Returning Irish internationals Barry McCarthy and George Dockrell played pivotal roles as Pembroke and Phoenix reached the final of the Leinster Senior Cup.
Leinster lost to Pembroke by 8 wickets
Leinster 123 (33.5 overs; Barry McCarthy 4-41, Byron McDonough 3-12)
Pembroke 124-2 (22.2 overs; Tim Tector 44, Diarmaid Tucker 27; Joey Carroll 2-35)
Pembroke enjoyed more cup success over the weekend as they set up a senior cup final date on their home patch with Phoenix on August 3rd. Barry McCarthy's return to their ranks brought early success to put Leinster on the back foot and in truth they never recovered. McCarthy (4-41) and Byron McDonough 3-12 doing the bulk of the damage in an impressive effort by the bowling unit. A total of 123 proved woefully inadequate, with the hosts wasting little time in chasing it down. Tim Tector (44) and Diarmaid Tucker (27) the main contributors in the emphatic win.
Phoenix beat Malahide by 3 wickets
Malahide 242-9 (50 overs; Jeremy Martins 61, Matt Ford 43, Adam Doyle 36, Andrew Sheridan 25*, Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin 25; Amish Sidhu 4-40, Jack Lalor 2-56)
Phoenix 245-7 (46.1 overs; George Dockrell 116, Adam Chester 44*; James Newland 3-38, Jeremy Martins 3-42)
George Dockrell scored 116
George Dockrell and Adam Chester were the Phoenix heroes as they chased 243 impressively to win by three wickets. Malahide's 242 for 9 was based around a solid batting effort with Jeremy Martin's top-scoring with 61, and important runs from Matt Ford (43) and Adam Doyle (36). Irish international Dockrell hit 8 fours and 7 sixes in his 116 from 119 balls, but when he was out, the game was in the balance with 33 needed and three wickets left. Phoenix skipper Adam Chester decided to attack, and that paid off handsomely, striking 3 fours and 3 sixes in a 29-ball unbeaten 44 to seal the win in the 47th over.