Irish Youth League Plate – S60

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I have created the Season 60 Irish Youth League Plate as we didn't reach 64 entrants in the League Cup. It looks as if the cup automatically included the 32 top ranked teams in the draw, my apologies to anyone who accepted not included.

But that is why I have created this competition. So to avoid disappointing the teams who accepted the invitation it will initially be open to any teams in Division 3 and 4 not included in the League Cup; any Division 3 and 4 teams knocked out in the first round of the may also be invited later if places are still available.

The draw is random.

Entry is free; as usual we ask that you consider donating one or more Ireland youth pulls (if able) whilst the cup runs.

In future seasons there will only be a plate competition whenever the League Cup has a 32 (and not a 64) team draw.

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Welcome to the inaugural Irish Youth League Plate, a T20 knock out competition for teams from Divisions 3 and 4 in the Irish Youth League.

The first year is a small entry but hopefully the word will spread.

It includes all the teams who accepted that didn't get into the Cup and four teams knocked out in the first round of the Cup (highlighted in blue):

• North Cardiff Cosmos (#19)

• Woodlands CC (#22)

• Insane Inglewood Posse (#33)

• The Irish Super Giants (#34)

• Western Suburbs Hacks (#39)

• Belmont CC (#40)

• Dublin Devils (#46)

• All Leeds Aren't We (#47)

• The Dragon Warrior (#49)

• Trinity (#50)

• Xessux Club (#59)

• Ogres (#67)

• St Johns Athletic (#68)

• North Saxe (#71)

• Hammers CC (#73)

• Blazing Dragons Cricket Club (#82)

Note: As usual, the rankings are taking at the end of last season

The likely favourites would appear to be the North Cardiff Cosmos and Woodlands CC, but there may be others who have improved their ranking since the start of the season. We'll soon find out, the first round is Wednesday 22 January.

My apologies to those who accepted, including me, who didn't make the cut.

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Round of 16 draw

• St Johns Athletic (#68) vs. Blazing Dragons Cricket Club (#82) St Johns Athletic won on countback (highest cup seed)

• The Dragon Warrior (#49) vs. Ogres (#67) The Dragon Warrior won by 4 wickets

• Trinity (#50) vs. Belmont CC (#40) Belmont CC won by 6 wickets

• North Cardiff Cosmos (#19) vs. Insane Inglewood Posse (#33) North Cardiff Cosmos won by 5 wickets

• Xessux Club (#59) vs. All Leeds Aren't We (#47) Xessux Club won by 79 runs

• North Saxe (#71) vs. Woodlands CC (#22) Woodlands CC won by 8 wickets

• Dublin Devils (#46) vs. Hammers CC (#73) Hammers CC won by 4 wickets

• Western Suburbs Hacks (#39) vs. The Irish Super Giants (#34) Western Suburbs Hacks won by 25 runs

Some games of note:
Top ranked North Cardiff Cosmos (#19) have a tricky opening round match against the third highest ranked team Insane Inglewood Posse (#33).

Whereas the second ranked Woodlands CC (#22) may well be expecting less resistance from Division 4 side North Saxe (#71).

Two sides knocked out in the first round of the Cup competition, Western Suburbs Hacks (#39) and The Irish Super Giants (#34), face each other. The winner will likely face another in the Dublin Devils (#46).

The top quarter is the most open route to the semi-finals with The Dragon Warrior (#49) possibly having the greatest hope of success.

Good luck to all involved

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Round of 16 - Selected game summaries
St Johns and the Dragons
Unranked at the start of the season Blazing Dragons Cricket Club were the unlucky loser on countback * in a tie with the St Johns Athletic. They certainly started with blazing bats hitting 17 off the very first over. Aadil Karki top scored for the Dragons with an undefeated 34; but Kenny Heidrich responded with 71 for St Johns before keeper Jack Stenhouse saw them home for the tie with a two off the final ball.

* In this case St Johns won as the highest cup seed. The tie breaker is automated; I don't know how this is calculated as.

Dublin Hammered off the final ball
In the only other close game, Lindsay Richards put the final nail in the Devils coffin with a single off the final ball. He finished with an unbeaten 41 and the Hammers with 110. This was in reply the Dublin's 109-6.

