and are topping Division 16. However Clontarf are leading Division 15 which possibly makes them slight favourites.