Barry Chambers from Cricket Ireland chatted to Cork County’s Vice Captain Robert Duggan about the upcoming Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup clash with Derriaghy Cricket Club at the Mardyke on Saturday.
“Cork County are going into this year’s competition in a positive frame of mind after being handed a home draw for the first time in almost a decade. We have been drawn against Derriaghy from the NCU and we’re expecting a tough match in order to progress to the second round of the competition for the first time since 2003. The Irish Senior Cup has been a competition that Cork County has often underperformed in throughout the years and this season the players are keen to progress and maybe cause an upset or two along the way. However, in Derriaghy we anticipate a tough game after they had an impressive campaign in the NCU Section 1 last season with a powerful middle order. One of our strengths is a strong bowling attack and if our batting unit led by Captain and opener Ross Durity steps up to the mark then we hope we’ll have enough to progress. Either way it promises to be a great day of cricket at the Mardyke!”
“As regards potential winners of the competition, we came up against North Down, Merrion and Brigade in a pre-season T20 Tournament at The Green a few weeks ago and they all look like excellent and well drilled outfits so it wouldn’t surprise me if a winner came from one of those three assuming we don’t win it ourselves! Other sides I think you should look out for would be the holders Waringstown, YMCA and Railway. There are some quality club cricket sides throughout the country at the moment so there promises to be some great encounters”.
Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup 1st Round:
Cork County v Derriaghy
Mardyke, 12.30 p.m.