Second Team 2009

2nd XI News 2009

September 20th - A nervous wait is in store for the seconds, after they were unable to finish the season on a winning note, losing by 6 wickets to the Hills in a picture perfect Milverton. The All Ireland pitch didn't play quite as well as it looked (although it looked like the WACA, and played like Lords, so it wasn't too bad). There was more pace and bounce than on most pitches this year, only proving a bit tricky when the pace was taken off the ball - but then it is the end of September, so tiredness is to be expected. Winning the toss, Leinster could never really break the shackles of the Hills attack. Although many got a start (McDonnell, Gilmore, Reynolds, Johnston, Miley and Rule all got over 20), the visitors never looked like posting a good score. Mark Dwyer was difficult to get away (2-15 from 10) and the seam attack of Clinton, Murphy and Byrne offered more in the way of looseness, but it wasn;t capitalised on by Leinster. Wickets fell regularly, and 70-4 became 120-6 before Pete Johnston and Rob Miley and then Rob O'Connor and Malcom Rule added useful runs (including a big Rule six into the car park) as Leinster made 183 all out. If Leinster bowled with accuracy and conviction, anything was possible, but despite one of Rob Kenealy's best spells of the season, the Hills could just wait for the bad ball and stay ahead of the rate. Steven Archer fell early, but Mark Dwyer and Tomas Murphy acculmulated well. Rob Miley brought Leinster hope dismissing Dwyer and Mick O'Herlihy to leave The Hills at 110-3, but Joe Clinton put any butterflies to bed, with some assured hitting, especially of Calum Paterson's half volleys. Another wicket, how I'm not sure, and The Hills made it home with 10 overs to spare. Two points from the match leave Leinster at 35.4% (115 points from 325). That leaves the 2nds just above Merrion (34.6%) and Malahide (34%), but it's too close to call until confirmed by the league.

September 6th - Persistent rain gave Leinster and Civil Service no choice but to pack up the bags before a ball was bowled. It will all come down to the last game away to the Hills, as although Leinster are now third from bottom, it's very. very tight.

August 30th - Lo and behold, another victory. The Under 11 Bs set the stage with league victory over CLontarf, and after a delay as that game was finished, the 2nds entered stage right to take on Clontarf 2nds. Gavin Gilmore had been busy rehearsing, and was word perfect for the first act, five crisp boundaries, before he stuttered, muttered, forgot his lines and lost his off stump. That kind of summed up Leinster's day - eight of the nine batsmen got a start (Chris Byrnes being the exception, and he only faced three balls), but except for David Lucas, no one got fifty. The match was notable as JP O'Dwyer's comeback match after injury, and he looked in good nick before departing. McDonnell, Johnston, Reynolds, Paterson all did as well, and the club's form batsman, Rob O'Connor hit even more runs to his season's tally. The match was reduced to 40 overs after the u11s overran, and 233 wasn't a bad total, albeot on an excellent track and outfield. Clontarf were slow out of the blocks, as Chris Byrnes found some deviation for the first time this season. However this all changed as Gopal clattered the ball too all parts (mainly the straight ones). He made it look easy - if the ball's in the slot, whack it - and didn't look like getting out. Finally after scoring 62, he departed courtesy of Rob O'Connor, and after that, it was something of a procession for the rest of the Clontarf order. Ronan O'Reilly ouzed class, but once he left, there wasn't too much else. Byrnes took 3-25 from 7 and O'Connor 3-50 from 8. Leinster took 22 points from the match, meaning 113 from 300 (37.7%)

