Cricket Irish Senior Cup final: For the second successive year, the final of the Irish Senior Cup - sponsored by Royal Liver - will be an all-southern affair, a situation that was well-nigh unthinkable until Malahide defeated Fingal near-neighbours Rush by four wickets at Castle Avenue just a year ago today.
Since its inception in 1982, Irish cricket's only all-island club competition had been dominated by the north until 2001, when North County bridged a 15-year gap to become only the second southern club to carry off the trophy, emulating the Phoenix team of 1986.
Now, we have the second all-southern final, as North County fight it out with Railway Union, again at Castle Avenue (11 a.m. - gates open at 9).
Both sides enjoyed convincing semi-final victories, North County seeing off Donemana by nine wickets at The Holm, and Railway beating Limavady by eight wickets at Park Avenue.
North County haven't yet finalised their side, but Railway will field the team that demolished Limavady. North County will have all-rounder Paul Mooney back in action - he was ruled out by suspension in the semi-final - which will scarcely be good news for Railway. Also likely to be included is 16-year-old Eoin Morgan, who in Wednesday's match against the Free Foresters at Eton College became Ireland's youngest-ever player and played against the Club Cricket Conference at Shenley yesterday.
With their five internationals - skipper Andre Botha, Conor and Dara Armstrong, Paul and John Mooney and Morgan - North County should be favourites. But they must not underestimate their young opponents.
Kevin O'Brien, Ger O'Brien, Roger Whelan and Kenny Carroll all played major attacking roles in the defeat of Limavady. Openers Gareth Carroll and Peter Johnston set the platform with 49 runs, while Kenny Carroll and Mohammed Tariq knocked off the winning runs.
A good match looks in store, and let's hope the supporters turn out in force. The action will be covered through the day by NEAR FM 101.6, with former Clontarf star Fergus Carroll on the mike.
Meanwhile, Munster Reds, promoted last season to Section A of the WMK Leinster Senior League, now top the table and look likely to strengthen their position tomorrow at Sydney Parade, where they take on last-placed Pembroke. Phoenix, in second position, are at home to Merrion tomorrow, while third-placed Malahide have to visit Anglesea Road.
Clontarf, having won all seven of their Section B matches so far, are at home tomorrow to Leinster, while second-placed The Hills take on Rush on Sunday.
Oh, and in case you miss today's Royal Liver final, North County and Railway Union meet again in a WMK League Section A match at Balrothery on Sunday. But today's Castle Avenue head-to-head is the big occasion.
NORTH COUNTY (squad): A Botha (capt.), C Armstrong, D Armstrong (W/K), D Harper, P Martin, J Mooney, P Mooney, E Morgan, J Murphy, S O'Connor, T Richardson, T Rooney.
RAILWAY UNION: A Murphy (capt., W/K), G Black, G Carroll, K Carroll, P Johnston, C Mullen, G O'Brien, K O'Brien, G O'Meara, M Tariq, R Whelan. 12th man: C O'Brien.
