The final of the Irish Senior Cup takes place today between Merrion and Phoenix in the Mardyke, starting at 12.00. Information on how to follow the match [livestream and score] can be found on the Cricket Ireland website.
It is eight years since Merrion last won the Irish Senior Cup. And much has changed since then. The first thing is that only three players from that day survive to the present team, plus of course head coach Nicky Kenny. In the 2016 final played in Castle Avenue Merrion batted first and scored 252/9, thanks to a century from John Andersen. Our opponents that day were Waringstown and they were bowled out for 196.
Although history does not offer much in the way of a guide to form, Merrion have the greater experience going into today’s final. This will be the club’s sixth final since 2010, which was also the date of our other win in the competition. Phoenix were last in the final in 1986 when they were one of the few Leinster clubs at the time to successfully challenge northern dominance.
But returning to the present. Four players from the current teams took part in the final in 2016. John Anderson, Michael Lewis and Tom Stanton who turn out for Merrion. The fourth, Tyrone Kane, was also present but is of course on the opposing side today.
If history isn’t much of a guide, then current form is not much better. A Leinster Senior Cup match at the start of the season saw Merrion lose to Phoenix in the Park, failing to reach a very modest total of 96. Bowled out for 84, on admittedly not the best early season wicket, Merrion lost by 12 runs with Kane [4/35] and Amish Sidhu [3/18] doing the damage against their former club.
In the second encounter at Anglesea Road in July, Phoenix again batted first and made 230 all out. This time Merrion’s batting stood up to the challenge and eventually ran out winners by four wickets in 48 overs. Runs that day came from Adam Rosslee [76] and Stephen Doheny [51].
So there is not much to choose between the two teams. Merrion are having a good run in the Premier League a few place above Phoenix in the league. But the injury to Mikey O’Reilly has weakened our bowling attack while George Dockrell will be available for Phoenix having missed the other encounters between the clubs this year. So pretty much all to play for with vey little between the sides.
Finally, and for the record, Merrion has played more matches in the Irish Senior Cup than any other Leinster side, 130 before the start of the latest campaign. The club has reached the final six times, but only won twice. Overall in the competition Merrion has a healthy 75% win ratio. Hopefully we will be able to improve of this today.
Merrion selected XI: Sam Harbinson [C], Adam Rosslee, Stephen Doheny, Swapnil Modgill, John Anderson, Peter Francis, Michael Lewis, Max Sorensen, Tom Stanton, Janie Forbes, Melvin Devaraj.