Saturday 15th May – Phoenix v Cork County
Cork County made their long awaited debut in Leinster League Division 2 on Saturday at Phoenix Park to take on promotion chasing Phoenix CC. It was Cork County’s first competitive league fixture in Leinster in over a decade and was the culmination of a lot of hard work both on and off the field by players and committee alike. However, in their opening fixture they were up against a strong looking Phoenix side led by former Irish opening bowler David Langford-Smith and containing consistent Leinster League performers such as Conor Kelly, the Flanagan brothers and the familiar face of Morne Bauer.
Cork County skipper Robert Duggan won the toss and decided to have a bowl on a wicket which looked like it would offer a little to the seamers and hoped to take advantage of any moisture in the wicket. The County openers James Duggan and Andrew Wootton appeared rusty at first allowing the Phoenix opening batsmen to get off to a steady start racing to almost 6 runs per over after the first six overs. A change in bowlers at both ends with the introduction of Bruce Koch and Ciarán Healy brought a halt to the run rate and provided County with the scalp of Rory Flanagan who was caught behind off the bowling of Koch. Healy’s spell of 10 overs provided much needed control and pressure on a slow wicket. The reintroduction of Wootton provided County with the important wickets of overseas player Larkin and Conor Kelly. Danger man David Langford-Smith was trapped LBW by Matt Reed for just 17 and skipper Robert Duggan took 3 wickets with a spell controlled swing bowling to subdue any end of innings barrage from the Phoenix lower order. Phoenix finished their innings on 240-7 after 50 overs providing County with a stiff challenge if they were to record their first victory in Division 2.
County’s fortunes relied heavily on seeing off the new ball partnership of Langford-Smith and Bauer who would probably provide the toughest opening attack in Division 2 this season. However, County lost an early wicket of James Duggan and he was soon followed by Andrew Wootton who spooned one off Bauer straight to Rory Flanagan at extra-cover. Skipper Duggan and Bruce Koch aimed to consolidate and see of the opening attack, the task was made slightly tougher with Duggan subject to a barrage of abuse from the Phoenix gulley fielder. The two County batsmen provided brief rest bite by seeing off Bauer’s opening spell until Duggan was undone by a well disguised slower ball from Langford-Smith. Banon followed after being trapped LBW on the back foot by Conor Kelly for 0. He was soon followed by Matt Reed who also fell victim to Kelly. Mirza Baig and Michael John Wycherley joined each other at the crease and took the attack to the Phoenix bowlers with Wycherley in particular striking some lusty blows off Langford-Smith and Masood Amend in particular. It was Wycherley’s first game back for Cork County after two years away from the game. With Wycherley closing in on his half century, he was controversially bowled by Amend after it appeared that the keeper had hit the stumps rather than the ball hitting the stumps. Unfortunately the umpires felt that he was bowled and so Wycherley had to walk with 48 runs to his name. The County innings soon fizzled out after his departure and the Mardyke side finished their innings on 132 all out. It was a disappointing finish to the game but in the circumstances and without some key players Cork County could use the experience to take into their crunch tie with Dublin University the following day.
Cork County 132 all out lost to Phoenix 240-7 by 108 runs at Phoenix Park. scorecard
Sunday 16th May – Dublin University v Cork County
Sundays match at College Park against Dublin University was crucial to Cork County’s effort to secure safety in Leinster League Division 2. The picturesque setting provided a fitting backdrop to this crucial showdown. Dublin University skipper Eoin Delaney won the toss and decided to have a bowl in suitable conditions for seam bowling. Cork County got off to a slow start with the Dublin University openers losing opener Andrew Wootton for 0 after being yorked by Amir. Skipper Robert Duggan soon followed in unfortunate fashion after slicing a short of a length ball down onto his stumps. Bruce Koch 
joined Mirza Baig at the crease and they both consolidated the County innings and steadily increased the County run rate as their partnership developed. Koch and Baig put on just over a 100 until Mirza was bowled just short of his half century for 48 runs by Gunnell. Young County starlet Chris Banon joined Koch at the crease and they both took the attack to the University bowlers. Koch soon got into his stride inflicting some big blows towards the Nassau Street end and he was soon joined by Banon who smashed a big 6 towards the same end. Koch soon reached his richly deserved first century on Irish soil in the 45th over to a rousing reception from his County teammates. The all rounder from Natal showed great patience and skill throughout his innings to reach his ton. Banon departed for 43 runs in the 47th over and the Mardyke side finished their innings on 265 for 7.
With a good total on the board Cork County set about their task of bowling out the University side in determined fashion. Opener Keith Banks, who was the only change from Saturday’s side, put immediate pressure on the Trinity opening batsmen with his customary tight and probing line and length. This early pressure led to the run out of opener Richard Forest by some sharp work at cover-point by Matt Reed. The key wicket of Carl Hosford soon followed after he was trapped LBW by Banks. James Duggan took the wicket of Page as the Trinity batsmen failed to build any meaningful partnerships. Trinity skipper Eoin Delaney entered the crease and after a shaky start he gradually consolidated the Trinity innings and played some lovely shots down the ground. However, none of his teammates could provide any worthwhile support due to some tight bowling from the Cork attack and some excellent out fielding which eventually led to the run out of skipper Delaney after an excellent pick and throw from Mirza Baig. The Trinity innings soon lost its momentum with some excellent tight bowling from Koch and Wootton and towards the end by skipper Duggan. The Trinity reply was brought to an end when number 11 Gunnell was clean bowled first ball by Koch and the County players celebrated a first well deserved victory in Leinster and manner of the victory will give the squad a great confidence boost ahead of their return to Leinster League action in July.
Cork County 265-7 beat Dublin University 147 all out by 118 runs at College Park. scorecard