SPORTSHUB PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW - ROUND 12 (JULY 17TH)

This Thursday sees round 12 of the SportsHub Premier League take place after a week’s hiatus to allow for the Senior Cup final which saw Merrion come away with the trophy for the 3^rd time in 5 years.

This week sees all teams compete in a full round of fixtures with the exception of Rush who have the bye. The action is as follows: Clontarf welcome Pembroke to Castle Avenue while Merrion make the trip to Skerries to take on The Hills, Balbriggan will host Leinster and Phoenix will do the same for Malahide to round out a full round of home fixtures for the Northside teams.

CLONTARF VS PEMBROKE

Captain Freya Sargent is a key player in Clontarf’s batting order, and her performance will be crucial if they hope to post a competitive total. She’s expected to be joined in the top three by Alice Walsh, who brings solid form from recent matches and Julie McNally. The remainder of the top six is likely to include Susan Lawless, Gemma Sargent, and Genevieve Morrissey in some combination. It’s a lineup the Castle Avenue side will back to deliver a strong showing on Thursday.

With the ball, left-arm seamer Sinead Thompson spearheads the attack, with support from McNally and Walsh. Clontarf also has additional pace options in Ava O’Reilly and Annabel Walsh, forming a well-rounded and dependable bowling unit capable of putting pressure on Pembroke’s batting.

Pembroke come into this fixture looking to bounce back after a disappointing cup final loss last week, they however maintain a strong position in the league and  will be looking to build on this season.

Pembroke will once again have their full core lineup available this week. Their batting will be led by Orla Prendergast, who is expected to slot in at number three behind the international pairing of Sarah Forbes and Lou Lou Little. The top five will be rounded out by captain Shauna Kavanagh and the experienced Claire Shillington, forming a strong and experienced batting unit that can also call on Louise McCarthy and Isobel Jennings should they be required.

On the bowling front, Hannah Little will lead the attack. With Orla Prendergast’s workload likely to be carefully managed ahead  of the weekend’s internationals, Pembroke will rely heavily on Lou Lou Little and Mhairi Nicoll to share the bulk of the seam duties alongside Hannah and Kimli McDonald . The side also boasts a dependable spin duo in Sarah Forbes and Zoe Bell, giving them a well-balanced and versatile bowling unit.

Freya Sargent is her side’s most important batting cog, if she has a good outing her side will be in a good position, Hannah Little will look to ensure this doesn’t happen and get her side off to the perfect start.

Key Battle – Freya Sargent vs Hannah Little

THE HILLS VS MERRION

The Hills currently sit second last in the league table but are only a win’s worth of points off 5^th place in a congested table. They will be hopeful of ensuring they take the first step to ensuing their premier league safety this week.

Tahlia Dunne will once again anchor the batting line-up having been deemed fit to play after some ongoing injury issues, she will be supported by the Maguire sisters, Abbi Harrison, and Rebecca Gough. Together, they form a unit that the girls from Skerries know can challenge any opposition when firing on all cylinders. Lara McBride is another important cog in the batting unit as they look to post a competitive  total.

In the bowling department, Jane Maguire will lead the attack, with seam support from Gough, Vanessa Scollard, they will look to these 3 to really step up in the absence of Erin Caroll who is out for the season. Dunne brings variety with her spin, while Caoimhe Emmet and Sarah Everard add further depth to an already well-rounded bowling group. Lara McBride’s presence is also huge here as her off spin can provide excellent control through the middle overs.

Merrion come into this fixture flying high having won the senior cup last Friday and will be hopeful of another strong showing this week to make a start on catching Pembroke at the top of the table.

They will be thankful of the return of Annabel Squires to partner Bella Armstrong at the top of the order, Merrion will be without Leah Paul and Rebecca Stokell, however they were indebted to Isobel Joyce in last week’s cup final. Other notable names they can call on with the bat include Ally Boucher and Celeste Raack and Isabel Light.

Niamh McNulty looks set to lead the seam attack on her return from injury, likely taking the new ball alongside Sibha Bhoja, with Aoife Brennan the third seamer. In the spin department, the Anglesea Road side features a formidable trio, Leah Paul, Bella Armstrong, and Aisling Lawlor, bringing depth and variety through the middle overs. It’s a unit that could well be the most potent spin attack in the league. Ally Boucher is also likely to take the gloves once again while Ashwi Manoj is another young talent to keep an eye out for.

