Clontarf cruise past The Hills

Clontarf produced a dominant all-round display to ease to a nine-wicket victory over Fingal rivals The Hills after restricting the visitors to 94 for eight from their 20 overs.

The Hills struggled to build momentum after Aimee Scollard fell for nought with the score on eight, and regular wickets prevented any substantial partnership developing.

Jane Maguire top-scored with 20 from 25 balls, while Neha Manoj made 19 and Eve Meachen contributed 14. However, the Clontarf attack maintained control throughout.

Lucy Barry and Rosie Neuman-Jones were the chief wicket-takers, both claiming three wickets. Barry returned an excellent 3-13 from four overs, while Neuman-Jones took 3-17. Sinead Thomson was particularly economical, conceding just eight runs from her four overs while taking one wicket.

Chasing 95, Clontarf quickly removed any prospect of an upset as Neuman-Jones and Robyn Searle dominated in an opening partnership of 90.

Neuman-Jones struck eight boundaries in a fluent 47 from just 39 balls before Lara McBride finally broke the stand.

Searle remained unbeaten on 39 from 32 deliveries, including four fours, as Clontarf raced to the win in the 12th over. Genevieve Morrissey was alongside her when the winning runs were secured, completing an emphatic victory that keeps them in second place.