August 23rd - At last a few 2nds players finally stood up to be counted - none more so than Rob O'Connor as the 2nds won their crucial relegation battle against Merrion 2nds. The forecasted downpours didn't materialise, and the game was played in glorious sunshine from start to finish. This joyous weather didn't percolate down into the hardy souls of the Leinster top order though, as once again Leinster found themselves at 31-4, and then 62-6. But the old head of Reynolds had started fluently (although he finished stiffly), and when Rob O'Connor arrived at the crease, the two started to build. O'Connor is turning into a authentic all rounder, and once he cuts out the lofted straight chip, he could go far. The pair had put on 68 for the 8th wicket before O'Connor departed lbw (32), and 151-7 quickly turned into 154 all out (Reynolds 44*) as the tail folded. This was a fighting total, as there was a bit in it for the bowlers if they put it in the right places. Byrnes took the key wicket of Rory Allwright in the first over, finding leg stump via a thick inside edge, After that , Rob Kenealy (2-16 from 6), that man O'Connor (4-23 from 10), and Hugh McDonnell (2-8 from 6) swept through the Merrion order, seemingly sealing the match. However sensible batting saw 30 put on for the 9th wicket to get Merrion within 70, and then when the last wicket put on a further 30, there was a certain amount of posterial twitching. Finally David Block got a straight full toss through, Joe Connolly's finger went up, and a crucial victory had been earned. Leinster move to 91 from 275 (33.1%) and Merrion down to 31.4%, and there is a hell of a lot to play for.

August 19th - The 2nds responded to the pressure of an intense relegation dogfight with all the bravery and determination of a scared slug. In a bowling performance remarkably similar to the Laois game, there were some decent spells at the top of the innings (Rob Kenealy 1-24 from 10, Rob O'Connor 1-27 from 10), and then David Block turned in 3-34 from 8 towards the end. In between though, some sloppy fielding and slipshod bowling allowed Pete Byrne and Dixon Butler in particular to score at will. The two old heads certainly needed no invitation to dismiss the assortment offered to them to various corners of the ground, and jumped in. It should have been a total of 240 for Pembroke, but Butler's dismissal followed by some tidy bowling by Block restricted them to 211. An average score, that should have been well within the capabilities of Leinster. The first drops of rain began to fell as the second innings started, but Dave Lappin and Hugh McDonnell got their heads down an dput on 31 for the frist wicket before Lappin departed in a method I missed. Another half hour of solid Leinster batting and everyone may have just called it a day as teh rain got heavier. But instead of 30 minutes of solidity, the Leinster batting disintegrated. First up was a friendly dismissal if ever I saw one. Pete Byrne, "There you go Gav, have an easy one off the mark. Gavin Gilmore, "No thanks Pete, I couldn't possibly hit that full toss. Let me lob it to a fielder instead." Jason Nagle missed a Byrne wickedly dipping top spinner/leg stump full toss and lost his leg stump. David Lucas played for a Byrne arm ball, and instead edged a straight one to Joe Byrne at first grabber. Andy McConnell was caught in front, and then Hugh McDonnell went back to a delivery that slid on off the wet pitch. So as you can see, whereas it may have been 49-1, and time for a shower, it was 49-6, and the umpires were put in an invidious position. The drizzle persisted (whether that refers to the rain or the Leinster batting, I'll leave up to you), before the last four wickets tumbled. The match ended in comical fashion as with the rain at it's hardest, and the thoughts running through my head that they would simply have to depart the field, Malcolm Rule called Rob Kenealy through for a suicidal single, Kenealy short by three yards. Oh dear. Nothing from twenty five for the 2nds - 61 from 235 points (26.0%) In the last published tables (August 7th) Merrion were bottom with 26.4%. I would have thought they have improved since then, leaving Leinster firmly bottom. The two play each other in a sixty pointer on Sunday.

