Malahide lost Amy Hunter to the first ball of the game, dismissed by Sophie Mullet, and going on to make a modest 71 for four - two wickets for Orla Bagnall. Leinster in reply just managed 9 balls before the elements won the day.

The rain also won the day at Kenure where Rush had reached 129 for two in 16 overs. Ocean Bartlett hit ten boundaries in a fluent 52-ball 66, while there were runs too for Ellie McGee (29).

A century stand by Bella Armstrong, who hit 12 fours in a 39-ball 65, and Annabel Squires (43*) was the highlight of a rained-off game at Anglesea Road.

A century stand between Alice Walsh and Susan Lawless set Clontarf on their way to a five wicket win at Balbriggan chasing down 156. Walsh hit 8 fours in a 43-ball 60, while Lawless found the boundary seven times in a quickfire 40. Lara Maritz took three wickets to go with her earlier 30-ball 48 (7 fours, 2 sixes), while there were runs too for Tess Maritz (46*) and Ciara Gibson (37).

Clare Shillington's 69-ball 92 (12 fours, 1 six) propelled Pembroke to a 50-run win over Leinster. She shared a second wicket stand of 91 with Zoe Bell, who made a run-a-ball 23. A total of 178 for 3 was always out of reach for Leinster, who made 128 for 9 - Karina Bell making 33.

Rush edged out Malahide by 3 runs at Kenure with Ocean Bartlett's 55 making almost half of their 115 for 6. Aoife Beggs then took three wickets to restrict Malahide to 112 for 6.

Alice Walsh thumped 8 fours and two sixes in a 39-ball 65 as Clontarf beat Phoenix by 9 wickets chasing 117. Alison Black's unbeaten 51 the best of Phoenix's 116 for 8 - three wickets for Gemma Sargent and two for Alice Walsh.

Former Irish internationals Clare Shillington's 56 from 46 deliveries (6 fours) and an unbeaten 33 from Shauna Kavanagh took Pembroke to 136 for two. That was enough as Merrion could only make 119 for 8 despite 41 from Anna Squires - three wickets for Kimli McDonald and two for Zoe Bell.

Lara Maritz may be out of favour with representative selectors but she once again was in the runs as she thumped 6 fours and five sixes in a 24-ball 65 as Balbriggan chased down108 to win inside 8 overs. Zara Craig's unbeaten 50 (4 fours) was the main contribution to Phoenix's 108 for seven.

A first century for Jane Maguire (102*) who shared a century stand with Abbi Harrison (63) powered The Hills to 211 for 2 - both wickets to Ocean Bartlett, who made 54 not out in a Rush total of 119 for 5. Georgia Wilson chipped in with 31, while Erin Carroll and Jane Maguire each took two wickets.

The Hills and Malahide shared the spoils with an exciting tie. Tahlia Dunne hit 6 fours and a six in a 35-ball 54, sharing an opening stand of 101 in 10 overs with Irish international Aimee Maguire (32). However, they were bowled out as just 36 runs came in the second half of the innings, with four wickets for Anna Kerrison and two for Sorcha O'Carolan Murphy. O'Carolan Murphy (47) and Sara Condron (39) shared a third wicket century partnership, but still four were needed from the final ball of the game for the tie, and Anna Kerrison duly dispatched Tahlia Dunne.

A fourth wicket stand of 82 between Isobel Joyce (41) and Isabel Light (34) helped Merrion to 154 for 4 against Leinster. The Rathmines side looked on course to win as they raced to 65 for 1 in the seventh over, but despite young Australian's Karina Bell's 72 (10 fours), they ended 21 runs shy on 133 for six - two wickets for Ashwi Manoj.

Pembroke staved off the threat of Gaby Lewis to beat Phoenix by 34 runs in the Park. Clare Shillington's even time 32 and 26 from Zoe Bell helped Pembroke to 155 for 9 - three wickets for Juliet Gargan. The chase was all about the Irish captain, who hit 16 boundaries in a 53-ball 87. Unfortunately extras with 19 was the only other significant contribution, with only 15 runs in 11.1 overs coming from the other eight Phoenix players. Mhairi Nicoll (2-20) got the all important wicket of Lewis, while there was also a brace for Louise McCarthy.

Meg Thompson turned in a fine all-round display as Malahide easily beat Clontarf by 8 wickets at the Village. Thompson claimed three wickets to keep the Castle Avenue side to 120 for seven with Alice Walsh hitting six boundaries in a 24-ball 33, while Christina Coulter-Reilly made an unbeaten 35. The Australian overseas player then hit nine boundaries in a fluent 61, adding 99 for the first wicket with Amy Hunter, who stroked five boundaries in a 39-ball 42.

Leinster put in a powerful display to beat Rush by 144 runs at Kenure. Laura Delany hit 11 fours and 2 sixes in a top score of 90 not out, while fellow Irish international Sophie MacMahon also made a half century in her 31-ball 64 (8 fours, 3 sixes). Ava Canning chipped in with 20 in a total of 217 for four. Rush in their reply struggled to 73 for nine with three wickets for Tash Richardson and two apiece for Kate Dillon and Orla Bagnall.

A real thriller at Sydney Parade as the hosts just failed to chase down 157 against Phoenix, losing by one run. Gaby Lewis top-scored with 87, while Zara Craig hit 41 in a Phoenix total of 157 for 4. Louise Little (70) and Sarah Forbes (34) got Pembroke agonisingly close.

Merrion made light of a potentially tough chase to beat The Hills by eight wickets. Tahlia Dunne top scored with a 54-ball (63), sharing stands of 71 for the first wicket with Lara McBride (30) and 58 for the third with Aimee Maguire (26) in a total of 147 for 5. McBride dismissed Aisling Lawlor cheaply, but a second wicket stand of 121 in 12 overs between Bella Armstrong and Rebecca Stokell all but settled the contest. New Zealand international Armstrong hit six fours in a 43-ball 54, while Irish international Stokell's unbeaten 61 also from 43 deliveries include five boundaries as Merrion eased past their target with almost four overs to spare.

An unbeaten 74 from Australian Meg Thompson wasn't enough for Malahide to cause an upset as they played Phoenix at The Village. Chasing 140, Malahide finished 16 runs adrift despite Thompson's efforts and 21 from Sarah Condron. Earlier, Phoenix had posted 140 for 6 with Arisha Foysal making 31 and Gaby Lewis 24. Saibh Mitchell (3-11) impressed with the ball for Malahide.

Pembroke opened their campaign with a 31-run win over Clontarf at Sydney Parade. Louise Little got the home side off to a quick start with a rapid 23 as she and Sarah Forbes shared an opening stand of 42. However, 42 for 0 became 42 for 3, under order was restored in a fourth wicket partnership of 66 between Shauna Kavanagh (29) and Zoe bell (17). They collapsed once again in the search for late runs, losing seven wickets for 14 to be all out for 122 - two wickets apiece for Alyssa Pasley, Alice Walsh and Lucy Barry. The Clontarf chase never really got going despite a run-a-ball 36 from Julie McNally (3 fours). They were bowled out for 91 with a brace apiece for Mhairi Nicholl, Hannah Little and Kimli McDonald.

Laura Delany was the driving force behind Leinster's emphatic 88-run win over Balbriggan at Rathmines. The Irish international top-scored with 43 (5 fours), sharing stands of 40 with international colleagues past - Eimear Richardson (24) - and present, Ava Canning (36) in a total of 138 for 6. Lara Maritz (2-15) the pick of the attack. The Balbriggan batting was blown away by an initial spell from young Australian speedster Karina Bell, then a five wicket haul for Delany (5-2) as they slumped to 50 all out.