
Leinster T20 Cup 2023
Semi-Final: Balbriggan beat Railway Union by 6 wickets.
Sydney Parade, 27 May.



Balbriggan reached the final with a fine batting effort which once again showcased the depth and quality of the squad that Andre Botha has assembled. Railway had started well and with Riley Mudford hitting 9 sixes and 6 fours in a brilliant 101, the prospect of Balbriggan featuring in the decider looked a remote one. Mudford shared a fourth wicket stand of 104 in just 10 overs with Liam McCarthy (28) and at that stage, 200 was on the cards. However, 'spin to win' saw Dylan Lues and Farooq Nasr share seven wickets, and while a total of 171 for 9 was a good one, they hadn't batted Balbriggan out of the game. Farooq Nasr got the chase off to an excellent start, as he hit 5 fours and 2 sixes in his 56 from 33 balls, sharing half century stands with Conor Fletcher (25) and Cameron Rowe (22). Chris De Freitas also chipped in with 21, while skipper Greg Ford brought his side home with a hard-hit 41 from only 18 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes) as they clinched the win with seven balls to spare.
Semi-Final: The Hills beat Merrion by 9 wickets.
Anglesea Road, 27 May.



Nicolaj Laegsgaard produced one of, if not the most destructive innings in the history of T20 cricket as The Hills powered past Merrion to reach the Alan Murray final. Chasing Merrion's 166 for 6, the Danish international hit a barely believable 15 sixes and 2 fours in his unbeaten 100 which took only 37 balls. He shared an opening stand of 134 in 10.3 overs with Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin as a shell-shocked home attack were battered into submission. McLoughlin-Gavin made an unbeaten 44 (5 fours, 1 six) as the Milverton side cruised to the 9-wicket win. Earlier Stephen Doheny's hard-hit 65 from 39 balls (10 fours, 1 six) was the highlight of the home side's innings, sharing stands of 56 and 52 for the first two wickets with Jack Carty and Sam Harbinson - both of whom made 23. The innings lost its way somewhat as Tomas Rooney-Murphy and Jonathan Tall took a combined five wickets to apply the brakes. Sean Stanton and Max Sorensen struck a few lusty blows as 30 came in the last three overs. It looked a challenging total but Laegsgaard's boundary blitz - 98 of the 100 came in boundaries - made it look woefully inadequate.
Final: Balbriggan beat The Hills by 54 runs.
Sydney Parade, 27 May.



Matthew Pollard produced a Man-of-the-Match performance as Balbriggan created history by winning the Alan Murray T20 Cup, beating nearby rivals The Hills by 54 runs in the showdown at Sydney Parade. Pollard thumped five sixes in his 42 from only 22 balls to get Balbriggan up to 161 for 7 - around 20 more than looked likely for the majority of their innings. Conor Fletcher's good T20 form continued at the top of the order as he too made 42 (4 fours, 2 sixes), while Cameron Rowe made a steady 30 after the innings had faltered - two wickets apiece for Jonathan Tall and Nicolaj Laegsgaard. The Hills hopes for a repeat of Laegsgaard's semi-final heroics were quickly dashed, bowled for just two in the second over by Sam Willemse. When Murray Commins fell, it sparked a flurry of wickets - four for just four runs - and at 41 for 5 the contest was effectively over. Andrew Kavanagh (34) ensured they got over 100, but it was a small consolation in a game where Balbriggan were dominant. Left-armer Sam Willemse took 3 for 25, while there were two apiece for Dylan Lues, Matt Pollard and Farooq Nasr. Another year, another trophy for Balbriggan, who on this form will be maybe right in the mix for the biggest trophy of them all - the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup. They will of course get a chance too at being All-Ireland T20 champions, representing Leinster in the four-team competition in August.
Group A
P | W | T | NR | L | Pts | NRR | |
Clontarf | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1.51 |
Balbriggan | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 1.51 |
Phoenix | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -1.23 |
Civil Service | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -1.81 |
Group B
P | W | T | NR | L | Pts | NRR | |
Railway Union | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 1.98 |
YMCA | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2.45 |
Pembroke | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -2.38 |
Terenure | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -2.2112 |
Group C
P | W | T | NR | L | Pts | NRR | |
Rush | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 5.58 |
The Hills | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0.43 |
Malahide | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | -2.01 |
North County | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -1.30 |
Group D
P | W | T | NR | L | Pts | NRR | |
Dublin University | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0.54 |
Merrion | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 3.15 |
Leinster | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 1.41 |
North Kildare | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -6.21 |
Group A: Phoenix beat Civil Service by 7 wickets
Phoenix Park, 21 May.


