THE club season in Leinster is building up a nice head of steam, with some premature blowouts adding to the tension as the final day is reached.

The Hills will have a big say in who ends up with the Division One trophy, with the refix of their washout with Merrion on Friday week and a trip to YMCA on 30 August.

Merrion have to visit Castle Avenue that day but know their hopes depend on bridging the 28 point gap to YM at home this Sunday.

Having led the table all summer, a spate of injuries to key players interrupted the Anglesea Road club’s charge and they lost tosses which later proved crucial.

“Losing Deon Carolus and Tyler Smith was a blow,” says captain Dominick Joyce, “but we also had to do without John Anderson for a long stretch which hit us badly.

“Deon has been great for us this season. What we’ve lacked in recent years was a spearhead and he gives us a bit extra , especially his death bowling. His technical knowledge has been invaluable too.”

Neither club can be blasé about winning leagues. Since their heyday in the ‘40s and ‘50s Merrion have won only one league, in 2001, when Brad Spanner, Dom Joyce and Chris Torrisi led the way.

Bobby Gamble wasn’t even a twinkle in the eye of his Meath mum when Keith Bailey captained YMCA to its last title in 1993, when half the current side weren’t even born.

The Ireland U19 bowler has moved to Dublin from Nottingham and has become an important element of the attack.

“Tom Fisher has been a key recruit”, he told Inside Edge. “Not just his runs but his experience has been important in a young side.

“Simmi Singh and Albert van der Merwe have got lots of runs and wickets, and TJ has won us a couple of games when he’s played.

“But Yacoub Ali Shah is probably the most underrated bowler in Ireland. He bowls well every single game.”

One of the keys to YM’s progress has been the knack of winning close finishes, although that wasn’t to be seen in their self-destruction in the T20 semi-final last week. Joyce points to the bowling of Tom Stanton as a huge plus from the 2014 season.

The 16 year old took 10-4-16-3 when Merrion visited YMCA in June.

“Tom has been bowling brilliantly this year, and his batting has been excellent too”, he said.

“His fielding has come well on in recent weeks.” Although both players aren’t quite at 100%, Merrion will have Anderson (groin strain) and Carolus (hamstring) back on Saturday, but YMCA have to plan again without Trent Johnston who is away at the World Cup qualifiers with the Ireland Women.

“Merrion have an interpro-quality top order but we’re most wary of John Anderson”, admits Gamble.

“He’s a terrific cricketer.”

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(GENEROUS tweet of the week: Former England keeper Paul Nixon (@Paulnico199) tweeted @YMCACCDublin on Sunday: “A friend gave me a bat years ago it's from your Club it's dated 1890 would you like it for the club?”

The bat has a silver plaque which says it was awarded to’ J Murray’ for best batting average in 1890, the first year of the club’s existence.

With celebrations planned for the 125th birthday next year, it is hoped Nixon’s bat will take pride of place in the Sandymount clubhouse.

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MALAHIDE have confirmed their return to Division 1, built on the solid foundation of their two imports at the top of the order.

The opening partnership of Reinhardt Strydom and Fintan McAllister have been more prolific than any similar pairing since Jeremy Bray and Jason Molins a decade ago. In 16 league and cup games their stands were worth 1,275 runs, an average of 79.69.

Their biggest stands were whoppers – 192, 162, 154, 139 and 117 – and they gave Malahide a start of at least 50 on five other occasions.

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WITH the season’s end coming up fast, promotion and relegation issues come into focus. In Division 2 Cork County looks certain to join Malahide in going up, with the 2nd XIs of Pembroke and Merrion set to drop

But Division 3 is a toss-up. Just 39 points covers 1st to 7th in the eight-team league and with up to 25 points for a win this is certain to go all the way. North County 2nds and Laois lead the table but YMCA 2nds and North Kildare are well-placed to challenge and only relegated Civil Service are out of contention.

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FIXTURES

Thursday: RSA Women’s Div1: Pembroke v Leinster, Tour match: YMCA v Milan

Friday: European Women’s T20 Championship: Ireland v Scotland, Rugby

Saturday: European Women’s ODI Championship: Ireland v Netherlands, Rugby;

RSA IP50: North West Warriors v v Leinster Lightning, Strabane, 10.45;

Women’s Pilkington P40: YMCA v Pembroke

Sunday: European Women’s T20 Championship: Ireland v Netherlands, Rugby;

Irish Senior Cup semi-finals: North Down v The Hills, Pembroke v Clontarf;

National Cup semi-finals: Killyclooney v Woodvale, Dundrum v Carrickfergus;

RSA Div1: Merrion v YMCA, Terenure v Railway;

Div2: Cork County v Malahide, Leinster v Pembroke II, Rush v Merrion II, Phoenix v Balbriggan

Tuesday: RSA Women’s Div1: Merrion v Malahide; Batmen: The Story of Irish Cricket, Setanta Ireland 1pm