LEINSTER duly collected their first Hanley Energy interpro trophy of the season at the weekend, with John Mooney clutching the T20 trophy after the bonus point defeat to Warriors in Eglinton.
It means Lightning have won five of the seven titles since the series began, but it rankles that no-one has ever done a clean sweep of the three formats.
“It wasn’t the same when we didn’t win the game”, admits Mooney, “it wasn’t as enjoyable when you lose on the night. We pride ourselves on winning every game.
“Winning the three titles won’t be easily done with the different grounds we play and the poor pitches we play on. Some of the unions are providing wickets to suit themselves so that’s going to make it a lot harder to win all three.”
The T20 interpro was run off so early in the season because the ICC World Twenty20 Pre-Qualifier will be dominating the home summer, with the Irish squad getting together with John Bracewell this weekend.
Mooney was given leave to miss the Scotland series, so his century against Warriors was very timely. It was the first time anyone had ever made it past even 80 in IP20s.
With the arrival of Tyrone Kane, did he feel that he had something to prove to the new coach?
“I suppose this is the first time in more than two years that I’ve felt my place is under threat”, he admitted. “A new coach will always come in with new ideas and want to make changes so you never know how safe you are.”
Mooney has had a few chats with Kane about the tournament ahead, but with so much cricket for Lightning and Balbriggan he hasn’t been able to focus on the opposition yet.
But although he had a disappointing World Cup with the ball (four wickets for 285 at 6.33 runs an over) he’s keen to prove there’s plenty of life in the 33-year-old yet.
“There’s a lot of flak being thrown at the Irish bowlers - but the standard of batting has improved dramatically in the last year or two.
“When it comes to the tournament this Irish side will be able to beat every team they come up against.”
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BEST pro ever in Leinster? Brenton Parchment is certainly doing it on the field for North County – top of the batting averages with 441 runs at 88.2 and fifth best bowler with 12 at 21.58.
That’s only in 50/60 over games – in a T20 last week the Jamaican demolished the Hills almost single-handed with 114 and 6-8, having made 101 in two earlier games.
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SOUTH African pro Ruan Pretorious hit an amazing six sixes in an over to boost Waringstown to a winning score against Clontarf on Sunday.
Poor Conor D'Arcy now shares an unwanted record, joining a very select band in Ireland.
Former Indian ODI player Amay Khurisiya hit six sixes for Lisburn off Stephen McChesney of Cliftonville in 2005, while Raviraj Patil of Dundrum took 39 off Sion Mills all-rounder Andy Lucas in 2012.
Also in the NW, 59 year-old Vic Craig did the same to Herbie Kennedy, while Hendy Wallace went one better - he gave Decker Curry a taste of his own medicine by striking seven sixes in an over - there was a no-ball!
In 1986 Ian Botham hit 34 off John Elder while making a 38 ball century against Lisburn in an exhibition game, while Harry Bowles of MCC Wales hit 35 in the MCC festival in College Park two years ago: he took Tom Hughes for 666664 plus a wide.
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THIS column doesn't normally tip horses, but in hindsight it was obvious Jack Hobbs would win the Irish Derby on Saturday.
The cricketer the horse was named after played twice in Ireland, both in Ashes summers, and both in Woodbrook in Bray.
Hobbs scored 56 and 19 against the Australians in 1909, and 25 and 42no in 1912.
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FIXTURES
Thursday: Alan Murray Cup: North County v Phoenix; Leinster Women’s Div1: Malahide v Merrion, Pembroke v NK, Hills v YMCA
Friday: AMC: Merrion v Pembroke
Saturday: Leinster Div1: Malahide v Merrion, YMCA v North Co, Railway v Cork, Clontarf v Pembroke, Div2: Leinster v Rush, Phoenix v Hills, Balbriggan v YMCA 2
Sunday: County T20: Somerset v Ireland, Surrey v Ireland
Monday: T20 warm-up: Ireland v UAE, Stormont, 2.15
Tuesday: T20 warm-up: Ireland v Oman, Stormont, 2.15; AMC: YMCA v Terenure, Leinster v Railway