Leaders
Golden pads: Adam Brady (Western Suburbs Hacks) 114 runs
Golden cap: John Moran (Woodlands CC) 4 wickets for 27 runs
Golden gloves: Three keepers with 2 catches and two with a stumping and a catch.

Quarter-final draw

• St Johns Athletic (#68) vs. The Dragon Warrior (#49) - what more dragons!

• Belmont CC (#40) vs. North Cardiff Cosmos (#19)

• Xessux Club (#59) vs.Woodlands CC (#22)

• Hammers CC (#73) vs Western Suburbs Hacks (#39)

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Quarter-final - game summaries

St Johns Athletic v The Dragon Warrior
The Dragon Warrior won by 68 runs
TDW: 154-5 (D. McAteer 56, E. Joyce 1-14, G. Harman 1-21, K. Ghauri 1-27, J. Wali 1-35)
SJA: 86-10 (G. Harman 16*, M. Kenna 4-12, M. Jackson 2-15, P. MacDonald 2-19, P. Kennedy 2-21)
The numbers say it all, the Warriors proceed.

North Cardiff Cosmos v Belmont CC
North Cardiff Cosmos won by 7 wickets
B: 162-4 (K. Tobin 62, V. Braund 2-29)
NCC: 164-3 (J. Dyer 53, T. Rucker 1-33, A. Hossein 1-36, B. Morgan 1-40)
Suresh Goswami and D. Williams (both 36 not out) partnership of 62 steers the Cosmos home in a run chase that was more comfortable that the numbers suggest. However, it was much the closest of the four matches.

Woodlands CC v Xessux Club
Woodlands CC won by 109 runs
W: 231-3 (B. Fahey 107*, C. Egan 44*, B. Kenna 36, S. Sontundu 2-43)
X: 122-10 (C. Fawziya 49, I. Hook 4-20, E. Hook 3-25, D. McGuiness 2-26)
Ouch!

Hammers CC v Western Suburbs Hacks
Western Suburbs Hacks won by 78 runs
WSH: 215-3 (C. Horan 95, A. Brady 58, U. Priyadharshani 38*, J. Dulling 1-29, H. Lister 1-42)
H: 137-6 (S. Hall 38, I. Fingall 2-34)
The Hammers response started well but fell away badly after the fifth over. A solid performance by the Western Suburbs.

Semi-final draw

• The Dragon Warrior (#49) vs. North Cardiff Cosmos (#19)

• Woodlands CC (#22) vs Western Suburbs Hacks (#39)

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Semi-final - game summaries

Western Suburbs Hacks v Woodlands CC
Woodlands CC won on countback (wickets fallen)
WSH: 157-6 (A. Hudson 70, C. Horan 35, E. Hook 2-29)
W: 157-2 (B. Kenna 60, E. Canty 43*, B. Fahey 39, S. de Livera 2-32)

The Dragon Warrior v North Cardiff Cosmos
The Dragon Warrior won by 62 runs
TDW: 153-3 (G. Aiken 80*, S. Sarfraz 2-33)
NCC: 91-10 (J. Dyer 26, M. Kenna 4-15, J. Agnew 2-11, P. Kennedy 2-22)

Leaders
Golden pads: Chris Horan (Western Suburbs Hacks) 185 runs
Golden cap: Marcas Kenna (The Dragon Warrior) 11 wickets for 39 runs
Golden gloves: Liam Doyle (The Dragon Warrior) 5 catches.

The Dragon Warrior (#49) road to the final
justforkix and The Dragon Warrior youth team lie at the bottom end of Youth One Day 3.4 and the top of Youth Twenty20 4.1. They have made light work of the cup so far. The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, and whilst the first two wins seemed reasonable enough, overcoming the Cosmos seemed a little more significant until you realise they are now ranked #44. They bring a potent bowling attack into the final led by Marcas Kenna, the competition's leading wicket taker. Between them they have bowled out all three teams they have faced.

