THE final of the RSA Leinster Senior Cup is the great day out for supporters in the province, and there are fewer better venues for it than the Vineyard.
There are more cherries, jaffas and plums to be seen there than grapes these days, but Malahide and Clontarf are sure to provide a full-bodied day’s entertainment on Saturday.
Tarf are the form side in cup competitions – this is their 10th Leinster final of the century, and the eighth for their senior batsman Bill Coghlan.
And that doesn’t count last year’s Irish Senior Cup win over Merrion. “The guys were chatting in the bar after training last night”, Coghlan told Inside Edge, “and one of the stattos reckoned nobody has played as many as that.”
He played in the first of those finals in 2003, and while his early contributions were negligible (7, 0, 2, 0), he played crucial roles in 2009 (40) and 2012 (62), as well as another 40 in the 2010 defeat to Railway.
“We haven’t played Malahide in a big game in years, as we’ve been in different divisions,” he said, “but they’re a very good side with a lot of guys in great form.”
No-one has been in better form than Malahide’s keeper/batsman Fintan McAllister, whose cup run includes scores of 53, 57 and 106 – an uncanny echo of the RSA National Cup campaign last year when he made 59, 67 and 63 on the way to a final-winning innings of 163no.
McAllister is no doubt his good form owes a lot to finding a new opening partner in Reinhardt Strydom. “Reiny is really aggressive”, he said, “I can work the ball around and don’t feel any pressure to worry about run-rates or overs. I’m happy to play second fiddle with him and it’s paid off so far.”
The pair have given the Division 2 leaders a start many times this summer, including stands of 192 and 163 in the early rounds of the cup.
When Strydom failed in the semi-final against The Hills, Callum Riches stepped in and helped McAllister to put on 214. Strydom has been a “massive addition” to the Villagers, says his partner.
“We have a fantastic atmosphere in the dressing now, it’s almost a completely new team and we have a great momentum.”
Momentum is no problem to Clontarf, however, with the club still in all the cups and on the heels of the leading pair in Division 1.
“I told Andy Poynter last night that he is in the form of his life, and he has to make it count”, says Coghlan. “I’ve never seen an Irish player in such nick, it’s been a joy to watch from the other end.
“We have some great youngsters coming through and it’s been brilliant to see Colin Currie and Adam Craig step up this year.”
Coghlan too, has had a great cup run, making 51, 60no and 89no, and he will be keen to get off to a good start on Saturday.
The toss could be crucial – or a total waste of time as Malahide have won all their games by setting a target, Clontarf by chasing one.
In contrast to Clontarf’s cup final residency, Malahide have played only once in a decider since 1971 and McAllister says there’s a “huge buzz” around the village.
Forty-three years ago Ray Kelly and Dougie Goodwin were Malahide’s heroes, bowling out this weekend’s opponents for 73 after making 102.
With Strydom, McAllister, Coghlan and Poynter around, there’s no chance of scores like that on Saturday.
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Co Clare have been flying this summer, top of the Munster Senior League and in the final of the cup.
Much of their success has been built on all-rounder Sumit Sukhpal Singh, who scored 158 and 97 over the last two weeks.
On Saturday he made 200 as Clare racked up 384 against Midleton, and then took 3-31 as the Cork side were routed for 141.
If Clare can hang on to the 23-year-old Indian native then he could be a key part of Munster’s ambition plans, but Inside Edge hears that Leinster clubs are already checking the 065 phonebook.
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Friday night could be become T20 night if Cricket Leinster pay heed to the huge crowd that showed up for the final of the Women’s Senior Cup at Pembroke.
Leinster had a head-start on the T20 phenomenon, but frequent tinkering with the format means the Alan Murray Near 90FM Cup is now less popular than it was in the last century.
The Tuesday night competition switched to three-in-a-day at weekends, and now turns up with little fanfare.
The most marketable format is a great way of bringing new people to the game – and the best time to do that is when they are free, relaxed and able to enjoy a pint or two.
The long summer evenings are just about the only advantage our climate gives us over the rest of the world. Time for the Friday night whites.
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FIXTURES
Today Ireland U19 v Netherlands U19, Rathmines ; Women’s Div1: Pembroke v Malahide, YMCA v North Kildare, The Hills v Leinster
Saturday: RSA Leinster Senior Cup final: Clontarf v Malahide, Milverton 11am Sunday:
Div2: Merrion 2 v Malahide