SPORTSHUB PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW – ROUND 6 (JUNE 12TH)

Following on from a week long break after a round that saw some scintillating weekend action, the SportsHub Premier League is back this week with a full round of fixtures to enjoy. The action is as follows: Clontarf will host The Hills at Castle Avenue while Pembroke will make the trip to Malahide. Elsewhere Phoenix will host Rush while Merrion welcome Balbriggan to Anglesea Road for the only action slated for D4. Leinster have the bye this week but will be keeping a keen eye on outcome of the action.

After a bumper round of fixtures in the last round Merrion lead the table by a clear margin, Balbriggan have well and truly turned around their fortunes after a rough start to the season, jumping to second place after securing two wins in the most recent round. Pembroke and Leinster have fallen to 3^rd and 4^th respectively after taking 1 and 0 wins from 2 games at the last time of asking. However it is still tight and Merrion will know that one slip up will allow the chasing pack to close the gap heading into this year’s ‘busy season’.

Clontarf vs The Hills

Clontarf come into this game off of the back of one loss and one win in the last round. They will be glad to have gotten on the board but will be hoping for more this week as they attempt to put a tough start to the season behind them.

Christina Coulter-Reilly will lead from the front with the bat and will no doubt be brimming with confidence having gotten her side over the line almost single handedly against Phoenix at the back end of a DL thriller. She will likely be joined by Alice Walsh and Julie McNally in the top 3 and they will look to do the bulk of the damage early doors for the Castle Avenue side. The middle order will likely be made up of Susan Lawless, Lucy Barry and Gemma Sargent who Clontarf will hope will have a fruitful return as they look to set an unassailable total, they will also be hopeful of the return of Genevieve Morrisey from injury who has left a big hole with bat and ball for her side.

Clontarf have a battery of seamer bowlers to call on in Sinead Thompson, Lucy Barry and Alice Walsh, with Morrisey unlikely to be fit enough to bowl in this fixture this trio will do the bulk of the work for Clontarf. They also have Ava O’Reilly along with Gemma Sargent to call on should the need arise.

The Hills will be coming into this fixture in a really good vein of form, having gotten on the board with a win from their second game on their trip to Kenure in the last round. The had to do without Tahlia Dunne on that day but will be hopeful of her return for this week to partner Abbi Harrison who lead the charge at the top of the order in her absence. They will be joined in the top 5 by Lara McBride, Jane Maguire and Rebecca Gough who together will try and shepherd their team to a competitive total on what is traditionally a good batting ground.

Their bowlers will be led by the International seam of Jane Maguire who will be supported in her department by Erin Carroll and Rebecca Gough, The Hills will also have Tara O’Brien and Vanessa Scollard to call on while also pinning their spin bowling hopes on Lara McBride’s right-arm off-spin.

Christina Coulter-Reilly will look to carry on where she left off in the last round this week, Jane Maguire will be tasked with removing her, whoever prevails is sure to put their team in the box seat.

Key Battle – Christina Coulter-Reilly vs Jane Maguire

Pembroke vs Malahide

Pembroke will have been disappointed to fall down the table after a rain affected loss to Merrion and a good win over Leinster, they will be looking to put that right this week and will have their full battalion to rely upon.

Their batting will be spearheaded by Orla Prendergast who is off the back of a strong effort against Merrion and a weekend Super Series hundred. The top 3 will be rounded out with two more internationals in Sarah Forbes and Louise Little. This trio will look to come out firing in the powerplay knowing they have the depth to prevail if Malahide get on top early. The middle order boasts two more internationals in skipper Shauna Kavanagh and Clare Shillington who will use all of their experience to keep their team ticking over in the middle overs.

Orla Prendergast will lead the attack with support in the seam department from Lousie Little, Hannah Little and Mhairi Nicoll. The Foxes will also have the spin of Zoe Bell and Sarah Forbes to call on in a well-rounded attack.

Malahide had a tough day out on the triple header weekend coming off second best in two tight contests to The Hills and Rush. They will feel confident of putting that right on their home  patch this weekend.

Meg Thompson will lead the batting unit for the village and she has been in outstanding form this season, Malahide will be hopeful she will be joined by Amy Hunter at the top of the order and together the two form a formidable opening partnership, they will be joined in the top order by Arlene Kelly who had a good day out at Kenure blasting 62 from just 35 deliveries. Malahide will also have the prowess of Sarah Condron, Gemma Devally and skipper Anna Kerrison to call on through the middle overs should they be required.

