It doesn’t make NCU cricket the best in Ireland overnight, but it does put us back into the frame after so many barren years.
Waringstown and Instonians had two difficult matches, and both played out very differently. It looked ominous at Beechgrove when Brigade won the toss and inserted the Villagers, as several wickets fell early on a sporty track. But this was destined to be a low-scoring encounter after Waringstown ground out their total and, then in true Waringstown style, they defended it with a passion. They won by 27 runs, and once again proved there are few better teams that defend a low score.
The Instonians-Phoenix match was much different and after the Dubliners scored 262 for three, they must have felt they were already in the final. But credit to a remarkable fightback from the Instonians’ batsmen, who took up the challenge and romped home with eight wickets to spare. What an amazing performance.
North Down were the last NCU team to win the Irish Senior Cup and you have to go back to 1995 to recall their narrow one-run victory over Bready. The last all-NCU ISC final was 20 years ago in 1991 when Downpatrick beat North of Ireland.
Warinstown won the cup in 1983 and 1992, but this will be the first final for the Old Boys.
Waringstown’s win keeps them on course for a remarkable treble and Instonians will be looking for a cup double as they are also through to the final of the ClubTurf Ulster Cup. Standing in the way of both clubs over the next few weeks will be old rivals North Down, but in the ISC final the Comber Club will play hosts as the venue will be The Green on 4 September.
It promises to be a classic so let’s hope local cricketers come out and support two clubs that have done the NCU proud this season. This is a great opportunity for neutrals to share in the success and show the rest of Irish cricket the best of NCU cricket on and off the field.
In the meantime congratulations to both clubs.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
