Saturday 29th:
Division 1
Cork County 1 had been scheduled to travel East to Midleton RFC for their Division 1 game but as the Mardyke was free, and Midleton graciously accepted the invitation to move the game, it will now be played at the home of Munster Cricket. Although County are missing skipper Andy Wootton who has been in good form with the ball recently, they go in as favourites having won all three league games thus far. They will be in a confident mood after last Sunday’s drubbing of Co. Clare 1 and experience as well as good form should see them over the line.
The team is an excellent blend of youth and experience. Aidan Kelleher, Haris Khan and Luke Harris will all get a taste of first team action while also making their Senior débuts with be accompanied by experienced campaigners Ross Durity, Robert Duggan (who will captain the side in Wootton’s absence), Morne Bauer and Siddarth Joshi will also play. Junaid Amin, Ahmed Bilal, Sid Joshi and Abubakar Saddique will all be looking to make an impact with the ball, while Durity, Duggan, Bauer and Coleman will be the main players with the bat.
Midleton, second from bottom in Div. 1 will be looking to boost themselves up the table but, on the face of it at least, all the signs point to a win for County.
The Cork County 1 team is as follows:
1. Robert Duggan*
2. Ross Durity
3. Morne Bauer
4. Ian Coleman+
5. Siddharth Joshi
6. Abubakar Saddique
7. Junaid Amin
8. Bhatti Ahmed Bilal
9. Haris Khan
10. Aidan Kelleher
11. Luke Harris
Junior Cup Semi-Final
County 2 travel to Tralee for their semi final matchup with Kerry 1. On a mat which has caused all visiting teams extreme difficulty, and with a side devoid of vice-captain Kevin Bray and top-order batsman John Kelly, it looks like an uphill struggle for Kevin O’Sullivan’s side who sit third in Division 2.
Their hosts, although rock bottom of Division 2 with no wins have already beaten WIT in the Junior Cup and will look to extend their win streak in the competition. County have beaten Kerry 1 this year in the league but with off-spinner Brian Scott out due to injury, seamer Junaid Amin playing with the firsts as well as the missing Kevin Bray and John Kelly it may be a different story this time around. On a positive note however, with the exams now over, Hugh O’Brien and William Bradley both return to the County line-up having missed all of the season to this point. Debutant Charlie Kane will be looking to make an impact while Peter Barlow and Paul McDowell are also available to the Cork side.
Sunday 30th:
Division 2
County 2 return from Kerry on Saturday and play Limerick on the following day. Boasting a 6 wicket victory over the visitors from early in the season, and a team of relative strength, County will be looking for an impressive victory on Sunday to propel them from 3rd spot right back into the title race.
Captain Kevin O’Sullivan has youngsters Aidan Kelleher and Martin Keohane available to him as well as ‘keeper Ian Coleman and batsmen Brad Morgan and John Kelly. Narsa Renjarla and Ahmed Bilal will be looking to impress with the ball on the(weather permitting) grass wicket and the visitors who play all their games on an artificial could find difficulty.
Write off Nigel Aspinall’s Limerick side at your peril however. They showed that they could score 245 against a tough Nenagh bowling attack and push them close at the end of the game.
County will have to be alert from the very start in order to maintain their good start to the season.