Tahlia Dunne is the key for her side with the bat in hand and they will be hopeful she can get them off to a flier this week, Niamh MacNulty will be tasked with ensuring that doesn’t happen and getting her side on top early.

Key Battle – Tahlia Dunne vs Niamh MacNulty

BALBRIGGAN VS LEINSTER

Balbriggan and Leinster both sit in the middle of the table with only 15 points separating them, both will be hopeful of a win and mounting a challenge on Pembroke and Merrion.

Balbriggan’s batting is generally underpinned by Ciara Gibson, however she continues to miss out through injury, meaning they will look to overseas talent Ella Marsh to provide some much needed firepower in the top order. The lineup also features the in-form Maritz sisters, both of whom have been standout performers this season. Buoyed by a strong start to the campaign, Balbriggan will head into this fixture confident in their position near the top of the table.

On the bowling front, Lara Maritz leads the charge and is expected to share the new ball with off-spinner Ella Marsh. The attack is complemented by the likes of Anna Vezhakattu, as well as teenagers Robyn Claxton and Marisa Curtis, providing a well-rounded set of options. After a break to recharge their bowling unit will no doubt come out firing in a must win game.

Joanna Loughran and Rebecca Rolfe are set to open the batting, providing a reliable platform at the top of the order. The side is without Eimear Richardson, Sophie MacMahon, Laura Delany and Ava Canning this week, meaning they will look to their depth from their second team, the likes of Tash Richardson, Isabel Saeed-Maguire and Orla Bagnall, to fill the middle order up. Finishing duties will fall to Jenny Sparrow and Karina Bell, both powerful hitters, with Bell particularly confident after strong showings in recent weeks.

With the ball, Karina Bell is expected to lead the attack, and her pace will be key in the absence of many international stars for this tie. Jenny Sparrow and Orla Bagnall will support her, whilst there are youngsters who have shown some ability with the ball in this side this season, including Isabella Merriman that still has many options if their internationals stars are unavailable. rounding out a pace-heavy but high-quality bowling lineup.

Karina Bell will be pivotal for her side coming off of some very strong showings in recent weeks they will look to her to remove Balbriggan’s key player Lara Maritz, and potentially give her side the upper hand.

Key Battle – Karina Bell vs Lara Maritz

PHOENIX VS MALAHIDE

Phoenix currently sit bottom of the table and will be hopeful of a change in  fortunes this week. Malahide sit in mid table and will be hopeful of mounting a challenge on the top 3 with a couple of wins.

Malahide’s batting is typically anchored by overseas professional Meg Thompson, however she will be missing usual top three companions Amy Hunter and Arlene Kelly, making her vital to her side’s start, particularly important on a ground where the powerplay can heavily influence the outcome due to its challenging boundaries. Should the top order stumble, Malahide still boast solid depth, with Anna Kerrison, Saibh Mitchell, Sarah Brophy, and Haley Moore all capable of stabilizing the innings through the middle overs if needed.

With the ball, seamers Sarah Condron and Maria O’Halloran will lead the way, with support coming from Sarah Brophy, and Saibh Mitchell. In the spin department, Meg Thompson will shoulder the responsibility of controlling the middle overs alongside Anna Kerrison.

Phoenix have endured a tough league campaign in 2025, currently sitting bottom although the glimmer of hope will be that they sit barely 1 win away from getting out of the relegation zone in a tight league table. They'll be optimistic about bouncing back this week with a strong batting group, ordinarily led by Gaby Lewis who misses this week, meaning the unit features Lucy McDonough, Zara Craig, Alison Black, and Siúin Woods – however considering the side has struggled somewhat in Lewis’ absence recently, they will be hoping for one of this unit to stand up.

Zara Craig will head up the bowling attack and is expected to share the new ball with Ali Keenan. The Phoenix Park side will also have seam options in McDonough and Black, while Arisha Foysal offers a quality spin threat. With a well-rounded attack, they’ll back themselves to challenge a Malahide outfit that have been prone to misfiring this season.

Key Battle – Zara Craig vs Sarah Condron