2nd win Senior 2 Cup of 1994 in epic final

Michael Sharpe reports for the 1994 Irish Cricket Annual on the Senior 2 Cup Final between Clontarf and Pembroke played in Phoenix CC

Rain at the semi final stage caused postponement of the final and a new date could not be found until September.  When it was eventually played it was one of the most memorable finals for many years.  Despite some trepidation about early morning life in the wicket Pembroke batted on winning the toss.  It seemed justified.  Openers Eddie Dwyer and Australian visitor Simon Mammino were undefeated at lunch. A total of 250 looked a possibility but the overs either side of the interval were not as productive as they might have been.  Then good hitting by Richard Murphy and a final flourish by Mammino, with both departing only in the final over, gave a score that even Clontarf supporters reckoned was enough to carry the day.  For a long time it appeared so.

Several Clontarf batsmen got a start but only skipper Mark TRaynor built a major innings.  Opening bowler John Davy bowled well while legspinner Paddy Gallagher maintained an excellent line and length and was never collared. With six wickets down and almost 100 runs needed off 20 overs the match seemed over.  Clontarf had one hope.  It was generally felt that the Pembroke change bowling was relatively weak. Many spectators were surprsied at the decision not to use up some of their overs in the early stages of the innings when they might have been treated with some caution. In the end it proved crucial. Clontarf's last hope was some useful blows from hitter Johnny Barry.  Coming in at number eight he rode his luck from the start. With Davy bowled out, Pembroke were depending on good fielding to support their weaker bowlers.  Several chances were missed and Barry got his eye in well.  Traynor's watchefull knock ended as the score reached 200 but by now Barry was in full flow. The experienced Collie Daly provided steady support although their was still a runout chance that sgould have been taken, clontarf were home with an over to spare.  Barry's innings made him the obvious Man of the Match.

September 5th 1994 at Phoenix
Pembroke II 234  for 4 (S Mammino 126, E Dwyer 53, R Murphy 36)
Clontarf II 237 for 7 ( M Traynor 80, J Barry 60*, J Davy 3 for 39)
Clontarf II won by 3 wkts.