Bobbo Forrest and David Delany combined to guide Clontarf into the semi-finals of the cup with a match winning 5th wicket stand of 143 in just over 20 overs as the Castle Avenue side chased 267 to win by four wickets. Forrest was his usual busy and inventive self as he hit 15 fours and a 6 in a top score of 99 - perishing one short of a landmark ton. Delany - jut back from Australia - proved a point of difference as he and Forrest built on solid starts from skipper Eoghan Delany (39) and John McNally (30). His unbeaten 57 included 5 fours and ensured there was no dramas as the finishing line approached.

The result was tough on Younas Ahmadzai - one of the players of the season to date - as he hit 17 fours and cleared the ropes three times in a brilliant 128 from only 107 deliveries. There was little support for the Afghan until late runs down the order from Michael Frost (42*), James Newland (22) and Andrew Sheridan (21). Mick Granger picked up three wickets, while there were two apiece for John McNally and Ruan Cronje. Clontarf have an away draw in the semi-finals at Railway Union on July 23rd.

A century from Monil Patel and five wickets from Mark Tonge guided Leinster to an emphatic 8-wickets win at North County. The home side had started well with teenager John Devane's maiden senior hundred getting them into a strong position - his 110 included 9 fours and one 6. With Niall McGovern (35) and Jonathan Andrews (36) also chipping in, they reached 179 for 2 after 37 overs. The innings fell away though as the acceleration never materialised, due primarily to Tonge's maiden senior five wicket haul.

A final total of 240 though proved woefully inadequate with Monil Patel and Joey Carroll sharing a third wicket stand of 126 in just 15 overs. Patel hit 14 fours and two sixes in his unbeaten 111 from only 86 balls, while Carroll had cleared the ropes 5 times in a quickfire 54 before retiring at the halfway point of the chase. The County attack had little answer to the powerful batting. Leinster are back in Fingal for the last four, travelling to Milverton to face The Hills.

Half centuries from Kenny Carroll, Riley Mudford, and Liam McCarthy guided Railway Union to a 5-wickets win over Rush at Park Avenue.

Chasing 200, Kiwi Mudford - who has serious ambitions to play at a higher level here - top-scored with a hard-hit 66 from just 45 balls (5 fours, and five 6's) as he and Carroll shared a second wicket stand of 99 to break the back of the chase.

Kenny and Liam McCarthy both hit 8 boundaries and cleared the ropes twice in their 59 and 52 not out - with the skipper's powerful innings just taking 34 balls.

The Rush total of 199 was built primarily around the 'Big Two' of Neil Rock who made 74 and Llew Johnson who made a rapid 32 from 18 balls, but after a fast start the innings faded away against the disciplined home attack.

The Hills produced a fine all-round display to knock out Pembroke in an entertaining clash. Bhavesh Lakhotia top-scored with 63 (8 fours, 2 sixes) adding 115 for the second wicket with Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin (47). From 115 to 1, five wickets for Paul Lawson (5-33) had the home side in trouble at 162 for 7.

However, the hosts counter-attacked with Nathan Rooney and Cian Nulty adding 81 for the 8th wicket in 8.3 overs. Rooney's unbeaten 58 came from just 37 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes), while Nulty hit 3 fours and cleared the ropes twice in a run-a-ball 28.

 A total of 247 was decent but certainly far from out of sight despite the absence of Pembroke's internationals. The decisive moment in the contest came as in-form JJ Garth was spectacularly caught on the boundary by Rooney - rated as one of the best catches seen at the ground in many a year. A mid-innings collapse that saw fur wickets tumble for one run ensured no nervous finish for the home support who closed out the win in comfort.