August 9th - It's always much harder to report objectively on events that you are closely involved in; it's why war reporting has declined in it's authority over the last 20 years since reporters started to be embedded with forces. I'll try and take a step back from the action but it ain't easy! Laois batted first in Observatory Lane, and scored many more than they should have done, mainly due to some bowling that wasn't as thoughtful as it should have been. Laois were fed in many respects, favoured shots were repeatedly seen. None of the bowlers really emerged with a huge amount of credit, Calum Paterson took 3-41 from 7, Rob O'Connor 2-42 from 9 and Hugh McDonnell 2-40 from 7. Only Chris Byrnes went for less than four an over, but he went wicketless. And then came the chase. Once again the top order failed, Lucas (12), Gilmore (8), Nazir (0) and Nagle (2) all falling to leave Leinster at 54-4. Hugh McDonnell and Calum Paterson dug in, batted sensibly and put on 77, before McDonnell fell for a well constructed 59. An under the weather Paul Reynolds then arrived, and he and Paterson continued, putting on another 60 before Reynolds ignored rule 45.3 from the coaching handbook - don't hook a left-arm over bowler from outside off. Nineteen to win and four wickets left. Paterson then broke several of the cardinal sins, playing exactly the same shot to the next ball, departing for 48. Next ball (the first of the next over) saw Chris Byrnes bowled, and Leinster were in the proverbial. Malcolm Rule was caught behind for a blob. Rob Kenealy hit a boundary before departing bowled and that was that. The last five wicket had gone down for 15 runs. Mostly poor batting, some poor bowling and a real dogfight to the end of the season. Five points from twenty five, which I think leaves the 2nds on 61 points from 210 (29%). With Merrion at a similar percentage, it'll be a tough few weeks.

August 2nd - Just a short gap since the last missive (what's a month between friends?) Only six weeks of the season left, and the 2nds need(ed) wins - urgently. Malahide were first up, and the day went perfectly until the first over. Pitch good, weather good, toss won. However a decent opening porbe from Malahide's opening bowlers put Leinster in all sorts of bother. Hugh McDonnell was strangled down the leg side, Imitiaz Nazir was castled, Dave Lucas slashed at a wide short one, Paul Reynolds feathered and Pete Johnston nibbled at a Glenn Kirwan delivery angled across him. Finally, to rub salt in the wounds, Gavin Gilmore aimed to run 22 yards before the fielder could run five. He didn't make it. If you're not counting, that means trouble. If you are counting, it's 47-6 and deep, deep trouble. However the tail applied theselves in the way that there supposedly more talented brethren higher up the order couldn't. Rob Kenealy was sensible for 35; Dave Lappin watchful for 12; Chris Byrnes doughty for 24; Mick Scully careful for 13 and Rob O'Connor graceful for 13 (only joking - how about painstaking?). The result of all this vigilance was a total of 159 - not great but something to bowl out. Quick wickets were obviously needed, but they didn't quite come. Two and half weeks passing of time has shrouded by view of the second innings - from what I remember the bowling was OK, but not quite good enough; the batting not brilliant, but there and there abouts. Byrnes took 2-28 from 10, but no-one else took more than one wicket. At drinks Leinster still had a chance (Malahide were something like 80-4 from 25), but soon after, released their shackles, passing Leinster's mediocre total for the loss of 6 wickets, with eleven overs to go. I'm not quite sure which games are included on the LCU's league tables. I think that after this game, Leinster are on 30.2%, 9th in the league, which is the last spot for Division 3 cricket next year.

July 12th - Never before have so many gone to Anglesea Road and scored so few. Twenty men travelled through Ranelagh over the weekend, and between the 1sts and 2nds, they could barely muster 220 runs. I normally try to find at least one positive in a performance. After Leinster scored 109 ao, and Merrion knocked it off for the loss of four wickets, I can only think of the fact that everyone was home by 3 o'clock as a positive (the match started at 11am) For the record, Raza ur Rahman top scored with 23, and Chris Byrnes took 2-37. The loss leaves the 2nds with two wins from six matches

July 19th - The match that got away, both in terms of the result on the pitch, and remembering that the scorecard needed to be analysed. A rain affected match which led to 10 points each for Leinster and North County. It looked vaguely promising, as Rob o'Connor took 3-31 to spearhead the dismissal of North County for 144. In reply Hugh McDonnell and Imitiaz Nazir were dismissed, with Leinster needing a further 109 with 41.4 overs left.

July 9th - A pretty mediocre mid-week performance if ever I've seen one. However, let's start with two very big positives. Michael Lenehan and Sean Warren at the top of the bottom of the order, both looked like Senior 2 batsmen. Lenehan stands tall and gives it a good clout, and coupled with his bowling, has come on leaps and bounds this year. Lenhan coupled his 22 with 1-27 from 5, and Warren who has been unfairly pigeon holed as a tailender, a good 22 at the end. The rest of the day is best forgotten, as Clontarf ran up 236 from 50 overs against a ragged looking attack, before a weakened batting line up couldn;t offer anything either.

