Brian Dunphy (44) and Eddie Richardson (35) ensured North County gained the points in a hard-fought win over Civil Service. The hosts posted 178 thanks to Dhiraj Shetty's 57 - four wickets for Ash Jain, but in a tense finale the Balrothery side got over the line.

The Hills ended on a high note as they ran out convincing 166-run winners against North Kildare. Muzamil Sherzad thumped 9 fours and 2 sixes in a 44-ball 64, but it took a 9th wicket stand of 73 between Matthew Weldon (50*) and Sean McNicholl (30*) to get them over 300 and out of sight - runs too for Nicolaj Damgaard Laegsgaard (49). Sayed Shah hit a brisk 45, but four wickets for Febin Manoj and three for Brandon Kruger (3-15) saw the visitors dismissed for 144.

Cork County ended on a high as they beat Terenure by 36 runs in a decent game at The Mardyke. The hosts posted 198 with runs for Abu Saddique (44), Brian Upman (43), Eshan O'Sullivan (31), and Ben Maris (29). Henry Dall took four wickets and his 88 kept the Dubliners in with a shout, eventually 162 all out.

Josh Doyle's century and five wickets for Alex Neary were the highlights as Rush won the battle for the Championship title by beating challengers Railway Union by 40 runs at Kenure. Doyle hit 12 fours and 4 sixes in his 120 from 127 balls, sharing an 8th wicket stand of 88 with Finn McGee in a total of 287 for 9. Ashil Prakash (65) and Hedayat Khogiani (30) got the chase off to a strong start, and Rish would have been worried to see Kevin O'Brien (39) and Srihan Karpe (23) continue in that vein. However, Neary claimed 5 for 34 and Nathan McGuire (3-49) to bowl then out for 247 and let the celebrations begin.

North Kildare chased 212 to beat Civil Service by 3 wickets in an entertaining contest at The Maws. Arjun Chandrasekar's 57-ball 66 (5 fours, 6 sixes) was the highlight of CS's 212. The hosts chased it down inside 34 overs with hard-hit half centuries from Nurulain Boda and Abidullah Taniwal. Boda top-scored with 54 (9 fours, 1 six) while Taniwal's 49-ball 52 included 5 sixes.

Rush are on the brink of the Championship title after a four-wicket win at North County in the Fingal derby. John Devane hit 8 fours and a maximum in the home side's 158 - three wickets for Nasir Totakhil, plus two apiece for Jarred Barnes, Alex Neary and Allan Eastwood. Prisanth Vishwanath's 43 got the chase off to a brisk start and the Kenure side eased to a relatively comfortable win just past the midway point despite three wickets for Alan Mathew.

Half centuries from Brandon Kruger and Tomas Rooney-Murphy propelled The Hills to a comfortable 108-run win at lowly Terenure. Kruger hit 8 fours and a six in his 52, while TRM made the same score (3 fours, 2 sixes), There were also valuable contributions from Cian Nulty (28) and Lorcan Woodhouse (22) in the visitors' 199 - three wickets for Kripesh Shetty and Jinal Khatri. The reply was a sorry affair with only Irish youth international Gethin Kelleher reaching 20 as they were bundled out for 91. Cian Nulty completed a fine all-round display with four wickets, while Sean McNicholl also collected four victims in the one-sided contest.

Half centuries for Hedayat Ullah Khogiani (60) and Kevin O'Brien (52) inspired Railway Union to a 98-run win at home to Cork. The Park Avenue side never looked back after an opening stand of 108 between Khogiani and Ashil Prakash (45) as they posted 250. The Munster side's chase never really got going as they were dismissed for 152 - two wickets apiece for Ashil Prakash, Sumit Kumar and Zaman Safi.

No play was possible at Milverton.

Prasanth Vishwanath and Jack McGee shared a third wicket stand of 142 as Rush chased down 264 to beat Civil Service by 6 wickets at Kenure. Vishwanath top-scored with a fluent 84, while McGee hit 7 fours in his 69. There were runs too for Hashir Sultan (39*) and Nasir Totakhil (20*) in an impressive chase that keeps their title hopes very much alive.

Six wickets from Alan Mathew, allied with half centuries for John Devane and Brian Dunphy helped North County to a 114-run win against Cork County at Balrothery. Devane hit 10 fours and 3 sixes in his 70-ball unbeaten 86, while Irish Youth international Dunphy's 60 included seven boundaries. Alan Mathew (29) and Ash Jain (30*) shared a sixth wicket stand of 64, and a total of 279 for 5 was always going to be challenging. Thorne Prophet's 81 (9 fours, 3 sixes) saw him add 83 for the fourth wicket with Eshan O'Sullivan (24),but from 105 for 3, the wheels came off. Mathew was the destroyer-in-chief as he took 6 for 30 - including three in an over as the last five wickets fell for nine runs.

