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County close to claiming the title – (Sean Power, Evening Echo)

Friday, August 20th, 2010

They say victory is never secure until the Fat Lady sings but, not having even booked the Diva for her final performance, Cork County believe they have won this season’s Munster Senior League. “It’s a done deal now” says County’s Captain Robert Duggan following the Mardyke side’s authoritative win over Midleton at the College grounds on Sunday. “No one can stop us now” he asserted.

Nor, it seems, can they. With a lead of over 50 points and a match in hand, with three games to play, all at the Mardyke, the statistics, and the facts, stack up in County’s favour. The pennant of champions will undoubtedly fly high at the Mardyke following this strategic win at Midleton.

Three wickets and six overs turned out to the winning margin at the end of an encounter that was both entertaining and enthralling. Midleton, urged on by their captain, Kuros Mohammadi, fought the brave and good fight until capitulation was inevitable. The 20-plus points that County garnished from their wholehearted endeavours added up to their now unassailable position at the top of the table.

County were assumed to be embarking on a transitional phase at the beginning of this season but such has been the influence of captain Robert Duggan; Bruce Koch with his man of the match performances; Matt Reed with his calm commitment; and the form of the younger brigade, such as Chris Banon and Oliver Creedon – both of whom put in match winning displays on Sunday – amounted to performances that had to be anointed with success.

And so they have. Furthermore, County could make it a league and cup double if they are successful against Limerick Raiders next month in what has long been accepted as the Blue Riband of cricket. Midleton can hold their heads up high. They made 191 all out and Andy Wootton (3 for 46), Bruce Koch (2 for 25), Matt Reed (2 for 43) and Ciarán Healy (2 for 57) had to work overtime to take their wickets. Clinton Laverty, with his majestic 82, saw Midleton to their 191 total in 42 overs, helped significantly by David Sommerfield who, for a very long period, thwarted the hostile attack in making 24.

Cork County never quite sparkled in their innings and once again, Koch (37) was their top scorer. Oliver Creedon was defiant in the face of some very potent strike bowling, and was an imposing and impressive opening batsman, either playing forward or off the back foot. There was, also, a joy of an innings from Chris Banon who brought County to the cusp of victory before Matt Reed and Noel Cronin reached their objective without too much strife.

Bigger games in the Leinster League are looming and County, while prudently celebrating their new celebrity as league champions, must wait longer to ascertain their true status in both Leinster and Munster, seeing that the Cup Final is still on the domestic agenda and big matches await them in Dublin.

Sean Power
Evening Echo, 19 August 2010, page 55.

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County battle to victory in Midleton to edge closer to Division 1 title

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Cork County moved a step closer to regaining the Munster League Division 1 title on Sunday with a hard fought victory over Midleton at Midleton College. Two weeks after both sides served up a similarly nerve-racking finish in their Munster Senior Cup semi-final at the same venue, they clashed again in a top of the table league match. County knew victory would push them to within touching distance of regaining the Munster Division 1 title after narrowly missing out last season while Midleton knew victory would propel them back onto mix for the title.

Cork County were without opening seamer James Duggan and all-rounder Andrew Saul but still fielded a strong team to take on the East Cork side with the inclusion of the returning Andrew Wootton after his holidays. Winning the toss once again, County opted to have a bowl first hoping to dismiss Midleton for a manageable total. Openers Bruce Koch (2-25) and Andrew Wootton (3-46) bowled with great control and posing difficulty for the Midleton top order dismissing Hitchmough, Mohammadi and Gomesz in quick succession. Ciarán Healy (2-57) and Matt Reed (2-43) took over from the openers in almost 24 degree heat and dismissed the bulk of the Midleton middle order of McDonnell, Dethridge and Whittaker for very little, however, experienced all-rounder Clinton Laverty showed great determination and patience as he hung in there with support from tail-ender David Sommerfield. To the frustration of the Cork County attack, their partnership with a high degree of luck pushed Midelton towards a very respectable total. Finally, Sommerfield was dismissed by a medium pace wobbler from Wootton and he was soon followed by Laverty who finished on 82. Midleton were bowled out for a very respectable 191 in testing conditions.

Cork County knew from previous experience that they would have to dig deep to chase down such a total particularly with the condition of the wicket deteriorating rapidly. Openers Oliver Creedon and Ross Durity hoped to emulate their previous 100 run first wicket stand at the same venue two weeks ago. However, Durity was dismissed trying to pull a short ball from Managuruge but top edging back into the bowlers hands. Skipper Duggan soon followed after he was caught at backward point trying to square cut a short wide ball from Glen Gomesz. In form South African, Bruce Koch, joined Creedon at the crease and both looked to consolidate the County innings. Koch (37) was soon into his stride despatching the Midleton attack to all parts of the field. With their partnership gradually gaining pace, Creedon was adjudged LBW in a very ‘questionable’ decision by the umpire after being struck on his thigh by a ball from Managuruge. Michael Wycherley (20) took up where Creedon left off by supporting Koch at the crease, however, their partnership was ended prematurely after another dubious decision against Koch when he was adjudged LBW despite having made a long stride down the pitch to a bowler who consistently shaped the ball down leg. Chris Banon (33) joined Wycherley in the middle and both batted with great authority and control with Banon in particular showing great composure in testing conditions as he waited for the bad balls. It was a timely innings from the young left hander and should give him great confidence going into the final weeks of the season. Wycherley departed after being bowled by a sharp Yorker from Laverty and he was followed by Wootton after he was adjudged LBW despite having got a thick inside edge. County players and supporters were feeling that decisions were really going against them however their fighting spirit came to the fore once again with their very own ‘Michael Bevan’ in the guise of Matt Reed (16 not out) guiding County home in another match winning performance, ably supported by the promising young all-rounder Noelie Cronin.

