Beckett Cup wins in the 1970s

Beckett Cup Wins

Clontarf won the Beckett Cup, a cross border competition, twice in the 1970s.  The first report is a contemporary newspaper report while the second win had a dramatic finale and is drawn from various sources.

1970 Beckett Cup Final

“Clontarf score exciting win”

Clontarf won the Beckett Cup (40 overs) by 8 runs after an exciting finish against Donemana at Castle Avenue, yesterday.  Only 9 balls remained when McDermott, Clontarf’s captain, caught Dunne, to finish off the visitor’s innings.

It was McDermott’s match.  Opening the innings he scored 96 (one 6 and nine 4s) before being run out in a misunderstanding with Spence.

Clontarf qualified for the final as last year’s Leinster midweek 20 overs League winners: Donemana’s qualification was their winning the mid Ulster Cup.  It was the third attempt at disposing of the 1970 final.  The previous fixtures had been rained off.

Clontarf

E.A.McDermott run out                                                96

F.J. Carroll run out                                           16

L.P. Hughes b J.Cochrane                             0

A.W. Spence lbw  McBrine                           26

G.P. Murphy c and b Curry                           4

P.M. Murphy run out                                     2

S. Ellis run out                                                    1

M.R. Bunworth c Curry b McBrine            7

R Taylor b Curry                                                                2

D Taylor not out                                                3

H. Honohan c Curry b McBrine                   2

Extras                                                                    10

Total                                                                      169

Bowling J Cochrane 1 for 55, Curry 2 for 45, Caldwell 0 for 36, McBrine 3 for 22

Donemana

J Cochrane b Bunworth                                                 11

D.V. Caldwell b P Murphy                             20

I Cochrane b Bunworth                                                 7

R. McBrine c G.Murphy b P. Murphy       12

A. Fullerton c Ellis b P. Murphy                   2

B. Curry run out                                                3

I Doughterty c G.Murphy b R.Taylor        58

F. Kee c Honohan b R.Taylor                        14

B Corry b P. Murphy                                       0

A Dunne  c McDermott b R.Taylor             12

H. Henderson not out                                    8

Extras                                                                    15

Total                                                                      162

Bowling  Bunworth 2 for 25, P. Murphy 4 for 60, R. Taylor 3 for 43, Ellis 0 for 19

Clontarf win by 8 runs

1972 Beckett Cup win

Like the 1970 version of the event, the 1972 had its scheduling problems and this final only took place on 8^th September 1973, with Castle Avenue again the venue.  This time Brigade was the opposition and they had some star players in their ranks.  Clarke Nicholl, who was an outstanding player for the North West interprovincial team led the batting line up but Clontarf had a stroke of luck in the their top bowler Roy Torrens (currently manager of the Irish international team) was on away on a tour to the United States and Canada with the Ireland squad.  Clontarf were without their frontline batsman, Noel Grier but otherwise it was a strong home side.

The game itself was something of a thriller, as Sean Pender of the Irish Times reported “a more exciting, fictional finish would test the flair of even the great story tellers”.  Bridgade batted first in this 40 over game and managed 113 for 8, with David Todd top scoring with 29.  Ernie Bodell showed his quality in returning bowling figures of 5 for 43 in his 16 overs.  Clontarf seemed well on course to win the trophy when they were 87 for 4 with 12 overs remaining.  Enda McDermott and Podge Hughes were at the wicket and going well.  They had, however recovered and earlier indifferent start with a partnership of 45.  Podge was better known as a fast bowler but he was also a fine striker of this ball and he had made 27 (2 sixes and 1 four) when he was bowled by Ray Hepburn. At 99, Enda fell for 41 but with 4 wickets remaining and only 14 runs required, there was no panic.  However with just 7 needed Bernie Daly was bowled by opening bowler John Watson, things were getting too close for comfort. Todd then disposed of Peter Daly with 5 required and 2 wickets left. Bill Dalton Brown, a West Indian opening bowler, brought the score to 112 before he played on to Watson, leaving the final pairing of Ernie Bodell and Michael Delaney at the wicket.  Delaney survived a huge LBW appeal first ball, and in the confusion Ernie Bodell called for and got home for a single leaving the scores tied. There were 2 more balls left, in this the penultimate over, but Bodell failed to make contact with either, leaving Michael Delaney to face the final over facing David Todd. With the second ball, Todd skittled Delaney leaving the cores level and the match tied.

Brigade: 113 for 8.  D. Todd 29, E. Bodell 5 for 38

Clontarf: 113 all out. E McDermott 41, L.P. Hughes 27, D. Todd 5 for 22 (16 overs),Watson 3 for 44, R. Hepburn 2-12

Match tied.