Bakhtyar Nabi's five wicket haul inspired North Kildare to a 31-run win at home to Terenure in a low-scoring encounter at The Maws. It has looked bleak for the home side after Henry Dall's four wickets had them bundled out for just 111. But the Dublin side found the conditions equally tough as they were skittled for 80 despite Sid Nair's unbeaten 27. Nabi claimed 5 for 16, able supported by left-arm seamer Abidullah Taniwal who took four scalps in a fine bowling display.

Railway Union stayed top of the Championship as they beat Terenure by 104 runs at Park Avenue. Skipper Philippe Le Roux top-scored with 66 (9 fours) adding 70 for the second wicket with Robert O'Brien (36), while there were runs too for Hedayat Khogiani (42) and Fakhar Zaman - whose 19-ball 41 included 4 sixes. Srihan Karpe made 29 and then claimed five wickets as the visitors were dismissed for 158, despite a thumping 71 from 53 balls by Seamus Lynch (9 fours, 2 sixes).

The Hills won the Fingal derby to bring a bit of cheer to the Milverton side in what has been a tough year for the club. Batting first, North County posted 201 thanks primarily to John Devane's 50 (7 fours) with runs too for Suliman Safi (37) and Alan Mathew (26). Brnndon Kruger was again the Hills' top-scorer, with the consistent opener making 62 (6 fours, 1 six) sharing a third wicket stand of 63 with William Archer (32) that broke the back of the chase. 20's from Nicolaj Damgaard Laegsgaard, Tomas Rooney-Murphy and Andrew Kavanagh sealing a three-wicket win in the 48th over.

Rush continued their promotion charge warming up for the National Cup final with a five-wicket win at The Maws. Waqar Azmat's 28 was the best of North Kildare's modest 113 - three wickets apiece for Nathan McGuire and Alex Neary. The chase wasn't all straightforward as Abidullah Taniwal claimed two wickets, but Hashir Sultan's unbeaten 39, and 26 from Jack McGee ensured victory.

Arjun Chandrasekar's half century was the catalyst for a rare Civil Service win against Cork County. His 59 helped Civil Service to 241, which was 42 too many for the Munster side despite 33 apiece for Ross Durity and Thorne Prophet.

Cork County recorded a four-wickets win over North Kildare in an entertaining match at The Mardyke. Abidullah Taniwal hit 8 fours and cleared the ropes 9 times in his 89-ball 111 that saw the visitors make 188 - four wickets for Sam Fenn. Half centuries for Ben Marris and Thorne Prophet ensured the points for Cork.

Raghav Grover's six wickets haul was the catalyst for Terenure's second Championship win of the campaign as they beat Civil Service by 5 wickets. Grover took 6 for 27 to dismiss the visitors for 117. He then made an unbeaten 21, with Seamus Lynch thumping 43 in a welcome win.

Rush stay top of the Championship table after a 9-wicket win over Fingal rivals The Hills. William Archer hit 10 fours in a top score of 56 as the visitors posted 162 - three wickets for home captain Jarred Barnes. The modest target was soon knocked off, with half centuries for openers Josh Doyle and Prasanth Viswanath in an opening stand of 104. Doyle top-scored with an unbeaten 67 (12 fours, 1 six), while Viswanath's even time 54 included 4 fours and 3 maximums. Nathan McGuire hurried proceedings to an early conclusion with a 22-ball 37 not out (5 fours, 1 six).

Railway Union moved above North County with a 5-wickets win at Park Avenue. Suliman Safi hit 104 from 109 balls (9 fours, 4 sixes) as the Balrothery side made 195 - five wickets for Hamza Maan. The hosts openers Ashil Prakash and Hedayat Ullah Khogiana both mad ehalf centuries in an opening stand of 91 that broke the back of the target. Liam McCarthy (27*) and Philippe Le Roux (25*) ensuring no late dramas in a textbook chase.

A six wicket haul for Liam McCarthy was the catalyst for a Railway Union side very much in promotion contention to beat North Kildare by 3 wickets. McCarthy - on the periphery of the Irish side - will have made the selectors aware again of his good form as he claimed 6 for 33 as NK were bowled out for 204 - Husnain Maroof top-scoring with 60 and former Railway player Josh Uddin making 36. The chase was tense but Ireland youth international Philippe Le Roux's 45 proved invaluable.

