SCOTLAND U17s claimed the Celtic Cup as Ireland were comprehensively beaten by seven wickets in the deciding T20 of a hard-fought five-match series at Stormont in Belfast. Put into bat, Ireland struggled to recover from the loss of skipper James West and Seb Yeates inside the first three overs and were restricted to 82-9 with no batter reaching 20. Wicketkeeper James Smallwoods top scored with 18 not out while Ken Keddie claimed 3-8 from his four overs and Shlok Thakor also took three wickets. Scotland made short work of the chase, winning with a full five overs to spare as opening bat Olly Pillinger saw his side home with an unbeaten 51.

Shlok Thaker gave Scotland a series lead in the morning game as he top-scored with 35 as the visitors chased down a modest Irish total of 100 to win by five wickets with eight balls remaining. William Shields (2-18) the best of the Irish bowling. Bruce Whaley (35) top-scored for Ireland, while Tekele (3-10), Shlok Thaker (3-17) and Alec McClennan (2-12) did the damage with the ball for Scotland.

Gethin Kelleher was the Ireland hero with the Railway Union all-rounder showing nerves of steel to score the seven runs required from the last three balls to secure a four-wicket win for Ireland U17s. The victory sets up a winner-takes-all in the final match of the Celtic Cup on Friday at Stormont. Scotland posted 130 for 7 with Ali Khan making a run-a-ball 47 (6 fours, 1 six), Ollie Pillinger (21), and Shreyas Tekale (20*). Bonds Glen spinner Sam Haslett took three wickets, while James West picked up two. The chase was a tense affair, with West enjoying home comforts as the CSNI all-rounder struck 51 from 44 balls (6 fours, 1 six) while there were runs too for Pembroke's Dan Murray (20) and Sam Haslett (18). A real thriller that went all the way, and Friday's clash could well be the same between two evenly matches teams.

A good morning with the ball for the hosts as Scotland were bowled out inside 35 overs for just 141. Runs again today for skipper James Stronach and Shlok Thaker with 27 from Sheryas Tekale, while for the Irish Travis Faulkner claimed three wickets with two each for Johan George, Sam Haslett and Gethin Kelleher. Ireland's openers, the CSNI pairing of James West and Seb Yeates took the score to 69 in the fifteen overs play before the scheduled lunch break. The partnership was broken at 77 with the first of three wickets for Kenny Keddie, and two for Sheryas Tekale in the ten overs after the break brought Scotland right back into the game, before Ethan Marshall and Sam Haslett added 44 for the sixth wicket. The game turned into another tight one with Ireland creeping along at barely a run an over to reach their target in the fortieth over, Haslett (15) bowled by Tekale with 2 runs required. So the 50 overs games are shared leaving 2 T20s on Thursday and 1 on Friday morning to complete the series.

Scotland pipped Ireland by 5 runs in the opening match of their Under 17 Celtic Cup series at Stormont. The visitors total of 237 was down primarily to two significant stands. Firstly, keeper Ollie Pillinger (46) added 74 for the first wicket with Simon Umeed, and then following a mini collapse where four wickets fell for 12 runs, skipper James Stronach and Keerat Singh (30) got the innings back on track by adding 81. Stronach thumped 7 fours and 2 sixes in an even time 55, while for Ireland Clontarf's Ethan Marshall took (4-20) and Instonians spinner Ben Walsh took 3 for 49. The chase was a nip and tuck affair with early runs for James Smallwoods (29), Sam Haslett, and Ethan Marshall. Scotland kept pegging away and wickets for Shreyas Tekele (3-42), Ken Keddie (2-32) and Alec McClennan (2-38) had them on top. Bruce Whaley (40) and Gethin Kelleher (37) fought back bravely but in the end the Scots prevailed in a tense finale that augurs well for the rest of the series.