Even though Leinster's interest in Section A of the Leinster Senior League is no more than academic at this late stage, the Rathmines club has again prospered in a far more demanding competition, the Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup.
Last year, Leinster got to the final, quite an achievement for any southern side. Today, on their home territory, skipper Clive Colleran and his team will be bidding to repeat that feat when they meet Lurgan in the semi-final; the day's other final brings neighbours Donemana and Limavady into opposition, cricket's equivalent of a Munster Senior Cup clash between, say, Young Munster and Shannon.
Leinster will be looking for good performances from the sundry Byrnes, of whom Johnny no doubt will be keen to show the national selectors how wrong they were to leave him out of the squad for next week's two-match English visit.
Another who could do much to swing the game Leinster's way today is Mark Jones, who will be playing for the Development XI in tomorrow's Interprovincial Championship match against the Northern Cricket Union.
Lurgan also have a few players involved in that particular match: Neil Anderson, Graeme Hunter and Craig Irwin. Leinster face no easy task, but moderate good fortune and home advantage may see them through to the final at Beechgrove on September 5th.
Tomorrow's encounter with the NCU will be a vital match for the Development XI, outright winners of the championship last season. Already this year they have beaten Munster, but since their match against the North West was washed out last month, a win today would set them up nicely for a show-down with Leinster at Malahide tomorrow week.
The captain, Kyle McCallan, is in excellent batting form, having scored an aggregate of 112 against Scotland last weekend, followed by his undefeated 64 against the Australians on Thursday. The NCU, captained by Ireland wicket-keeper Alan Rutherford, are likely to be without the injured Paul McCrum, but the team includes international bowlers Derek Heasley and Ryan Eagleson.
Meanwhile, Carlisle and Rush have important Senior League Section A engagements today, against Railway Union and Clontarf, respectively. Unbeaten Carlisle are on 177 points, seven ahead of Rush, and also have a game in hand.
In Section B today, Merrion, who are also undefeated, will hope to maintain their place at the top of the table when they take on Phoenix in the Park. And tomorrow, at Cabra, Old Belvedere and The Hills, who are in hot pursuit of Merrion, meet in what is a crunch game, at Cabra.
Also tomorrow, South Leinster play North Leinster at Sydney Parade, in the women's interprovincial series.
. India beat Sri Lanka's Board President's XI by two wickets in a one-day match in Colombo yesterday.
Sri Lanka Board President's XI 240-7 innings closed, India 243-8 (R Dravid 95).