Half centuries from Brandon Kruger (89) and Nicolaj Damgaard Laegsgaard (67) propelled The Hills to a 43-run win over Civil Service ina high scoring game in Phoenix Park. Dhiraj Shetty's 74 gave the hosts some hope, but three wickets for Kruger compelted a fine all-round effort by him sealing the victory.

Rush produced a fine all-round display to remain top of the Championship table following a comprehensive 7-wicket win over Cork County. Nabeel Anjum made an unbeaten 40 and Mark Adrianatis 31 not out in a total of 184 - the wickets shared around as Allan Eastwood, Alex Neary, Nasir Totakhil and Jarred Barnes. The chase was a formality once Josh Doyle made an unbeaten 82 (8 fours, 1 six), with runs too for Jack McGee and Nathan McGuire.

North County remained in the promotion hunt with a 65-run win over Terenure. John Devane hit 8 fours in a top score of 46 as the Balrothery side made 177 - four wickets apiece for Dylan Cleary and Jinal Khatri. The hosts chase never got going as they were bowled out for just 112 - Eddie Richardson with four scalps and two apiece for Ash Jain and Alan Mathew.

Rush are the new Championship leaders after an impressive 7-wickets win at Railway Union in a game reduced to 20 overs. Teenager Robert O'Brien top-scored for the Park Avenue side in a total of 135 for 6 - 20s for Srihan Karpe and Hedayat Khogiani. The impressive Nasir Totakhil took 2 for 9 in his four-overs spell, while there were also a brace for fellow spinner Nathan McGuire. Josh Doyle and Jack McGee both scored 42 apiece in a text book chase that saw the Fingal side's patience in waiting around for a game duly rewarded. What price Rush for a double in the coming weeks?

A second wicket stand of 103 between Donal Vaughan and Sid Nair propelled Terenure to their first Championship win of the season as they chased 185 to beat Cork County. Vaughan top scored with an unbeaten 75 (11 fours, 1 six), while Nair's even time 54 saw him hit 8 boundaries and clear the ropes twice. There were also breezy 20s for Henry Dall and Seamus Lynch. Earlier three wickets apiece for the hosts Dylan Cleary and Kripesh Shetty had the Munster side in real trouble, but a 7th wicket stand of 96 between Nabeel Anjum - who hit 7 fours and 2 sixes in his 37-ball 55 - and top scorer Sunil Gautum (59: 7 fours) gave their side something to defend, but in the end nowhere near enough.

North County got their promotion push back on track after their horror weekend last time out with a 146-run demolition of Civil Service at Balrothery. Ciaran Sheridan (40) and skipper Niall McGovern (37) laid the platform with an opening stand of 60. John Devane then top-scored with a 68-ball unbeaten 73 (7 fours, 1 six) adding 56 for the 6th wicket with Luke Whelan (28) in a total of 262 for 7. The visitors reply never got going as two wickets apiece for Eddie Richardson, Abdul Ghaffar, Sean Sludds and Alan Mathew saw them bundled out for 116.

The Hills showed all their battling qualities as they beat North Kildare by 46 runs at The Maws. Nicolaj Damgaard Laegsgaard (25), and Tomas Rooney Murphy (21) got the visitors to 91 for 3 before a collapse saw six wickets fall for just 12 runs to leave their innings in tatters at 103 for 9. Number 11 Febin Manoj (30*) got them up to 149 and those late runs gave the Milverton's sides bowling unit some heart. Sean McNicholl roared in to claim 4 for 22, while there were two wickets apiece for Nicolaj, Mathew Weldon and Manoj to clinch the comeback win that will have left the Fingal side in good spirits for the journey home.

Railway Union lead the Championship after a 74-run win at home to The Hills. Park Avenue skipper Phillipe Le Roux led the way with a hard-hit 80-ball 85 (5 fours, 3 sixes) in their total of 264 for 9. Johnny Woods then took four wickets - the talented teenager a true sporting all-rounder who plays hockey and rugby to a high standard - while another youngster with plenty of talent, Sean O'Brien took three scalps in the convincing victory.

Rush are in second place courtesy of a nervy 1-wicket win over Civil Service. Arjun Chandrasekar top-scored with 60 in the home side's 198, and then took four wickets as he threatened to derail the Kenure promotion push. Despite Josh Doyle's half century, Rush still needed 38 with the last pair at the crease. Asher Abbasi (39*) and Allan Eastwood (19*) got Rush home - a result you feel could well be critical come the end of the season.

