SPORTSHUB PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW - ROUND 7 (JUNE 19TH)

This week sees round 7 of the SportsHub Premier League, just 3 fixtures will be played ahead of a bumper round of fixtures on Saturday. Balbriggan, The Hills and Merrion will all have the day off and can prepare for a big weekend. The action will be as follows, Malahide will host Clontarf while Leinster will make the trip to Kenure to take on Rush, lastly Phoenix will play hosts to Pembroke in the ‘Park.

Not much in the league table has changed since last week as a biblical downpour of rain meant all of Thursday’s fixtures were wiped out. The real winners from that outcome were Leinster who had the bye and have a chance this week to close the gap on the league leaders with their game in hand.

MALAHIDE VS CLONTARF

Malahide have had a tough start to 2025 having only 1 win from their first 5 games. They will be confident of kickstarting their season this Thursday ahead of a big round of fixtures on Saturday.

Their batting will be spearheaded by their overseas, Meg Thompson, she has been in scintillating form this season and Malahide will hope she fires. Malahide will be hopeful that their top 3 will be rounded out in international fashion with Amy Hunter and Arlene Kelly forming a formidable trio that any team would be worried about. The middle order is likely to be marshalled by skipper Anna Kerrison with support from Sarah Condron, Sarah Brophy and Gemma Devally. Malahide will feel confident in their batting stocks and will hope they fire in some combination in order to score a competitive total.

The seamers are led by Sarah Condron, she will likely be partnered by Maria O’Halloran with the new ball and together the two will look to put Clontarf under pressure in the powerplay. Support in the seam department will come in the form of Haley Moore and Sarah Brophy. Malahide also have a brace of spinners to call on in Anna Kerrison and Meg Thompson in a well-rounded attack.

Clontarf are another team who will be disappointed with their start to the season only managing one win in their opening fixtures. They will however be confident that their young squad can bounce back and mount a comeback on the league season.

Their batting unit is led by their skipper and Irish international Christina Coulter-Reilly who Clontarf have to thank for their solitary win in 2025. She will likely be joined by Alice Walsh and Julie McNally in the top 3 and Clontarf will hope they can deal the bulk of the damage. ‘Tarf will also have the exploits of Susan Lawless, Gemma Sargent and Genevieve Morrisey to call on through the middle order should they be required.

Clontarf have one of the strongest seam attacks in the league to call on, made up of the left arm Sinead Thompson along with Julie McNally and Ava O’Reilly. They will also have Alice Walsh, Gemma Sargent and Annabel Walsh to call on if required.

This battle is likely to come down to Clontarf’s strong seam attack versus a hugely strong Malahide top 3. If Sinead Thompson can remove Meg Thompson early her side will be on top.

KEY BATTLE: Sinead Thompson vs Meg Thompson

LEINSTER VS RUSH

As previously mentioned Leinster will see this fixture as a chance to close the gap at the top of the league after being dealt a stroke of luck on Thursday, the challenge is a steep one against a Rush side that have had a major turn in fortunes in recent weeks.

Leinster’s batting will be opened by Joanna Loughran and Rebecca Rolfe who together will look to get their team off to a strong start in the powerplay. The top 5 is made up of 3 more internationals in Laura Delany, Sophie McMahon and Eimear Richardson, The Rathmines based outfit will also have Ava Canning and Karina Bell to call on if required.

With the ball they are led by the outright pace of Bell who is nicely complimented in the new ball partnership with the prodigious swing of Ava Canning. Leinster can then call on a pair of metronomic seamer in Delany and McMahon. Their attack is rounded out with the spin of Eimear Richardson, they also have the seam of Jenny Sparrow as another option if required.

Rush have been on fire in recent weeks and currently sit 5^th in the league table. This is thanks in no small part to Ocean Bartlett who has been in excellent form leading her side’s batting unit, their top 3 is likely to include Aoife Beggs and Lucy Neely who Rush will look to do the bulk of the work, they also have Lauren Wilde and the O’Donohoe sisters to call on should the top 3 misfire.

With ball in hand they are led by Aisling McCormack, she will be joined by Aadita Ramnathpur with the new ball along with support from Lucy Neely in the seam department. Their attack is rounded out with a duo of leg spinners in Ellie McGee and Ocean Bartlett who Rush will no doubt feel are their real point of difference.

Ocean Bartlett holds the key for Rush with the bat, Karina Bell will no doubt be gunning for her with the new ball, whoever prevails will leave their team in a strong position for this contest.

KEY BATTLE: Karina Bell vs Ocean Bartlett

PHOENIX VS PEMBROKE

Phoenix have had a middling start to 2025 with two wins, two losses and 2 no results from their first 6 fixtures in a remarkably symmetrical run of games. Pembroke are sat in 3^rd and will no doubt have been frustrated by the rain on Thursday with their full battalion raring to go.

Phoenix’s batting unit is led by the Irish skipper Gaby Lewis and she will have support in the form of Siúin Woods and Nevedha Saravanarajan in the top 3. Their top 5 will be rounded out with Zara Craig and Alison Black who have shown glimpses of what they can do this season.

With the ball, Zara Craig and Ali Keenan will partner with the new ball, they will be supported by Nevedha Saravanarajan and Sophie McDonough in the seam department. The sole spinner in the side is Arisha Foysal with Phoenix also having Rhea Nair to call on.

Pembroke once again will have their full core unit available this week. Their batting will be led by Orla Prendergast, she will likely bat 3 behind the international duo of Sarah Forbes and Lou Lou Little. They will be joined in the top 5 by skipper Shauna Kavanagh along with Clare Shillington.

The bowlers will be led by Hannah Little, with Prendergast’s overs likely to be managed Pembroke will look to Lou Lou Little and Mhairi Nicoll to do the bulk of the seam bowling work along side Hannah Little, Pembroke also have a duo of spinners to call on in Sarah Forbes and Zoe Bell in a well balanced attack.

Phoenix are heavily reliant on the batting of Gaby Lewis, if Hannah Little can remove  her, her side will surely feel they are well on their way to victory in the Park.

KEY BATTLE: Gaby Lewis vs Hannah Little

SPORTSHUB PREMIER LEAGUE

ROUND 7, JUNE 19TH, ALL 18:15 STARTS

At The Village, Malahide vs Clontarf

At Observatory Lane, Leinster vs Rush

At Phoenix Park, Phoenix vs Pembroke