A second wicket stand of 109 in 12 overs between Callum O'Byrne and Jed Wiggins saw Phoenix beat Civil Service for the second time, sealing the seven-wickets win in the final over. O'Byrne scored a run-a-ball 57, while Wiggins made a quickfire 49 and George Dockrell a rapid 23.
Group A: Balbriggan beat Clontarf by 6 wickets
Jack Harper Ground, 21 May.


Balbriggan put in fine all-round performance to beat Clontarf by 6 wickets in another derby game. Ruan Cronje top-scored with a run-a-ball 38 as the Castle Avenue side posted a modest looking 106 for 7 - Eoghan Delany making 26 and Matthew Pollard (3-11) the best of the attack. Balbriggan were always in control of the chase although it did take them until the final over. Greg Ford (33), Chris De Freitas (32) and Connor Fletcher (23) all chipping in to the win - teenager Liam Gilhooly (2-12) once again in the wickets.
Group A: Phoenix beat Civil Service by 9 wickets
Phoenix Park, 21 May.


Phoenix had little trouble accounting for Civil Service in the local derby. Srikanth Boddu made 41 but received little support as the Civil Service were restricted to 102 for 9 - three wickets for Irish international George Dockrell, plus two apiece for Jed Wiggins and Oliver Hald. Dockrell went cheaply in the chase, but Levon Shields cleared the ropes five times in his undefeated 59 from just 41 balls, as they eased to the 8-wickets win in just 12 overs.
Group A: Balbriggan beat Clontarf by 8 wickets
Jack Harper Ground, 21 May.



Connor Fletcher was in the runs again as he scored a brilliant century to lead Balbriggan into the last four, beating Clontarf for the second time in the day. He cleared the ropes 8 times and also stroked 7 fours in an unbeaten 102 from 60 balls. Fletcher shared a second wicket stand of 142 with Cameron Rowe, whose 42 included 6 fours, sealing the win with 14 balls left.
Group B: YMCA lost to Railway Union by 9 wickets
Claremont Road, 21 May.



The Railway Union bandwagon rolled on as they steamrollered YMCA by 9 wickets to secure qualification for the semi-finals. Four wickets for Hamza Maan, three for Liam McCarthy and two for Alan Mathew saw YM kept to 104 for 9 - Jack Tector's run-a-ball 28 their best effort. That total proved woefully inadequate as Riley Mudford hit 3 fours and 4 sixes in his unbeaten 51 from just 28 balls, sharing an opening stand of 82 with Kenny Carroll (40) as they cruised to victory using just half their allotted overs.
Group B: Terenure beat Pembroke by 8 wickets
Terenure, 21 May.


Seamus Lynch powered Terenure to an emphatic 8-wickets in the first of their T20 clashes with Pembroke. He hit 7 fours and 7 sixes in a whirlwind unbeaten 79 from 37 deliveries, sharing an opening stand of 94 in 9 overs with Raghav Grover (23) as the hosts chased down 116 easily. Donncha Tucker dismissed Grove and Mick Cotter (0) in the space of three balls, but it was only a little consolation in a one-sided contest. Rob Kelly hit 5 fours and 3 sixes in a hard-hit 44 from 20 balls, but there was little else for Pembroke to cheer as three wickets for Bhavic Tukrel and Darshit Shetty saw them bowled out for 115 - nowhere near enough.
Group B: YMCA lost to Railway Union by 2 runs
Claremont Road, 21 May.


With qualification having been already secured in the morning match, both sides experimented with their line-up and batting orders with little at stake but bragging rights. Fakhar Zaman made 39 and took two wickets, while 14 year-old debutant Johnny Woods scored an unbeaten 6 an also picked up his first senior wicket. YM would have been happy to have restricted Railway to 114 with a combined six wickets for the Anders brothers. YM though couldn't chase it down despite 34 from Jack Tector, losing by two runs - Aaron Bailey hitting a four off the final delivery when a six was needed for a tie.
Group B: Terenure beat Pembroke by 2 wickets
Terenure, 21 May.


