CRICKET: The Hills will be looking for revenge today as they take on Clontarf in the final of the Conqueror Senior Cup at Inch (11am), a replay of the 45-Overs League final back in early June.
That day, Clontarf won easily thanks in no small part to a man-of-the-match winning spell of opening bowling by Conor D'Arcy, who removed The Hills' top order and set his team on the road to victory.
But in a surprise move, D'Arcy has been left out of the team for today's final to be replaced by promising young left-arm slow bowler Eoghan Delany, who took six wickets in an early round of the LHW 20/20 Cup.
Otherwise it is a familiar-looking Clontarf team, led by Trent Johnston, who may not get through his 12 allotted overs - certainly not off his full run, anyway - owing to the shoulder injury he sustained playing for Ireland during the ICC Trophy.
There is, however, no shortage of depth in this Clontarf team, with Andy Cullen, Alex Cusack, Jeremy Bray, Greg Molins and Delany all more than capable of turning the arm over.
Had this final taken place a month ago, there would be little question that Clontarf would win and still they remain clear favourites. But the sheen has dulled slightly from their star of late, having been knocked out of the Irish Senior Cup by Railway Union and then beaten in last Saturday's 20/20 Cup final by Merrion.
The Hills are unbeaten in the WMK League, albeit in the weaker Section B, and if they can overcome any sense of inferiority on the day, it could be very interesting. Without question, the top order need to fire in a way they failed to do in the 45-Overs final. Barry Archer, Gavin Morgan, Michael Lax, Bryn Thomas, Keith Peinke - there is no shortage of potential run-makers. But on a ground where, in 60 overs, 280 to 300 is only a par score, at least one of those players will have to score heavily if The Hills are to have a reasonable chance.
Incidentally, according to the Leinster Cricket Union, if the weather intervenes today, the match will be carried over until tomorrow. And if you can't make it to Inch, there will be live coverage of the final on NEAR fm 106.1fm.
Meanwhile, the weather certainly did intervene for the Irish women yesterday as their one-day international against world champions Australia, due to be played in Rathmines, fell foul of the rain. If it dries up, the two sides will play tomorrow in Claremont Road and on Monday in College Park.
CLONTARF: Trent Johnston (capt), Dom Rigby, Greg Molins, Alex Cusack, Bill Coghlan, Eoghan Delany, Andrew Cullen, Jeremy Bray, Ross Maybury, Ronan O'Reilly, Ian Synnott.
THE HILLS: Joe Clinton (capt), Barry Archer, Bryn Thomas, Gavin Morgan, Keith Peinke, Ian O'Herlihy, Michael Lax, Patrick Byrne, Luke Clinton, Robert Hoare, Darren Byrne.
FIXTURES
Today: Conqueror Senior Cup Final (11am), at Inch: Clontarf v The Hills.
Sunday: Women's One-Day International (10.45am), at Claremont Road: Ireland v Australia.
Monday: Women's One-Day International (10.45am), at College Park: Ireland v Australia. WMK League (1pm): Section A: Malahide v Clontarf, North County v Rush. Section B: Merrion v Railway Union, Pembroke v YMCA, Old Belvedere v The Hills.