Cork County knocked North County off the Championship leaders perch with an 85-run win at The Mardyke. Chasing 174, the Balrothery side were bundled out for just 89 - two wickets apiece for Eshan O'Sullivan 2-9, Suliman Safi 2-11, Nabeel Anjum 2-13, and Mark Andrianatos 2-19.

Terenure stay bottom of the table after a 1-wicket loss to North Kildare in the closest game of the day. Donal Vaughan made 83 in Terenure's 264 - boosted by an incredible 73 extras! Kildare probably didn't deserve to win after all those extras, but they did prevail with six players passing 30. They still needed their number 11 to clear the ropes to clinch victory in a tense finale.

North County beat the weather and Railway Union in the only fixture that managed to get a result in the top two divisions. In a game reduced to 24 overs, Philippe Le Roux hit 8 fours and 2 sixes in his unbeaten 71 from just 48 balls. Fakhar Zaman chipped in with 32 in a total of 153 for 8 - three wickets apiece for Abdul Sattar and Eddie Richardson. The reply looked in trouble at 72 for 5 in the 14th over, but former Irish international Richardson proved to be the match winner with a quite brilliant unbeaten 94 from just 58 deliveries (8 fours, 5 sixes), adding 68 in 50 balls for the 6th wicket with Luke Whelan. This result could go a long way to determining who returns to the top flight next season.

Railway Union produced another excellent chase as they won by 5 wickets in pursuit of 250. The hosts' Raghav Grover top scored with 60 (7 fours) in their 249 for 9, with three wickets apiece for Piyush Sharma and Liam McCarthy. A third wicket stand of 123 between Hedayat Khogiana - who hit 12 fours and 3 sixes in his 66-ball 85 - and Srihan Karpe (58). McCarthy then hastened the game to a quick conclusion as he bludgeoned 6 fours and 5 sixes in his 64 not out from only 35 deliveries, adding an unbroken 82 for the 6th wicket with Sean O'Brien.

Eddie Richardson produced a bowling masterclass to give North County bragging rights in the Fingal derby at Balrothery. The former international and Alan Mathew were joint top-scorers with 38, and John Devane chipped in with 32 as the hosts posted 206 for 8 - three wickets for Cian Nulty. Richardson then ripped through the top order taking 5 for 30 as The Hills were bundled out for 117 - Andrew Kavanagh's 30 their best effort.

Mark Adrianatos top scored with 91, sharing stands of 113 for the first wicket with Ross Durity (47), and 94 for the second with Syed Aiman to help Cork County post 293 for 5. Civil Service's Arjun Chandrasekar made 79 in the chase but four wickets from Nabeel Anjum saw CS dismissed for 199.

Josh Doyle thumped 18 fours and 5 sixes in a brutal 156 from just 131 balls to help Rush pile up 340 for 7 at home to North Kildare. He added 113 for the fourth wicket with Hashir Sultan (38). After he was dismissed, there was no respite for the beleaguered visitors as Finn McGee and Jarred Barned both made unbeaten 29's from just 13 balls, as 51 came from the last 21 balls, including a combined 6 sixes. Bakhytar Nabi and Sayed Shah both scored half centuries in the chase, but three wickets apiece from Nathan McGuire and Nasir Totakhil ensured the 96-run win.

North County piled on the runs as they hit 37 fours and 10 sixes in a mammoth 378 for 8 at Rush. Skipper Niall McGovern set the tone with 12 boundaries in his 67, sharing an opening stand of 87 with John Devane (43). Suliman Safi hit a whirlwind 92 (14 fours, 2 sixes) while there were further runs for Abdul Sattar (60) and Alan Mathew (31). Hashir Sultan cleared the ropes four times in a hard-hit 68, while number 11 Allan Eastwood enjoyed himself in a quickfire 15-ball unbeaten 33 in the losing effort. Eddie Richardson picked up four wickets, while there were three for Alan Mathew and two for Sean Sludds in the 112-run win.

A magificent seven wickets haul for Assadullah Ahmadzai (7-44) led Civil Service to a 21-run win over North Kildare in Phoenix Park. Bakhtyar Nabi'45 was the best effort in Kildare's pursuit of 214. The home side's Junaid Altaf hit 5 sixes in a top score of 63, while Nilesh Joshi didn't do much running as he hit 9 fours in his 43.

The recent bad weather in Cork continued as the scheduled visit of Railway Union was called off and the points shared.

