SPORTSHUB PREMIER LEAGUE PREVIEW - SATURDAY JUNE 21ST

After a small midweek round of fixtures that saw Pembroke and Leinster close the gap at the top of the table as they took wins from Phoenix and Rush respectively. It is now very tight at the top of the table and this round of fixtures could prove pivotal as each team will play two games this coming weekend on the second triple header T20 day.

The action is as follows: our featured games come from Balbriggan who will host Clontarf and Phoenix at the Jack Harper ground, Pembroke and Merrion will travel to Leinster while The Hills will play host to Malahide and Rush in an all northside affair.

BALBRIGGAN

Balbriggan have had a turbulent start to the season going from a slow start to now sitting in 3^rd in the table with a game in hand. This weekend will prove pivotal for them as they host Clontarf and Phoenix in two very winnable games.

Balbriggan’s turnaround can be attributed in no small part due to the trio of overseas signings that landed a couple of weeks into the season in Ciara Gibson, Ella Marsh and Madison Landsman, they came in the form of much needed reinforcements for the Maritz sisters and together these 5 form a formidable batting unit that will strike fear into any opponent’s attack. Ciara Gibson is the leader of the pack and is off the back of an excellent 60 in the reverse of their fixture against Phoenix, Balbriggan will hope she is the mood for similar this weekend.

Their bowlers are led by the seam of skipper Lara Maritz, she has support in the seam department from Erin Bond and Tamsin Hope, while their spin will come in the form of overseas duo Ella Marsh and Madison Landsman in a well balanced attack.

They key on the day for Balbriggan will be Lara Maritz, she is the skipper and a ladder with both bat and ball for her side, if she has a good day her team will be in a good position to come away with two wins.

Key Player – Lara Maritz

CLONTARF

Clontarf come into this fixture after a tricky loss against Malahide during the week, they will know that two wins this weekend will propel them into the mid table madness on the summer solstice.

Christina Coulter Reily is the skipper and the most important cog in her side’s batting unit they will no doubt feel her loss dearly as she again proved the mainstay of her side’s batting effort on Thursday evening, there will be increased roles for Alice Walsh and Julie McNally in her side’s top 3. The top 6 will likely consist of Susan Lawless, Gemma Sargent and Genevieve Morrisey in some formation. It is a batting unit that the Castle Avenue side will feel confident of putting on a show come Saturday.

Their seam attack is led by the left armer Sinead Thompson, she will have support from Julie McNally and Alice Walsh in her department, Clontarf also have Ava O’Reilly and Annabel Walsh to call on in a well-rounded attack.

Alice Walsh is the key to her side’s performance on Saturday, her side will bat around her as she tries to shepherd them to two unassailable totals.

Key Battle – Alice Walsh

PHOENIX

Phoenix’s batting is generally led by Gaby Lewis, she will be unavailable this week placing increased emphasis on Nevedha Saravanarajan and the in-form Suin Woods and together they will try to ensure their side get off to two fliers on a ground with tricky dimensions to defend. The middle order will be made up of the skipper Zara Craig, Arisha Foysal and Alison Black who have a huge amount of ability should the top 3 misfire.

Zara Craig and Ali Keenan will likely share the new ball for their side while relying on support from Lily McDonough and Rhea Nair. Arisha Foysal is the real point of difference for her side with her leg spin and she rounds out a strong attack for the Phoenix park side.

Arisha Foysal will be huge for her side on Saturday, as previously mentioned it is a ground that is tough to defend and her side’s best form defence will be attack. If she can keep the wickets flowing it will be hard for either team to get away from her side.

Key Player – Arisha Foysal

LEINSTER

Leinster come into this game off the back of a comfortable win away to Rush. Rebecca Rolfe and Tash Richardson will likely form the opening partnership for their side and will have a huge role to play in a side that will probably be most affected by the missing super series players.  Their middle order will take on a new look with increased responsibility Karina Bell, Isobel Saeed Maguire and Jenny Sparrow, in absence of Delany, McMahon, Richardson and Canning.

With the ball Karina Bell will lead the attack, she will have the support of Katie Dillon and Isabella Merriman in the seam department. The Rathmines outfit also have Orla Bagnall and Jenny Sparrow to call on should they be required.

Rebecca Rolfe will be key for her side, she is the most experienced batter in her side and they will look to her to guide them to two strong batting efforts.

