23 August 2010

Congratulations to the girls, Rory and Pat on winning the U13 league.

Eight wins from eight games.

25 August 2009

If you have seen the film Groundhog Day, then you will know how the LCC U13 squad felt on Thursday, August 20th. Once again we travelled to Rush to play the re-fixed U13 Cup Final, once again the heavens opened and quickly flooded the playing area (only 3 overs were bowled), and again play was abandoned as had happened in July.

After much negotiation, it was agreed that the final would now be played in Rathmines on the following Saturday 22nd.

As we arrived at the ground on the Saturday morning to make our preparations, we were greeted with glorious sunshine, and the general consensus was that we would finally be able to complete the eagerly awaited tussle for the Clarissa Pilkinton Cup.

Rush arrived in great numbers and the scene was set as the Leinster opening pair of Aoife MacDonnell and Juliet O’Brien headed to the middle. Pia Diepman and Lucy O’Reilly were up next, followed by Sophie MacMahon and Roisin Doody. Mollie Barlow and Aoife Livingston were our 4th pair, and Rebecca Haine and Caoimhe O’Brien closed the innings. Our batting was disciplined without being spectacular and runs were as hard to get as a Simon Cowell compliment, but crucially,  we managed to lose just 6 wickets, whilst scoring 75 runs. The Rush bowling had been tidy and they conceded few wides, our nett score of 45 runs was about 25 runs short of where we had hoped to be. Pia Diepman and Aoife MacDonnell with 11 each were the top scorers. This meant that our bowling/fielding was going to have to be at it’s very best if we were to emerge as victors.

Pia and Aoife MacDonnell opened the bowling and bowled tightly, and we managed a run-out in the 3rd over, but Rush were batting very solidly. Their 2nd pair added a fine 24 losing just one wicket (lbw to Aoife MacD). At this stage Rush were 36/2 (nett 26) and were already over half way to their target. The coaching team of Pat Banahan and Rory MacMahon were now biting their fingernails furiously. Pia Diepman and Aoife MacDonnell had bowled the first 8 overs and a bowling change was due. With the game running away from LCC, the term “Carpe Diem” (Seize the Day) now became very, very relevant. However the events of the 9th over will long be remebered by everyone who watched this game. Sophie MacMahon replaced Pia at the Clubhouse end and the rewards were immediate, a caught and bowled off the 1st ball, followed by a dot ball, then another wicket…bowled, then a dot ball, then another wicket…caught by Diepman, and a dot ball to finish the over. A triple-wicket maiden! What had been 36/2 (nett 26) had in the space of 6 balls, become 36/5 (nett 11), and suddenly the LCC faithful believed.

The rush of wickets had a galvanising affect on the LCC team as they swooped on every ball. With Lucy O’Reilly bowling from the other end, a superb direct hit by sub fielder Maddy Diepman, resulted in another run-out. Sophie continued her impressive spell with two more wickets, a caught and bowled and another bowled. Rebecca Haine now chipped in with a wicket, bowled. By the time the 4th pair had finished, Rush were 59/9 (nett 14). Their last pair were going to have to do something Bothamesque to pull it back, Aoife MacDonnell returned
and bowled a tight over and Rebecca claimed another victim, caught by Pia. With Rush requiring 29 to win off the last 2 overs, Pia returned but ran into some fierce batting by Sinead Harford who hit a 4 and a great 6. With 1 over left, Rush still needed 16 to win as the ball was tossed to 9 year old Lucy O’Reilly to bowl the last over. It was squeeky bum time for all associated with the LCC squad, but the coolest person in the ground was young Lucy. Oblivious to the pressure, she bowled a great over, conceding just 6 runs. As the last ball was bowled, there was silence for a few seconds before the LCC girls realised that….yes…they had seized the day, they were the cup-winners…by 9 runs! 

Great scenes of celebration followed as the officials from the LCU presented the Clarissa Pilkington Cup to LCC captain, Aoife MacDonnell. It was no great surprise that the the match-turning efforts of Sophie MacMahon were rewarded, and with figures of 4 overs, 1 maiden, 5 wickets for 7 runs, she was duly handed the Player of The Match award.

Many thanks to Mary MacMahon for organizing the excellent BBQ and food after the match and to the parents who helped out, and to Kerr Livingston for cooking all those burgers!

Well done to the team:- Aoife MacDonnell, Juliet O’Brien, Pia Diepman, Lucy O’Reilly, Sophie MacMahon, Roisin Doody, Mollie Barlow, Aoife Livingston, Rebecca Haine, Caoimhe O’Brien, Maddy Diepman, Lara MacMahon….and coaches Pat Banahan and Rory MacMahon.