VITALLITY SPORTS FTL - ROUND TWO (SUNDAY 4.5.2025)

The first weekend of the Vitallity Sports First Team League saw both fixtures fulfilled on a bright and blustery April Sunday. Adamstown overcame their visitors from Munster gaining 22 points in the process. At The Maws, North Kildare got their campaign off to the perfect start, brushing aside Civil Service with relative ease.

NORTH KILDARE VS CORK HARLEQUINS

North Kildare are expected to line out very similarly to last week with no new additions expected. The Kilcock side will be coming into this fixture with confidence having posted 298 last week on their home turf.

Husnain Maroof and Josh Uddin will be keen to build on their strong individual performances from week one - they led the charge with the bat for the Kilcock side scoring 53 and 93 respectively. Another huge plus for their side is the form of Yash Kalasannavar who posted a bright 62 batting at 3. If there is one concern for North Kildare, it will be the lack of support around these 3 players with no one else passing 17 in their total of 298.

Cork Harlequins had a tough first outing against Adamstown posting just 92 all out in pursuit of 145. The only player to come away with any credibility with the bat was Ryan Joyce who scored an impressive 42 with little support around him. By contrast, Quins faired much better with the ball - the stand out performer being Seanan Jones with 4-26.

Josh Uddin and Seanan Jones both had brilliant first days out and whoever comes out on top between them this week will no doubt leave their team in poll position to take a victory into Week Three.

Key Battle – Seanan Jones vs Josh Uddin

TERENURE VS ADAMSTOWN

Terenure get their campaign underway this week when they host Adamstown in Terenure.

After a challenging 2024 campaign, the team from Dublin 6W will be keen to start strongly in their pursuit of an early return to the top flight.

Terenure’s batting will be built around Mick Cotter (returning after some time out) and Gareth Morgan who both played nicely for the club’s second team at Anglesea Road last Sunday.

They will be supported by skipper Dónal Lynch in the middle order who can be destructive on his day.

With ball in hand, Terenure also boast impressive depth with Kripesh Shetty and the talismanic Dylan Cleary leading the charge.

Adamstown are expected to enter week two with no personnel changes from their success at Airlie Park last weekend.

Siddarth Biju was the star of the show for the Dublin West side, top scoring with a patient 67 to give his side something to bowl at. Prabhanshu Kamal can be relied upon to show leadership with ball in-hand (he took 4-26 against Quins) whilst Pomin Ponselvan opened the bowling last week to great effect (4-22) and will be looking to continue in the same vein in Terenure on Sunday.

Adamstown will likely look to Biju again to lay that solid foundation and ensure they have the base to post a competitive total away from home.

If Dylan Cleary can penetrate his defences early, it will go along way to steadying any nerves for the Clee faithful.

Key Battle – Sidharth Biju vs Dylan Cleary