June 28th - A loss in this match left the 2nds at two wins from four. Pete johnston scored 31 at number three but recieved precious little support until Raza Ur Rahman (37*) and Malcolm Rule (22) provided a but of oomph at the bottom. These two put on 49 for the 7th wicket, and then Ur Rahman and Mick Brennan (10) a further 39 for the 8th to leave Leinster at a respectable 207ao. It was never enough in reality, as Railway cruised home with 23 balls and 4 wickets to spare. No bowlers really covered themselves in glory, Rob O'Connor took 2-45 and George Dockrell 1-21 from 10.

June 14th - With the 1sts playing in the DGM final, and injuries beginning to take their toll, this slightly threadbare side, stood up to be counted in this 1st round Senior 2 Cup clash with North County, before finally being knocked out on Monday night, losing by 45 runs. North County got 249, by no menas that large a score on the batting paradise that is Inch. Skipper Rob Kenealy (with a fine all round game 3-42 from 10) and Rob O'Connor (4-36 from 10) got off to a great start, but the rest of the bowling didn't threaten too much, with the last few overs being productive for North County. In reply, only Dave Lappin showed enough determination with 44, and it wasn't until the tailenders of Paul Reed (31) and Kenealy (35) hit some runs on Monday night (due to rain at the weekend) that the total showed some respectability.

May 31st - It was the Lucas and Dockrell show in Claremont Road, as they put on 197 for the 1st wicket, a partnership that was to ultimately enough to put YMCA 2nds out of the Senior 2 Cup. Lucas eventually scored the century that he had missed against North County several wekks earlier with a fine 116 and Dockrell joined in with 87, as LCC scored 268-4 from the 50 overs. In reply it was Dockrell to the fore again, as he took 6-40 as YMCA reached 200 all out. North County await in the next round.

May 25th - Leinster's defence of the Tillain Cup failed at the very first hurdle with a convincing defeat at home to Merrion. The total of 105 was never enough - on paper and at a distance of 6 weeks, it looks as if 150 was the minimum required. It was only due to a rearguard 26 Malcolm Rule that any respectability was reached. Merrion has slightly less than no bother at all in knocking them off, losing the one wicket in the 15th over. I guess we concentrate on the longer form of the game this year.

May 10th - Civil Service were the only team that the 2nds didn;t beat in the league last year, and revenge was sweet ,with a solid victory over their fellow Senior 3 promotees. There were 50's for David Lucas (50) and George Dockrell (76) as Kenealy's men ran up 229. Civil Service were then bowled out for 160, with Hugh McDonnell continuing his early season form with the ball, taking 4-15 from 7. A full account of the Leinster performances will appear shortly.

May 3rd - The 2nds got their first win of the season at the second attempt, with a bit of a nailbiter at home to North County. David Lucas was the backbone, falling just short of a deserved century (97*), and Rob Miley supported with 40, as LCC reached 202. Calum PAterson was the most successful bowler (3-43) as North County finished just short at 192

April 18th - The 2nds start their first season back in Senior 2, with a not particularly convincing loss at home to The Hills.Report here.

The return to the top league of 2nds cricket was long overdue. The wait will end on April 18th when the Hills are hosted in the first game of the season at Observatory Lane. By the time of the return fixture, on September 20th, hopefully another successful season will have been completed.The Senior 2 Cup draw could have been worse, a draw with Middle A side YMCA 2nds. The defence of the Tillain Cup starts with a Rathmines date with last year's losing semi-finalists, Merrion. If re-orgamisation goes ahead, it looks as if the top 3 in Senior 2 will make up the numbers in the new Division 2 - with the second tier of 1st XIs.

The 2nd XI that won the twenty over Tillain Cup in 2008. Back row - CJ Hollenbach, Owen Goodman, David Lucas, Gary Lawlor (Mom), Rob Kenealy, Rob O'Connor Front Row - Raza ur-Rahman, Calum Paterson, Paul Reynolds (capt), Asif Hussein, Stephen Kenealy

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