Merrion Women beat Holywood by nine wickets in the first game on All-Ireland T20 finals day at The Lawn. 

After bowling out the NCU champions for 124, Merrion swept to victory with 35 balls to spare. New Zealand international Bella Armstrong was the batter out, bowled by Alexis MacDonald for 48 from just 27 balls after an opening stand of 67 in 7.3 overs with Annabel Squires. Ireland international Rebecca Stokell joined  her former team-mate and they knocked off the remaining runs without jeopardy. 

Madison Landsman bowled her four overs for 25 runs but failed to take a wicket, but it was already looking ominous for Holywood when their other ‘big name’, Lara Maritz’s first  over went for 17. 

It was Maritz, however, who got her side into three figures. Merrion skipper Niamh MacNulty had her opposite number dropped off the third ball of the match but she claimed the huge wicket in her third over, beating Landsman on the back foot and wrecking her stumps. Fellow opener Erin Bond quickly followed, a return catch to Julianne Morrissey’s first ball, but Maritz was joined by Chrissy Soulsby and they added 69 for the third wicket. 

It took them 11 overs as Merrion's bowlers kept the innings under control, Morrissey finishing with one for 17 from her four overs. Maritz was caught by Leah Paul at deep square leg for 67 in the final over, having faced 45 balls, which included eight fours. 

It was MacNulty’s second wicket of the day, at a cost of just 20 runs, but Armstrong’s innings earned her the Player of the match as Merrion won the All-Ireland trophy for the fourth time in its six editions.