WINS FOR MERRION, BALBRIGGAN AND PEMBROKE IN ED SPORTS SENIOR CUP (MAY 21ST)

Holders Merrion were the stand-out performers in an exciting night of action in the ED Sports Senior Cup this evening, as both Balbriggan and Pembroke also progressed to the semi-final stage.

Leah Paul was the star performer for Merrion, as her unbeaten 112 saw her share stands of 98 with Aoife Brennan (37) and 104 with Aisling Lawlor (38) as they piled up a mammoth 202/2 in their 20 overs. Debutant Isolde Ní Dhonaill was the pick of the bowlers taking 2/13, whilst Lawlor also claimed 2/20 as Rush could muster only 118/7 in reply, Ellie McGee their top scorer with 49, whilst Eileen Foley was unbeaten on 21.

Merrion must await the outcome of Monday's game between Malahide and Leinster before they can find out who they will host in the semi-final.

Balbriggan were the other team to confirm home advantage in the semi-finals, as they beat Phoenix in relatively comfortable fashion in Jack Harper Park. The visitors batted first, and whilst four of the top 7 got starts in passing 10, none of them could go on past 20, with Phoenix ultimately indebted to an unbeaten 27 from Arisha Foysal to boost them to 123/7 in their 20 overs. Erin Knight was the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/9 off her two overs, as there was also a tight spell from Erin Bond, who claimed 1/16 from her allocation. A second-wicket stand of 58 between Julia Hoal (29) and Madison Landsman proved the catalyst for a 6 wicket win, with Landsman ultimately top scoring, as both of Balbriggan's leading lights were dismissed by Foysal's leg-breaks, as she finished a more than satisfactory individual day with 2/19.

Finally in Sydney Parade a game that swung both ways saw Pembroke ultimately come out on top by just 4 runs, after a late partnership between Katie O'Toole and Annabel Walsh briefly threatened to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat for Clontarf. Had they done so however, they would certainly have accepted that they had done the reverse previously in the chase, as they were sitting pretty at 93/1 after 13 overs, needing just 41 for victory from the final 42 deliveries. Mhairi Nicoll however dismissed both Genevieve Morrissey (39) and Robyn Searle (41) in the space of 3 balls to crack the door open, before Orla Prendergast dismissed Lucy Barry to put Pembroke on top. Just 26 balls after Morrissey was dismissed, Clontarf were 105/8 and in all sorts of trouble having lost 6 wickets for just 12 runs. O'Toole and Walsh took things close, however Pembroke just about held their nerve as LouLou Little sealed the deal with a tight final over. Earlier, Pembroke were thankful to a crucial 37 from Isobel Jennings in guiding their side to 133/7 in their 20 overs, the captain's knock proving particularly important after each of Little, Prendergast and Izzy McLean had made starts before being dismissed.

The Semi-Finals are scheduled for Tuesday 30th June:

Merrion vs Malahide/Leinster (Anglesea Rd)
Balbriggan vs Pembroke (Jack Harper Pk)

The ED Sports Women's Senior Cup Final will take place at Pembroke CC (Sydney Parade) on Friday 10th July at 6.00pm.