Merrion Women’s 1st XI just failed to retain their Senior League title. Going into the final round of matches the smallest margin separately Clontarf and Merrion. As it turned out both teams recorded full point wins and Clontarf took the title. A swing to Merrion of even a single bonus point would have brought the title back to Anglesea Road.
Inevitably after such a tight context the search will be on for that elusive point. If only we had not lost an extra wicket here or scored a few extra runs there. But if the positions were reversed, no doubt Clontarf would also have been looking back at the ‘what ‘ifs’.
In the end Merrion came a very creditable ‘runners up’. They can also count themselves unlucky that in the two games they lost in the league campaign they were severely depleted due to the calls of representative cricket, both senior international and youth. But that is the nature of club cricket these days. With seven regular players from the 1st XI on international panels it is the welcome price of success.
Disappointing as it may be to come so close, the 1st XI is still on course to emulate the achievement of the record breaking 2022 team and win three out of four competitions. They are due to contest the all-Ireland T20 final on Sunday the 27th August [Malahide] and the Pilkington [40 Over] Cup final on the 9th September at Anglesea Road. Merrion, of course have already won the Womens Senior Cup.
With some results still to be recorded it is too early to confirm the destination of individual awards but Sibha Bhoja is well placed at the top of the Senior Bowling averages. Although, as an overseas player she does not qualify for trophies, Polly Ingliss is top of the batting tables.