Today sees the first round of matches in Division 1 of the Open League. With the Ireland Wolves away on their six match tour in the UK, a number of overseas players yet to reach Irish shores and many other players only just rousing themselves from their winter hibernation, there is a real possibility of upsets and every chance that the pre-season pundits will get it wrong [at least for one week]. All matches are scheduled for 12.30 except for the encounter between Phoenix and Clontarf in the Park where there is a 11.30 start.
Phoenix v Clontarf [11.30]
North County v YMCA
The Hills v Pembroke
Leinster v Cork County
It may only be at the end of the season that the significance of the first round of matches becomes evident. Last year Merrion lost their first match against Clontarf by one run. The two teams finished at different ends of the table. In eight team leagues getting a couple of early wins under the belt can set you up for the season. The first round is also interesting in that many teams are not fully formed and can thus offer an opportunity for some younger players to stake a claim to a regular spot on the 1st XI.
In Division 1 the champions Clontarf take on Phoenix. Last year Clontarf were the most consistent team and should be strong again this year. While their overseas player [Brad Barnes] will miss the first match, there is still plenty of experience in the side. But they will miss Alex Cusack and Eoghan Delany this year. There are Senior debuts for Declan Gallagher and Naveed Khan and, of course, John Mooney makes his first start for Clontarf as does Waqar Azmat who previously turned out for Malahide. David Delany is away on the Wolves tour, Andrew Poynter is coaching the Irish Women’s team and Conor Kelly is recovering from injury.
The Phoenix team has a familiar look with a good blend of youth and the not so youthful. Last year they relied heavily on their top order to get them off to a good start and the same looks likely this year. A good result against Clontarf would be a major boost and with what looks like most of their 1st XI available and home advantage, this is a good time to take on the competition favourites.
Clontarf: Joe Morrissey [C], Bill Coghlan, Declan Gallagher, Shariful Islam, Waqar Azmat, Sameer Dutt, Naveed Khan, Junaid Altaf, Robert Forrest , John Mooney, Andrew Vincent
Phoenix: N. Pretorius [C], R. Strydom, A Karvelas, T. Anders, R Anders, B White, A Brawders, Adam Chester, R Kelly, R Lawrence, I Anders
North County host a YMCA side that is short a few players from last season, with Sean Terry and Yaqoob Ali having moved north of the city and Jack Tector and Simi Singh on the Wolves tour. In the absence of his brother, Harry Tector becomes the youngest player to captain YMCA and there is a Senior debut for Oliver Gunning. On the other end of the spectrum, so to speak, Alan Lewis turns out for his 39th season and his 526th match.
North County, especially at home, are always competitive and have a lot of familiar names to call upon. In fact all but one of todays team turned out for the 1st XI at least once in 2016. Six players have reached the 100 senior match mark.
YMCA: H Tector [C], T Fisher, S Murphy, R Jones, O Gunning, A Lewis, S McCauley, J Parkinson, A Shukla, P Flanagan, S Streek.
North County: E Richardson [C], Terry Richardson, Conor Sheil, Tomas Sheil, Jonathan Andrews, Adam Coughlan, Andrew Sheridan, Niall McGovern, Manmeet Singh, Cian Mulvaney, Craig May, Anthony Mooney
The two newly promoted sides, Leinster and Cork County, lock horns in Rathmines and given the frequency that one or other of such teams fail to retain their place in the top league, each will be keen to establish an ascendency over the other. The Leinster overseas player, Jayden Brown [brother to the Jamie Brown who turns out for Merrion] takes the field for the first time and there is an interesting recall for Ian O’Herlihy behind the stumps who last played in 2009.
Cork County are led out by Stephan Grobler who has three new players [Gary King, Diarmuid Carey and Adil Hameed] in the team for their first match.
Leinster: JP O Dwyer [C], Danny Coad, Arslan Anwar, Gareth Delaney, Joe Carroll, Chris Janik, Conor O Gorman, Ian O Heirlihy, Jayden Brown [O], Saqib, Bilal Azhar
Cork County: Stephan Grobler [C][O], Ross Durity, Morne Bauer, Gary King, Cormac Hassett, Ian Coleman, Abubakar Saddique, Diarmuid Carey, Qassim Butt, Adil Hameed, Mubeen Jutt.
The final game is between The Hills and Pembroke. Pembroke had a very good season last year and go into this year's competition with the bulk of their young team available. But they have a couple of players missing due to international duty / playing for DU and will certainly be pressed to hold a Hills side that looks to have been strengthened over the winter.
Pembroke: P Lawson [C], T Lawson, D Murphy, A Balbirnie, J Balbirnie, J Cutler [O], JJ Garth, S Hogan, D Hopkins, S Gupta, F Tucker.
THe Hills: No team provided