The NCU won the battle of the north to ensure second place in the table, recovering from a poor start to win by 42 runs at Stormont. The hosts were struggling at 59 for 5, before a stand of 55 between Carson McCullough (59) and Tom Crothers (35) helped them to 179. Scott Macbeth and James Bell each took three wickets, while Gavin Roulston claimed 2 for 16. Macbeth once again top-scored with 47 (6 fours, 1 six), while Roulston made 22 and Robert McFarland (19), but the rest of the batting failed to fire as they were dismissed for 132. Mohammed Aahil took 4 for 14, while there were two wickets each for James Snell and Carson McCullough.

Leinster Under 17’s finished off their interprovincial campaign in style with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Munster at Templepatrick. Only Kei Lalor (14) managed double figures as they were dismissed for 66 in 30 overs. Donncha Tucker was again amongst the wickets, taking 4 for 14, while Merrion left-arm spinner Daniel Forkin took 3 for 9 and Clontarf’s Luke Thomson (3-12) in a ruthless bowling display from the champions. Srihan Karpe was dismissed cheaply in the chase by Eshan O’Sullivan, but James Sugrue hit 5 fours and a six in his top-score of 42, adding 47 with John McNally (20*) as they romped to the win in the 20th over, making it six wins out of six for the class of 2022.

Half centuries from skipper Philippe Le Roux and Aarron McGeehan powered Leinster to the Under 17 interprovincial title as they beat the NCU by 7 wickets at Stormont. The pair added 97 for the second wicket with Le Roux top scoring with an unbeaten 63 (6 fours, 1 six), while Clontarf opener McGeehan hit 7 fours and a six in his 57 before being dismissed by Carson McCullough (2-45). Macdara Cosgrave (17*) and Le Roux added an unbroken fourth wicket stand of 46 to pass their modest target of 152. Earlier, the hosts looked well set for a big total as openers Ryan Hunter (38) and Ryan Matthews (30) put on 60 for the first wicket. However, both fell to Daniel Forkin, who went on to claim 4 for 29. 60 for 0 became 85 for 5, and it took a sixth wicket stand of 45 between Rory Ellerby (27) and Tom Crothers (20) to get them back on track at 130 for 5. However a second collapse saw the last five fall for 22 runs – three wickets for Luke Thomson, and a final total of 152 was never likely to prove too much trouble for the strong Leinster batting line-up.

Scott Macbeth’s run-a-ball 78 steered the North West to an eight-wickets (DLS) win against Munster in the battle to avoid the wooden spoon in the Under 17 interprovincial championships in Belfast. The Bready teenager hit 7 fours and 3 sixes in his innings, totally dominating a third wicket stand of 69 with Robert McFarland (8*), having earlier added 42 with the second wicket with Gavin Roulston (25). They reached their revised target of 122 in 27 overs with 16 balls to spare. Earlier, Macbeth and Roulston had each taken 2 for 20 in Munster’s 160 for 8 – Ryan du Plessis making 42, and Sunny Gautam 26.

Two century stands, four batsmen making fifties, and a four-wicket haul for captain Harry Dyer were the highlights of the NCU Under 17’s 198-run win over Munster at Stormont as the interprovincial series continued at Stormont. The prolific Ryan Hunter enjoyed being on home turf as he top-scored with 89 from 111 balls, sharing an opening stand of 149 in 31 overs with Ryan Matthews (54). The pair fell in quick succession, but there was no respite for the beleaguered visitors as Mohammed Aahil (64*) and Harry Dyer (60*) added 131 in the last 16 overs to get the NCU up to a total of 297 for 2. That was always going to be beyond Munster who in reply struggled to 99 all out in the 40th over. Harry Dyer (4-11), David Kane (2-11), and Carson McCullough (2-15) doing the most of the damage.

A powerful batting display propelled by three half centuries saw Leinster inflict a punishing defeat on the North West. It had started brightly for the NW as Srihan Karpe fell first ball of the second over, but Aaron McGeehan (62), Eoin Birch (58) and Aaron Doyle (55) all passed 50, while there were 20s for Phillipe Le Roux and Devan Keenan as they posted 267 for 8. Spinners Sam Kincaid (2-27) and Scott Macbeth (2-33) were best with the ball. In the chase, Gavin Roulston hit 25, while Scott Macbeth made 24, and Ryan Clarke 12 in their 94 all out. For Leinster, left-arm spinner Donncha Tucker was their five-wicket hero, while there were two wickets apiece for left-arm seamer Matthew Weldon and another leftie – Merrion spinner Daniel Forkin – in the comprehensive 173-run win.

A powerful all-round display saw the NCU Under 17s beat their NW counterparts by 82 runs at St Johnston. Batting first the visitors were given a solid start with an opening stand of 69 between Ryan Matthews (24) and Ryan Hunter. The CSNI wicket-keeper top-scored with 77 from 55 balls (9 fours), as 103 runs came in the second half of the innings. Carson McCullough (27) and Mohammed Aahil (23) both hitting two sixes and a four in breezy cameos. A total of 174 for 3 was always likely to be challenging, but to be fair to the hosts they raced out of the traps as Gavin Roulston (36) and Scott Macbeth shared an opening stand of 54 in six overs. However once Jack Snell (2-12) broke the partnership, the rest fell like dominoes, with three wickets apiece for David Kane (3-11) and skipper Harry Dyer (3-29) as the North West were dismissed for 92.

