SPORTSHUB PREMIER LEAGUE - ROUND 2 PREVIEW (MAY 14TH)

Round 2 of the SportsHub Premier league fixtures are upon us before we know it. Last week saw some electric cricket played across 4 fixtures. Leinster ran out easy winners over Balbriggan, due mainly to a brilliant all round performance from Laura Delaney. In ‘the village’ a lone hand from Meg Thompson of 74* wasn’t enough to drag her side over the line as they fell 16 runs short against Phoenix. Meanwhile in Sandymount, Merrion and Pembroke both ran out victors over The Hills and Clontarf respectively due to solid all round team performances across the board.

This week sees only 3 games played. Clontarf travel to Malahide, Leinster play host to Rush, while Pembroke welcome Phoenix to Sydney Parade.

MALAHIDE VS CLONTARF

Kicking off in the Village, the home side ran out agonising losers to Phoenix on week 1 but will be buoyed by the form of their new overseas Meg Thompson who led their charge in pursuit of 140 with 74*. They will know that with a little bit more support around her they will be an excellent place with the bat heading into week 2.

Clontarf had a tough week 1 coming up against a strong Pembroke side with most of their star power available. While a tough result to take on week 1 the Castle Avenue side have positives to take into this encounter. The remained steadfast with ball in hand limiting a Pembroke side with no less than 5 international cap holders to just 122AO from their allotted 20 overs. It was a group effort as Barry, Walsh and Pasley all picked up 2 wickets a piece. With bat in hand ‘Tarf struggled, losing their skipper and International star Coulter Reilly first ball of the innings got them off to the worst possible start, throughout their was limited support for McNally who top scored with a composed 36. Clontarf will know that with a little bit more application with the bat, they will be real contenders this year. They will be helped in no small part to do this by the arrival of their overseas from last year Robyn Searle.

Malahide will no doubt look to their overseas star in Meg Thompson to fire them to a competitive total. Clontarf will look to Sinead Thomson to get one through her defences early, if she can do so it will go a  long way to putting Clontarf on top.

KEY BATTLE: Meg Thompson vs Sinead Thomson

LEINSTER VS RUSH

Leinster kicked off their campaign in fine style with a thumping 88 run win over Balbriggan. Laura Delany was undoubtably the star of the show, first she guided her side to a competitive 138 in Observatory Lane with support from Canning and Richardson, she then retuned in the second innings to collect the frankly ridiculous figures of 4 overs 5 for 2. She did so after the early damage of Karina Bell with 3-8.

Rush are newly promoted this year and are somewhat of an unknown quantity at this level. The come into the season off the back of some hugely impressive Division 2 performances however and will no doubt be confident of prospering in their new league. In their 2024 campaign their key player with ball in hand was Ellie McGee, she led the league collecting 14 wickets at 6.71, she was ably supported by Ocean Bartlett who collected 9 wickets over the course of the season. With the bat with Rush will look to Rachel Bolton who led the charge for them in 2024.

This battle promises to be a belter, Delany is the player to watch after week 1, if McGee can remove her, her side will be in a strong position.

KEY BATTLE: Ellie McGee vs Laura Delany

PEMBROKE VS PHOENIX

The Sydney Parade based side got off to a solid start on week 1, while a little turgid with the bat they got themselves into a strong position at the halfway point and looked a class apart with ball in the second. Lou Lou Little got her side off to a blistering start but wickets fell regularly and Pembroke were indebted to Shauna Kavanagh’s 29 which held her side’s batting effort together and ensured the churned out a competitive total. With the ball the Pembroke side got off to the perfect start with Little removing Coulter Reilly first ball of the innings. From there it was team effort for the ‘broke with Lou Lou Little’s older sister Hannah picking up 2 wickets along with 2 for McDonald and Nicoll.

Phoenix also ran out victors on week 1 and will be coming into this fixture riding high after a tough 2024 season. Arisha Foysal was the mainstay of the Phoenix batting effort making 31 and holding thing together in the middle after Lewis got them off to a strong start with 24 of her own. With ball in hand, the side based in Phoenix Park did just enough to hold off an onslaught from Meg Thompson and ensure they came away with a win on week 1.

Gaby Lewis will no doubt hold the key and Sydney Parade, she was revving up nicely on week 1 and if she gets going on a famously quick scoring ground it could mean trouble for Pembroke, they will look to Lou Lou Little to ensure this doesn’t happen, if she can do so Pembroke will be in the box seat.

KEY BATTLE: Gaby Lewis vs Lou Lou Little

SPORTSHUB PREMIER LEAGUE

Round 2, Thursday, 15th May, All 5:45pm starts

At The Village, Malahide vs Clontarf

At Kenure, Rush vs Leinster

At Sydney Parade, Pembroke vs Phoenix