With the ball they will be led by Arlene Kelly, she will be supported in the seam department by Sarah Condron, Maria O’Halloran and Sarah Brophy. They will also have the spin of skipper Anna Kerrison to call on through the middle overs.

Orla Prendergast will lead the attack for Pembroke, if she can remove Meg Thompson who Malahide have been heavily reliant on that will go a long way to putting her side on top.

Key Battle – Orla Prendergast vs Meg Thompson

Phoenix vs Rush

Rush got their season off and running in fine style with 2 wins from 2 on their home turf. Now they have a taste for it they will no doubt be in the mood for more this coming Thursday.

Their batting is led by the formidable duo of Ocean Bartlett and Aoife Beggs who were both in fine form as they knocked off Malahide’s 150 off the last ball in the previous  round. They will be joined in the top 6 Lucy Neely, all-rounder Ellie McGee and O’Donohoe sisters.

From a bowling perspective Aisling McCormack will lead the Rush attack, they will also heavily rely on the leg spinning duo of overseas Ocean Bartlett and Ellie McGee to provide threat to a strong Phoenix batting line up through the middle overs. They also have Lucy Neely and Aoife Beggs to call on if required.

Phoenix come into this fixture off the back of two disappointing losses at the hands of Balbriggan and Clontarf in the last round. They will none the less feel confident of turning things around this week.

Gaby Lewis will lead their batting unit and she is in fine form off the back of a fine 90 in the Super Series during the week. She will be supported in the top order by Nevedha Saravanarajan and Siúin Woods, who made a nice 48 in the last round with little support. The middle order will be made up of Zara Craig, Arisha Foysal and Alison Black, Phoenix will look to these 6 to deal the bulk of the damage if they are to post a competitive total.

The bowlers are led by the seam of Zara Craig she will likely form an opening partnership with Ali Keenan who Phoenix missed last week. The spin of Arisha Foysal will no doubt play a pivotal role through the middle overs and she will be supported in her endeavours during that period of the game by Rhea Nair and Sophie McDonough in a well-rounded attack.

Gaby Lewis is the key for Phoenix, if she fires they’ll be in a very strong position, it will be the responsibility of Aisling McCormack to remove her early and put her side on top.

Key Battle – Gaby Lewis vs Aisling McCormack

Merrion vs Balbriggan

This fixture is made up of two teams that are riding high off the back of two wins in the last round. Merrion will of course be the happier side sitting on top of the table and ‘a win’ clear of Balbriggan however they will know that a slip up this week will mean it is anyone’s game.

Merrion will look to their strong top order to get them off to a strong start, they have 3 players in form in their top 3 in Annabel Squires, Bella Armstrong and Rebecca Stokell, all 3 have fired at times this season and Merrion will be looking for much of the same this week. Their top 5 will be rounded out in International fashion with the addition of Leah Paul and Isobel Joyce, they also have the clean-hitting of Aoife Brennan to call on if required.

Their bowling unit is led by Niamh McNulty who unfortunately is again unlikely to feature this week, in her place Sibha Bhoja will take the new ball and look to make early inroads. From there it is a ‘death by spin’ approach as Bella Armstrong and Leah Paul are likely to make up a large bulk of the overs. The Anglesea Road side also have Annabel Squires, Aoife Brennan who is off the back of a scintillating 5/17 and Aisling Lawlor to call on if required.

Ciara Gibson will lead the charge with the bat for Balbriggan, she will be likely joined in the top 3 by the Maritz sisters who were both in fine form in the last round, their top 5 is rounded out with a pair of overseas players in Ella Marsh and Madison Landsman. Balbriggan will know that these 5 will have to fire if they are to post a formidable total on what is a very high scoring ground.

Lara Martiz’s seam will lead the attack for Balbriggan, she will be supported in the seam department by Erin Bond and her sister Tess. However the real point of difference is their duo of overseas spinners in Ella Marsh and Madison Landsman who the ‘Brigg will need to tie down and very strong Merrion batting unit through the middle overs.

Annabel Squires has been in fine form, getting her side off to strong starts throughout the season, if she does so this week Balbriggan will face an uphill battle to get a win, Lara Maritz will be tasked with making sure this doesn’t happen and getting her side on top early doors.

Key Battle – Annabel Squires vs Lara Maritz

SPORTSHUB PREMIER LEAGUE

ROUND 6 – JUNE 12^TH, ALL 18:15 START

At Castle Avenue, Clontarf vs The Hills

At Sydney Parade, Pembroke vs Malahide

At Phoenix Park, Phoenix vs Rush

At Anglesea Road, Merrion vs Balbriggan