Seamus Lynch hit another typically belligerent 55 from 26 balls (5 fours, 5 sixes) as Terenure beat Phoenix again. There was little to play for but pride, and in a tight encounter Lynch's pyrotechnics proved decisive, as the win was clinched with two balls left - vital late order runs from Hilal Asad and Niqash Ali.
Group C: The Hills beat Malahide by 3 wickets
The Vineyard, 21 May.


Skipper Andrew Kavanagh kept The Hills' semi-final hopes alive as he and Cian Nulty delighted the sizeable home support with a match winning 7th wicket stand. Chasing 145, Hunter Kindley (3-19) has the hosts reeling on 67 for 6, before the pair added 64 in 7 overs to turn around the tie. Kavanagh top-scored with an unbeaten 40 ( 3 fours, 2 sixes), while Nulty clubbed 3 sixes and 2 fours in a hard-hit 31 from just 15 balls. Nulty had taken three wickets too in a fine bowling display, which also saw Jonathan Tall claim two scalps. Ali Frost (46) and Kindley (25*) were the best of the villagers 144 for 7.
Group C: North County lost to Rush by 75 runs
Balrothery, 21 May.


Llew Johnson was in the runs again as the New Zealand professional's boundary laden 97 ensured a very comfortable win for Rush against North County in the Fingal derby. Johnson thumped 7 fours and 7 sixes in his brilliant 97 from 45 balls as Rush posted 180 for 9 - Cian Egerton (21) the only other batter to pass 20. Tanvir Hassan and Abdul Sattar claimed three wickets apiece. John Devane's 32 was the best of the County reply - three wickets for Jared Barnes and skipper Nathan McGuire in the 75-run victory.
Group C: The Hills beat Malahide by 63 runs
The Vineyard, 21 May.



Nathan Rooney's boundary blitz ensured The Hills sealed their semi-final berth as they beat Malahide for a second time. Coming to the middle with the hosts in trouble at 10 for 3, Rooney thumped 9 sixes and 4 fours in his 84 from just 35 balls to completely alter the complexion of the contest. He added 72 with skipper Andrew Kavanagh (19), while there runs down the order from Tomas Rooney (29) and Cian Nulty (27). James Newland and David O'Halloran both had figures of 3-41. Malahide's reply never got any momentum with three wickets for Jonathan Tall, and two apiece for Sean McNicholl, Nic Laegsgaaard and Cian Nulty. It took an entertaining 40 from just 24 balls by Fintan McAllister (2 fours, 3 sixes) to get them over the 100.
Group C: North County beat Rush by 32 runs
Balrothery, 21 May.


Jonathan Andrews hit a sparkling unbeaten hundred to dent Rush hopes of qualification and do his former Hills teammates a favour. Andrews 101 not out came from just 60 deliveries, which included 11 fours and 4 sixes. Eddie Richardson also chipped in with 39 as County made a challenging 191 for 6. The target became even more daunting when Llew Johnson fell cheaply, and Rush were always well behind the rate despite the best efforts of Neil Rock. 'Pebbles' hit 6 fours and 3 sixes in his 42-ball 61, while Jack McGee made 30. Abdul Ghaffar (3-31) and Eddie Richardson (2-21) ensured the 32-run verdict.
Group D: Dublin University lost to Merrion by 10 runs
College Park, 21 May.



Dublin University missed a great chance to beat Merrion in their first encounter as they reached 85 for 3 in 11 overs chasing 141. Nigel Jones (38) and Gavin Hoey (25) had added 58 in 7 overs to lay the perfect platform. However the wheels came off as Tom Stanton took four wickets as the students finished 10 runs adrift. Merrion's 140 for 6 was based primarily on an opening stand of 93 in 13.3 overs between Irish international Stephen Doheny (48) and Jack Carty (43). John Anderson hit two sixes in a breezy 28, while there were three wickets for Gavin Hoey and two for Mikey O'Reilly.
Group D: Leinster beat North Kildare by 8 wickets
Rathmines, 21 May.