• Round of 16: vs. Ogres (#67); won by 4 wickets ((J. Aylward 32, M. Kenna 3-12,J. Agnew 3-16, M. Jackson 2-26)

• Quarter-final: vs. St Johns Athletic (#68); won by 20 runs (D. McAteer 56, M. Kenna 4-12, M. Jackson 2-15, P. MacDonald 2-19, P. Kennedy 2-21)

• Semi-final: vs. North Cardiff Cosmos (#19); won by 62 runs (G. Aiken 80*, M. Kenna 4-15, J. Agnew 2-11, P. Kennedy 2-22)

Woodlands CC (#22) road to the final
Woodlands were expected to come through the bottom half of the draw but they came close to exiting at the semi-final stage after two extremely comfortable wins prior. Bernard Fahey has featured with the bat in all three games, and they are very capable of piling on a lot of runs very quickly. The question is, can the Warrior bowling attack contain mscowley547's side.

• Round of 16: vs. North Saxe (#71); won by 8 wickets (B. Kenna 48*, B. Fahey 34, J. Moran 34*, J. Moran 4-27)

• Quarter-final: vs. Xessux Club (#59); Woodlands CC won by 109 runs (B. Fahey 107*, C. Egan 44*, B. Kenna 36, I. Hook 4-20, E. Hook 3-23, D. McGuiness 2-26)

• Semi-final: vs. Western Suburbs Hacks (#39); Woodlands CC won on countback (wickets fallen) (B. Kenna 60, E. Canty 43*, B. Fahey 39, E. Hook 2-29)

Final:
The Dragon Warrior (#49) v Spinney Wanderers (#4)

Good luck to both justforkix and mscowley547 in what I think should be a tight (first ever) Plate final. They both will receive a small award of Pavillion membership for getting there.

This competition was pulled together as a late decision by me and really needs a more entrants to make the games more competitive and balanced. I will run it again next year, it is open to tier 3 and 4 sides not in the League Cup and potentially some of those who are in it, if they lose in the first round.

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Irish Youth League Plate Final
Congratulations to mscowley547 and justforkix who both earn an award of Pavilion membership as finalists.

Final
The Dragon Warrior won the toss and elected to bowl. Early on this looked like it may have been a mistake as after the loss of a wicket in the first over Bernard Fahey (50) and Evan Canty (64) put on 95 for the second wicket. After the partnership was broken in the 14th over, Woodlands put on a steady 50 runs off the final six; Cameron Egan hitting 26 off 19 balls. The innings close at 150-5; Joshua Agnew taking 2-30 and Padraig Kennedy a more expensive 2-41.

The Warrior also started their innings strongly with an opening stand of 60 by skipper Dermot McAteer (26) and Jamie Aylward (44). But once broken Dragon Warrior lost four wickets in five overs and fell behind the comparison. Scoring a measly 17 runs off the third quarter left them needing 39 off the final three overs.

• Over 18: Gavin Aiken and Manus Jackson score runs off every ball and manage to rotate the strike successfully. Scoring 12 runs they now need 27 from the last two overs.

• Over 19: Jackson score 3 off 2 balls, then Aiken 9 off the next 3 before Philip Jordan strikes the stumps with a slower ball. The Dragon Warrior now need 15 off the final over; the most they have managed to this point was 14 in the second over.

• Ball 19.1: Aiken slaps Dave McGuiness's first ball away for four before adding 3 more off the next 2. Still 8 runs needed.

• Ball 19.4: Brendan McCann faces his first ball, should he take a single to get Aiken back on strike? No! Rather he elegantly flicks the ball to the boundary in front of square leg; 4 runs needed off 2.

• Ball 19.5: McCann plays another nice stork to add two more runs leaving two to win.

• Ball 19.6: All results are still possible as McCann faces McGuiness's final ball; he latches onto a ball that is just back of a length, sending it through the midwicket region. The midwicket is deep protecting the boundary so the batsmen pick up the two runs needed for the win.

What a great nerve-jangling final.

Woodlands CC v The Dragon Warrior - The Dragon Warrior won by 5 wickets

The Final's Most Valuable Player:

• Brendan McCann for his match winning eight runs off three balls.

Leaders

• Golden pads: Bernard Fahey (Woodlands CC) 230 runs

• Golden cap: Marcas Kenna (The Dragon Warrior) 12 wickets 59 runs;

• Golden gloves: Liam Doyle (The Dragon Warrior) with six catches.

Player of the tournament

• Marcas Kenna (The Dragon Warrior) with 433 fantasy points

Invitations for the Irish Youth League Plate – S61 will probably be sent about a fortnight after the Youth Cup invitation, please keep an eye out and spread the word.