Key Player – Rebecca Rolfe

PEMBROKE

Pembroke come into this fixture off the back of a strong showing against Phoenix on Thursday night. However few teams will be hit harder than the foxes with the lack of super series player availability for this round of fixtures.

Their regular top 3 of Lou Lou Little, Orla Prendergast and Sarah Forbes will all be unavailable. The experienced duo of Shillington and Kavanagh will be huge wickets for their opponents and they will be supported in a new look top 5 by Zoe Bell. Isobel Jennings and the hard hitting Izzy McClean.

Pembroke’s seam attack will take a similar hit with the loss of Lou Lou Little and Prendergast, in their absence Hannah Little will lead the attack with support in the seam department from Mhairi Nicoll and KimLi McDonald . The spin will come in the shape of the returning Louise McCarthy and Zoe Bell rounding out a strong attack for their side despite the missing names.

Leinster’s top 3 is their strength and Pembroke will be hopeful that Hannah Little can out a ‘hole’ in it early and get her side on top.

Key Player – Hannah Little

MERRION

Merrion have enjoyed a strong start to the season and currently sit on top of the table after the 7 rounds of fixtures. Their batting is led by overseas Bella Armstrong who has enjoyed a brilliant season to this point she will be joined by Annabel Squires who has gone from strength to strength in recent weeks. Those two will have increased responsibility this week with the absence of Paul and Stokell. Merrion will however have a huge amount of confidence in their depth, the middle order will be marshalled by Isobel Joyce while their will be a bigger opportunity to contribute for Aoife Brennan, Celeste Raack and Ally Boucher.

Merrion will be hopeful of the return of their skipper Niamh McNulty to lead the attack, if she returns she will share the new ball with Sibha Bhoja who has enjoyed a strong showing in 2025. Raack will lead the spinners while Merrion will also have Aoife Brennan and Annabel Squires to call on if needed on Saturday.

The key for Merrion will be Annabel Squires, she has been in great form this season and it will be vital for her team that she has a good day with bat and ball on Saturday.

Key Player – Annabel Squires

THE HILLS

The Hills have not had an easy time of it this season and will be hopeful of a change in fortunes this season. Their batting is led by their overseas Tahlia Dunne, she has shown her class already this season and will have support this week in the form of Abbi Harrison, Rebecca Gough and Alice Walsh in a batting unit the skerries outfit will feel can put it up to any team on their day.

Their bowling unit will miss their leader in international seamer of Jane Maguire, in her absence there will be increased emphasis on Rebecca Gough, Erin Carrol and Vanessa Scollard while the solitary spinner in the side will be Tahlia Dunne. Harrison is likely to take the gloves for her side along with opening the batting.

Tahlia Dunne is the key for her side on Saturday, they will need her to fire in both games to ensure two competitive totals.

Key Player – Tahlia Dunne

RUSH

Rush come into this weekend off the back of a tough midweek outing at home to Leinster. Their batting is heavily reliant on Ocean Bartlett and she will need support from McGee, Beggs and Neely to ensure their side can replicate the outcome from the last T20 triple header that saw them take 2 wins from these same opponents.

Their bowling is led by Aisling McCormack and she will have support from Neely and Beggs in the seam department. The real point of difference for Rush is their brace of right arm leg spinner in Bartlett and McGee who will need to fire in order to stop sides from getting away from them on what is possibly the best batting ground in the province.

Ocean Bartlett holds the key for her side this week, if she has a good day with bat and ball her side has a good chance of coming away with two wins.

Key Player – Ocean Barlett

MALAHIDE

Malahide come into this fixture off the back of a good midweek win over Clontarf set up by their bowlers and an assured chase followed. Their batting is spearheaded by their overseas Meg Thompson and she is generally joined in the top 3 by a brace of internationals in Amy Hunter and Arlene Kelly, they are unavailable for this round of fixtures however. Malahide will to call on in their skipper Anna Kerrison, Sarah Brophy and Gemma Devally to step up in the batting unit this week to ensure two competitive batting efforts.

With the ball Sarah Condron will lead the attack in the absence of Arlene Kelly she will likely share the ball with Maria O’Halloran, they will be supported by Saibh Mitchell  and Brophy in the seam department while the attack will rounded out with a pair of right arm off spinners in Meg Thompson and Anna Kerrison.

Meg Thompson will be tasked with getting her side off to a flier on a fast scoring ground, if she has a good day alongside her international colleagues will surely lead to two insurmountable totals on the day.

Key Player – Meg Thompson