Leinster ran out very convincing 8-wicket winners as they brushed aside North Kildare. Three wickets apiece for Joey Carroll (3-14) and Devender Ranolia (3-19) restricted Kildare to a very modest 91 for 9. Saqib Bahadur hit four boundaries in his unbeaten 43, while Peter Francis sped them across the line with 30 not out from just 15 balls (3 fours, 2 sixes) to seal the win with nearly seven overs to spare.
Group D: Dublin University beat North Kildare by 8 wickets
College Park, 21 May.


Dublin University won the battle but lost the war, as they bowed out of the cup despite an emphatic demolition of North Kildare. Two wickets apiece for Scott Ruttle and Gavin Hoey saw Kildare skittled for 69. The chase saw Hoey and Rory Betley go quickly, but Nic Pretorius (35*) and Sanil Gupta (27*) shared an unbroken third wicket stand of 62 in 7 overs as the win was achieved in the 9th over.
Group D: Leinster lost to Merrion by 7 wickets
Rathmines, 21 May.


Merrion duly clinched the semi-final berth as they beat Leinster by 7 wickets, while maintaining their NRR superiority over Dublin University. Joey Carroll's half century helped Leinster to 140 for 6, with 20s from Peter Francis and Michael Hogan. Stephen Doheny matched him with a better than even time 54, while John Anderson (35*) found boundaries when needed to seal the win with seven balls remaining.
Group A: Phoenix lost to Balbriggan by 7 wickets
Phoenix Park, 6 May.



Group A: Civil Service lost to Clontarf by 9 wickets
Phoenix Park, 6 May.


Group A: Phoenix lost to Clontarf by 6 wickets
Phoenix Park, 6 May.


Group A: Civil Service lost to Balbriggan by 10 wickets
Phoenix Park, 6 May.


Group B: Pembroke lost to YMCA by 81 runs
Sydney Parade, 6 May.


Group B: Terenure lost to Railway Union by 9 wickets
Terenure, 6 May.


Group B: Pembroke lost to Railway Union by 8 wickets
Sydney Parade, 6 May.


Kenny Carroll who was in the runs for Railway Union
Group B: Terenure lost to YMCA y 4 wickets
Terenure, 6 May.


Group C: North County lost to Malahide by 7 wickets
Balrothery, 6 May.


Group C: Rush lost toThe Hills by 8 wickets
Kenure, 6 May.


Group C: North County lost to The Hills by 3 wickets
Balrothery, 6 May.


Group C: Rush beat Malahide by 88 runs
Kenure, 6 May.


Group D: Dublin University beat Leinster by 6 wickets
College Park, 6 May.



Group D: Merrion beat North Kildare by 107 runs
Anglesea Road, 6 May.


Group D: Dublin University beat Leinster by 5 wickets
College Park, 6 May.



MIkey O'Reilly after two wins for Dublin University
Group D: Merrion beat North Kildare by 7 wickets
Anglesea Road, 6 May.


Group A: Balbriggan v Civil Service. Match abandoned without ball bowled
Jack Harper Ground, 29 April.


Group A: Balbriggan v Phoenix. Match abandoned without a ball bowled.
Jack Harper Ground, 29 April.


Group B: YMCA v Pembroke. Match abandoned without a ball bowled.
Claremont Road, 29 April.


Group C: Malahide v Rush. Match abandoned without a ball bowled.
The Village, 29 April.


Group C: The Hills v North County. Match abandoned without a ball bowled.
The Vineyard, 29 April.


Group C: Malahide v North County. No result
The Village, 29 April.


Group D: Dublin University v North Kildare. No result.
College Park, 29 April.


Group D: Leinster v Merrion. No result
Rathmines, 29 April.


Group A: Clontarf beat Civil Service by 21 runs
Castle Avenue, 29 April.


Ruan Cronje (4-16) and Mick Granger (3-16) took a combined seven wickets to set up Clontarf for their win against Civil Service. Mubasher Siddique made 31 for Service in their modest total of 98 for 9. Robert Forrest hit 3 fours and a six in his unbeaten 32, adding 40 for the second wicket with John McNally (18*) when the rain came - Clontarf ahead by 21 runs on DLS.
Group A: Clontarf beat Phoenix by 6 wickets
Castle Avenue, 29 April.