Aaron Doyle’s hard-hit half century powered Leinster to their third win of the week and they sit proudly on top of the U17 table heading into next week’s 50-overs competition in Belfast. Doyle hit 6 sixes and 3 fours on his way to 62 from only 36 balls, sharing an opening stand of 66 in eight overs with skipper Phillipe Le Roux (34). Macdara Cosgrave also made an unbeaten 35 as Leinster finished on 159 for 5 – two wickets for Eshan O’Sullivan and Zain Hafeez. Munster struggled in their reply, as they could only limp to 78 for 9 – Hafeez top-scoring with 19. Best with the ball for the young Dubliners were Donncha Tucker (3-16), Luke Thomson (2-3) and Srihan Karpe (2-25) as they ran out 81-run winners.

The North West won the afternoon clash with Munster thanks to a fine all-round bowling effort which saw them chasing only 66. Munster’s innings never got going and they struggled against spinners Sam Haslett and Sam Kincaid, who each took two wickets as they were bowled out in the 18th over. The North West juggled their batting order and they too were soon in trouble as two wickets for Kei Laylor and one for Ehsan O’Sullivan had them wobbling at 15 for 3. However, left-hander Gavin Roulston cleared the ropes three times in an unbeaten 30, as he and skipper Scott Macbeth (23) added 43 for the fourth wicket to all but clinch the deserved win.

Luke Thomson’s four-wicket haul was the catalyst for Leinster’s seven wickets win against the NCU in the afternoon’s T20 match. The Clontarf bowler took two wickets in his first over to leave the visitors’ innings in disarray. He took another in his second, and at 5 for 3, it was all about salvaging some pride. Skipper Harry Dyer (27) and Carson McCullough (25) added 44 for the fourth wicket, but further wickets for Daniel Forkin (3-11), and Srihan Karpe (2-10) dismissed them for a modest 82. In the chase, Aaron Doyle hit three boundaries in a quick 12, while skipper Phillipe Le Roux and Macdara Cosgrave each made 24 as the hosts eased towards victory. Mark Canniffe (15*) then cleared the ropes twice as they sealed the seven wickets win in the 13th over, despite the best efforts of Dyer (2-23).

The NCU started their Under 17 campaign with a 56-run win over Munster at Park Avenue. An unbroken fourth wicket stand of 67 between Mohammed Aahil (47*) and Carson McCullough (34*) propelled the Northern side to 145 for 3 in their 20 overs, with double figure contributions too from Ryan Hunter (18) and Harry Dyer (12). Best with the ball for Munster were Ehsan O’Sullivan (1-18) and Kanishk Kumar (1-24). Munster batted steadily in the chase with their star performer being Mosawer Sidiqi, who hit 3 fours and 2 sixes in his 45 from 44 balls. However, two wickets each from Carson McCullough (2-17) and David Kane (2-21) restricted Munster to 89 for 6, the NCU comfortable 56-run winners in the end.

Leinster held their nerve to beat the North West by 20 runs in the opening Under 17 interprovincial T20 match at Claremont Road. Chasing 135, the visitors opening stand of 74 in 12 overs had them very much in contention, before the innings faltered away as scoreboard pressure told and the required rate increased. Gavin Roulston hit 5 fours and 4 sixes in his 55 from 41 balls, dominating the opening stand with Bready team amte Ryan Clarke (23). Devon Keenan’s 2 for 14 was largely responsible for the tail-off, while Luke Thomson’s 1-20 also played a part. Earlier, Keenan had made a valuable 20, while Srihan Karpe top-socred with 27 in Leinster’s 135 for 9, in which six of the top seven made double figures. James Bell (3-30) took three wickets, Sam Kincaid (2-33) bagged two, while there was one apiece for Jamie Mutch, Scott Macbeth and Gavin Roulston.

There was a real thriller in the Under 17 interpro at Balbriggan as the hosts beat the NCU by two wickets chasing 183. Batting first, Carson McCullough made a fine 70 in the NCU total of 183 for 9, with Merrion left-arm spinner Daniel Forkin claiming 3 for 21 and Clontarf left-armer claiming 2 for 32. Srihan Karpe got the chase off to a good start with 44, but Harry Dyers four wickets brought the visitors right back into contention. However, Eoin Birch’s 36 proved crucial as the two-wicket win was sealed in the 35th over.

The NCU secured a quite remarkable win over their Leinster counterparts in the first of their Under 17 interprovincial clashes this week. It looked bleak for the hosts as they were bundled out for just 66 at Pirrie Park, with Harry Dyer top-scoring with 17, Yash Bala (4-15), and Daniel Forkin (2-8) doing the damage for the ball. Any thoughts the chase would be a routine one were soon dispelled as the NCU reduced them to 22 for 7. Phillipe Le Roux (22*) and Luke Thomson (23) looked to salvage things with a stand of 31, but the hosts held their nerve to seal a dramatic five-run win in the final over. The NCU bowling unit bowled superbly with two wickets each for Carson McCullough, Harry Dyer, Angus Farrell and John Speers. The second match of the afternoon was abandoned with Leinster 140 for 4 – half centuries for Aaron Doyle and Mark Canniffe.