Closest game of the day was at Milverton where The Hills did well to chase down Terenure's 178 to win by two wickets. Henry Dall and the Lynch brothers were the visitors top scorers, while Nicolaj Damgaard Laegsgaard and Brandon Kruger each took three wickets. A fourth wicket stand of 70 between Brandon Kruger and Nathan Rooney, who both made half centuries took the home side to 135 for 3. Kripesh Shetty (4-38) and Henry Dall (3-19) induced a wobble, but The Hills got there in the end.

The Mardydke was under water after heavy rain on Friday with the sensible decision to call the game off saving The Hills a fruitless journey.

The next generation of the O'Brien dynasty showed their youthful class as they were very much to the fore in a 151-run destruction of Civil Service at Park Avenue. Robert O'Brien hit 8 four and 4 sixes in a brilliant 123, adding 90 for the fourth wicket with Liam McCarthy - who cleared the ropes three times in a 40-ball 44. A total of 264 always looked a winning one, and with Sean O'Brien (4-21) taking a cluster of early wickets, the result was never in doubt, just the margin. There were two wickets apiece also for Piyush Sharma and Srihan Karpe as Civil Service were dismissed for just 113, despite late, brief, resistance from Ankit Gusain (24).

Rush wasted no time in brushing aside Terenure at Rush. The visitors could only muster 129 with Henry Dall making 44, including seven boundaries. The wickets were shared by the Kenure attack with three for Nasir Totakhil, two apiece for Jarred Barnes, Josh Doyle, and Asher Abbasi, plus one for Allan Eastwood. Nathan McGuire pummelled 6 fours and 3 sixes in a 27-ball half century, while Brandon Morris hit three maximums in a quickfire 31 and there was runs too for Joshua Doyle (28). The seven wickets win achieved in double quick time - just the 17th over which was pleasing in that it got everyone out of the bleak conditions and allowed them to watch entire Leinster versus Northampton European semi-final.

North Kildare held their nerve to clinch a 23-run win over North County at The Maws. Half centuries from Josh Uddin ( 4 fours, 4 sixes) and Waqar Azmat saw the hosts total 249 - five wickets for Simi Singh (5-38) and two each for Eddie Richardson and Abdul Ghaffar. The chase was in trouble as the Balrothery side slumped to 120 for 7, including Simi Singh without scoring. Where's there is Richardson, there is hope and he almost pulled off a miracle escape. He hit 8 sixes and 3 fours in a brilliant 112 before being last man out attempting to clear the ropes again. A great game but an early blow for a County side hopeful of a return to the top flight.

Robert O'Brien starred with a match-winning innings as Railway Union got their campaign up and running with a 132-run win over North Kildare, The latest off the talented production line top-scored with 86 (9 fours, 1 six) as the Park Avenue side posted 229 - five wickets for Husnain Maroof. The home side's reply was soon in disarray as they spluttered to 97 all out - four wickets for Zaman Safi and two for Ashil Prakash.

The Hills got their Championship campaign up and running as they beat Civil Service by 111 runs at Milverton. Brandon Kruger and Yaseen Sherzad both made 62 with the pair adding 75 for the 5th wicket. Sherzad also shared a 7th wicket stand of 80 in 16 overs with Matthew Weldon (47) as they posted 258 - three wickets for Dhiraj Shetty. The visitors chase never looked like being a successful one, despite 31 for Nilesh Joshi. They were eventually dismissed for 147 - three wickets for Nicolaj Damgaard -Laegsgaard.

Rush recovered from 91 for 7 to post 253 in their game with Cork County. Finn McGee (54) helped the tail wag with stands of 57 with Nasir Totakhil (31) and 81 with Asher Abassi (40*). Cork struggled in the chase to be out for 89 - Ben Marris (27) and Syed Aiman (25) scoring the bulk of their modest total. Abbasi picked up three wickets, while there were two apiece for Jarred Barnes and Nasir Totakhil.

Suliman Safi marked his North County debut with a century as the Balrothery side powered to a thumping 227-run win against Terenure. The Afghanistan U19 international top-scored with 110 from just 92 balls (7 fours, 6 sixes), sharing a 5th wicket stand of 158 in 22 overs with Alan Mathew (54), Abdul Sattar clubbed 40 from 20 balls (3 sixes and 3 fours), while skipper Niall McGovern made 26 in a final total of 335 for 6. Raghav Grover took three wickets and top-scored with 32 in a disappointing batting effort - 108 all out. Sattar (5-27) starred with the ball, while there were two wickets each for Eddie Richardson and Sean Sludds.