A fine bowling display by Clontarf was the catalyst for their six wickets win over Phoenix in a 10-overs game. John McNally, Mick Granger and Ruan Cronje each took a brace to keep Phoenix to a modest 63 for 8. The Castle Avenue side didn't have it all their own way as Daniel Sugrue claimed two wickets, but prevailed with five balls to spare - Robert Forrest making 18.
Group D: Dublin University beat Merrion by 7 wickets
College Park, 29 April.



Dublin University produced the result of the day as they shocked Merrion to record a seven-wickets win. Two wickets apiece for Scott Ruttle and Mikey O'Reilly helped restrict the Anglesea Road side to 108 for 8 - Michael Lewis making 25. Trinity controlled the chase with an opening stand of 48 between David Vincent (29) and Rory Betley (19). Sanil Gupta clubbed two sixes in his 22, while Will Todd's unbeaten 31 sealed the win with three overs to spare.
Group D: Leinster beat North Kildare by 131 runs
Rathmines, 29 April.


Leinster were the highest scorers of the day as they racked up an imposing 242 for 6 against North Kildare. Joey Carroll top-scored with 90 from just 41 balls which included no fewer than 8 sixes as well as 5 fours. He shared a third wicket stand of 173 in 11.3 overs with Monil Patel, who also knew where the boundary was - his 71 from 32 balls contained 8 fours and 4 sixes. A late cameo from Peter Francis - four sixes in his 12-ball 32 rubbed salt into the bowling unit's wounds who all suffered aside from Muhammad Zaman (2-20). North Kildare opted for batting practice, with Sayed Saadat clearing the ropes four times in his unbeaten 50 (4 sixes) as The Maws side posted 111 for 5.
Group B: Railway Union beat Pembroke by 4 wickets
Park Avenue, 29 April.



Brandon Kruger showed his worth to the Railway cause as his thumped 3 sixes in an unbeaten 28 to help the Park Avenue side to a four-wicket win over close rivals Pembroke. Punya Mehra anchored the chase with a top score of 32, while skipper LIam McCarthy and Kruger opened the shoulders to ensure no nerves as the finishing line approached. Pembroke's 105 for 7 saw Danny Hogan make 32, but it was a day for bowlers in wet conditions with two wickets each for McCarthy, Kruger and Fakhar Zaman.
Railway Union captain Liam McCarthy
Group B: Railway Union beat Terenure by 9 wickets
Park Avenue, 29 April.



It was a good day for Railway Union who clinched two victories, while Terenure's batting frailties were clear for all to see. They scraped to 64 for 9 in 16 overs, with two wickets for skipper Liam McCarthy and Fakhar Zaman. Rain reduced their target to 26 in 6 overs and they eased to the win with 13 balls to spare, losing just one wicket.
Group C: The Hills lost to Rush by 30 runs
The Vineyard, 29 April.



The Hills would have been happy enough with their total of 137 for 3 in 16 overs against Rush but it wasn't anywhere near enough against Rush who take the bragging rights. Nathan Rooney enjoyed a fine debut hitting 6 sixes in a rapid 66 from 37 balls, while Dane Nicolaj Laegsgaard thumped a rapid 32 along with fellow opener Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin (24). However Kiwi Llew Johnson took off from where he left 2022 as he clubbed 4 fours and 3 sixes in an unbeaten 52 from just 28 balls. He has added 58 in 5 overs with returning skipper Nathan McGuire (23*) to take Rush to 93 for 1 in 8 overs when play was halted - a comfortable 30-run win (DLS) for the visitors.
Group B: YMCA beat Terenure by 71 runs
Claremont Road, 29 April.



Tim Tector was the first centurion of the domestic season as he smashed 12 sixes and 2 fours in a brilliant 100 from just 44 balls to lead his YMCA side to a 71-run win against Terenure. It was the perfect return for the young captain on his club's competitive return to Claremont Road. He shared a second wicket stand of 129 in 11 overs with elder sibling Jack (28) as YM racked up 187 for 6. Terenure's chase didn't get going, not helped by the Lynch brothers both out for 0 in a combined three balls. Sidhardth Nair's 44 got them over the 100, but with two wickets apiece for Reuben Wilson and Mitchell Thompson, it was a day to remember. Tim Tector again the had final say, taking the final wicket of the match.
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