The victory was greeted with great jubilation by players and supporters alike as the importance was not lost, knowing that victory next Sunday against Harlequins would all but seal the Division 1 title for the Mardyke side. The side’s depth and character has been tested throughout the season and each time they have responded with great resilience and determination.

Sunday 15th August at Midleton College:
Midleton 191 all out (Laverty 82, Wootton 3-46, Koch 2-25, Reed 2-43)
Cork County 192-7 (Koch 37, Banon 33, Wycherley 20, Mahaguruge 3-41, Gomesz 2-38)
scorecard

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County into Senior Cup Final after thriller against Midleton

Wednesday, August 4th, 2010

Cork County are into the 2010 Munster Senior Cup Final after tight affair in East Cork against Midleton. Midleton were put into bat by Cork County and made a hard fought 220-8 from their 50 overs. In reply Cork County reached the required target in the 49th over with Matt Reed hitting the winning runs to take County into the Senior Cup Final for the first time in two years. The Mardyke side will face Limerick Raiders in the final on September 5th after they comprehensively outplayed Cork Harlequins at Famers Cross in the other semi-final.

Match report to follow…

MCU Senior Cup Semi-Final:
Midleton 220-8 (D. McDonnell 75, J. Noone 55, R. Duggan 2-34, B. Koch 1-27, A. Saul 1-28)
Cork County 221-7 (B. Koch 54, R. Durity 48, O. Creedon 47, J. Noone 3-25, W. Islam 2-32)
Cork County won by 3 wickets

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Cork County cruise to victory over Midleton in Division 1

Monday, May 24th, 2010

Cork County returned to local action after last weekend’s double header in Dublin as they took on Midleton in Munster League Division 1 at the Mardyke. County were in confident mood after a well deserved emphatic win against Dublin University on the previous Sunday and with temperatures reaching the mid twenties and not a cloud in the sky conditions were almost perfect for cricket at the Mardyke. County were still without the services of vice Captain Ross Durity (broken finger) and lost middle order batsman Matt Reed to a back problem, however, opening bowler Parvez Ali was returning to the fold after his own injury problems.

Midleton skipper Clinton Laverty won the toss and decided to have a bat with conditions seemingly set fair for batting. With the return of Parvez Ali, the Cork County bowling attack was looking quite strong as he complimented in form Bruce Koch along with James Duggan, Ciarán Healy and skipper Robert Duggan. The Cork County opening bowlers Duggan and Ali bowled with great control and aggression as they gave the Midleton opening pair Mohammadi and Finn a torrid time limiting the Midleton run-rate to less than two runs an over after 6. Duggan deservedly took the wicket of Mohammadi as he drove a ball directly into the hands of Ciarán Healy at mid-off. Midleton danger man Dean Wilson soon followed after being caught LBW by Duggan. The other opening batsman Finn continued to frustrate the County bowlers as he played and missed regularly however he was eventually caught in his crease by a Yorker from Parvez Ali and was adjudged LBW. After the introduction of some off-spin from Ciarán Healy, the wickets of Whittaker and Gomesz soon followed as they both holed out to mid-off and long-on, respectively. A brief cameo from young Midleton batsman Liam Noone (26 runs) provided some rest bite and pushed the Midleton total towards 100 but with the introduction of South African paceman Bruce Koch into the attack he soon was caught behind by Chris Banon. The Midleton tail soon capitulated Koch taking a further three wickets to bring his tally to 4 for the match and skipper Duggan took the final wicket of Managuruge to leave County chasing a target of 103 runs to win.

Without regular openers, Ross Durity and Andrew Wootton, County kept faith with Mirza Baig at the top of the order after his impressive knock against Trinity the previous week and also gave young all-rounder Kevin Bray a go at opening the innings. The early conditions proved difficult with the Midleton bowlers, Laverty in particular, getting a lot of swing movement and also some variable bounce from the foot marks of Cork County’s James Duggan. Baig some found his rhythm and played some lovely shots off his legs and down the ground off the bowling of Dean Wilson. Bray was providing solid defence at the other end but he fell to an inside edge off the bowling of Laverty. Robert Duggan replaced Bray at the crease and took his time to get used to the bowler friendly conditions. Mirza Baig let his confidence get the better of him as he tried to play another shot down the ground off the bowling of Midelton first change Managuruge and was bowled. Bruce Koch replaced Baig at the crease and set about closing off the game in partnership with Duggan. Koch’s good form continued as he soon started timing some lovely shots to both the off and leg sides but early on was unfortunate enough to pick out the fielders. Duggan departed for just 13 after he was caught behind off the bowling of Managuruge after he played at a short ball which rose off the pitch a bit more then he thought. Young in form batsman Chris Banon replaced the skipper and was soon into his stride with some great shots off his legs and down the ground. Koch soon joined in and managed to reverse sweep a ball from young leg spinner Oliver Ind for 4. With County closing in on a convincing win against the East Cork side Koch was determined to finish the match off in style by smashing medium pacer John Noone into the clubhouse for a huge 6. Koch finished the match on 37 not out and Banon finished on 15 not out resulting in a 7 wicket victory for the Mardyke side as they returned to the top of the Division 1 table.

Cork County team: R. Duggan*, B. Koch, C. Banon†, J. Duggan, P. Ali, M.J. Wycherley, C. Healy, M. Baig, B. Morgan, K. Bray & R. Durity.

Sunday May 23rd:
Cork County 106-3 beat Midleton 102 all out by 7 wickets at the Mardyke. scorecard
























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