Semi-final: Balbriggan beat Lisburn by 1 wicket
Jack Harper Ground, 13 July.
Lisburn 254 (46 overs; B Calitz 72, F Fazal 63, R Adair 46, D Miller 26; A Darroch 3-36, S D'Oliveria 3-43, M Hollard 2-32)
Balbriggan 255-9 (49.3 overs; C Rowe 73, J Hollard 55*, D Lues 45; R Macbeth 3-38, N Whitworth 3-55, M Humphreys 2-31)
Scorecard Report
Balbriggan last pair celebrate the win (Jayne Barker)
Semi-final: Clontarf beat Malahide by 104 runs
Castle Avenue, 13 July.
Clontarf 292-7 (50 overs; E Delany 117*, C Campher 68, P Xie 53, D Delany 24; J Newland 4-45, T Khanduja 2-50)
Malahide 188 (41.1 overs; C McLoughlin-Gavin 83, A Brown 20; R Wilson 4-36, C Campher 3-30, C McDonnell 2-24)
Scorecard Photos Report
Century for Eoghan Delany (Deryck Vincent)
Round 3: North County lost to Lisburn by 3 wickets.
Balrothery, 29 June.
North County 228-7 (50 overs; S Safi 54, N McGovern 43, A Mathew 26; F Fazal 2-29, N Whitworth 2-49)
Lisburn 229-7 (37.2 overs; R Adair 85, N Whitworth 52*; A Mathew 3-35, J George 2-28)
Scorecard
Ross Adair and Neil Whitworth (CricketEurope)
Lisburn retained NCU interest in the Irish Cup with a superb rearguard three wickets victory at North County. Suliman Safi top scored for the home side with a belligerent 54 from just 43 balls, including three fours and four sixes but they failed to kick on after he was fourth out in the 27th over with the score on 132. Despite losing only three more wickets North County added only 96 in the last 24 overs with Faiz Fazal taking two for 29 in his 10 overs and Josh Manley conceding just 36 in his 10. Ross Adair came off at the top of the Lisburn order, plundering 85 from 48 balls, 76 of them in boundaries (10 fours and six sixes). He was first out with the total on 113. However, 17 overs later they were 198 for seven but captain Neil Whitworth would not be moved and he saw his side home, along with Manley, finishing 52 not out.
Round 3: Malahide beat CIYMS by 3 wickets.
The Village, 29 June.
CIYMS 167 (49.3 overs; H Rolfes 58, C McCullough 42; J Newland 6-28, T Khanduja 2-36)
Malahide 168-7 (47 overs; J Martins 40, C McLoughlin-Gavin 28; C McCullough 2-21, J Matchett 2-35)
Scorecard
Six wickets for James Newland (George Armstrong)
An unbeaten eighth wicket partnership of 26 between Alex Brown and Andrew Sheridan booked Malahide’s passage into the Irish Cup semi-finals and knocked out 2022 winners CIYMS. The NCU side had hope when, defending their disappointing all out total of 167 they reduced their hosts to 142 for seven but it was to be their last success and Malahide eased home with three overs to spare. The victory was reward for James Newland who ripped through the CI batting to finish with six for 28. Only Hermann Rolfes and Carson McCullough put up serious resistance but the visitors lost wickets regularly, their highest partnership being just 40. Jeremy Martins was Malahide’s top scorer with 40 but Brown’s 16 not out and Sheridan seven not out from 18 balls were the most valuable.
Round 3: Clontarf beat Pembroke by 108 runs.
Castle Avenue, 29 June.
Clontarf 284-9 (50 overs; S Lynch 101, M Thompson 56, D Delany 49; B McCarthy 3-60, G Hoey 2-52, P Lawson 2-59)
Pembroke 176 (38.1 overs; A Balbirnie 76, L Tucker 25, B McCarthy 25; C McDonnell 4-37, R Wilson 3-29, D Vincent 3-39)
Scorecard Photos
Hat-trick for Cillian McDonnell (Deryck Vincent)
Clontarf stunned the competition favourites as they ousted a full-strength Pembroke at Castle Avenue, Seamus Lynch was the spark that ignited the hosts as came good on the big stage hitting 11 fours and 6 sixes in a 77-ball 101, sharing an opening stand of 151 in 23 overs with Mitchell Thompson (56). David Delany (49) and David Vincent (22) chipped in to a total of 284 for 9. Reuben Wilson took early wickets, and that was followed by three for David Vincent in the middle order. Pembroke's hopes were fading, but Andy Balbirnie was still there and his 76 gave them a slight foothold in the contest. Cillian McDonnell got his prize scalp going on to claim the match ball with a hat-trick in a 108-run win. What a difference a day makes...
Round 3: Balbriggan beat Donemana by 6 wickets.
Jack Harper Ground, 29 June.
Donemana 220-9 (50 overs; A Jotin 61, J Huey 33; J Hollard 3-35, M Hollard 2-36, S de Oliveira 2-54)
Balbriggan 224-4 (43.1 overs; C Rowe 78, C de Freitas 71*, F Nasr 37*; A McBrine 2-45)
Scorecard
Balbriggan ended Donemana’s dreams with a six-wicket win at Jack Harper Park. The North West side were dealt two blows beforehand with William McClintock (suspension) and David O’Sullivan (muscle injury) both ruled out. Anuj Jotin was again in the runs as he top-scored with 61 in a Donemana total of 220 for nine, with Jamie Huey (33) and Andy McBrine (21) also in the runs. Jordan and Matthew Hollard shared a combined five wickets. The reply was a cagey one initially with Donemana taking early wickets, but Cameron Rowe and Chris De Freitas shared a match-defining fourth wicket stand of 99 in 18 overs to put the hosts firmly in control. Rowe hit nine fours and three maximums in a top-score of 78, while De Freitas (71 not out) added a further 65 for the fifth wicket with Farooq Nasr (37) as Balbriggan eased to victory in the 44th over.