[NERVOUS COUGH]
“Sorry Love” says Mr Cricketman.
[MRS CRICKETMAN TURNS AROUND VERY SLOWLY AND LOOKS AT HER HUSBAND FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE A VERY LONG TIME SAYING NOTHING]
[MORE NERVOUS THROAT CLEARING]
“We’re on again” says Mr Cricketman.
“What do you mean “We’re on again”?”
“Well, you know we eventually won that marathon cup match and now we’re playing the semi tomorrow.”
“All I know is that you’ve been missing for the last 10 days. And now you tell me you’re going missing again!”
In days of yore, the Leinster Senior Cup was played on a timeless basis. Started on a Friday evening, continued on Saturday and then on the following Monday evening and each succeeding evening thereafter until a result was achieved.
In 1963, Malahide CC from deepest, darkest north Dublin was pitted against Pembroke CC in Sydney Parade, south Dublin in Round 2 of the Senior Cup, the blue riband trophy of Leinster cricket. On the first Friday evening the Seasiders piled up a record 179 for 3. But thereafter the weather gods stuck their noses in. Rain and more rain. For 10 days the Seasiders trooped across the city each evening and intervening Saturday, long before any Eastlink Bridge. Stanley Bergin in his regular Sporting Column in the Evening Herald, and who was a notable participant in the match, wrote “As our film critic might say, the Pembroke-Malahide Senior Cup cricket “show” at Sydney Parade has been retained for a second week!”. Eventually, The Irish Times headline a report “Malahide Win Marathon Cup Match”.
The problem being that the semi-final was due to begin two days later and that again the Seasiders were drawn to travel to south Dublin to play Merrion CC. The rains continued, the grounds were sodden and the forecast was not good. Malahide appealed and sought a deferral. There was some confusion, Malahide understood that the governing body was considering their appeal and failed to show for the first evening of play.
The Leinster Cricket Union issued a statement to the national newspapers which ruled that as Malahide failed to show on the appointed date, the semi-final was awarded to Merrion.
Needless to say there was great disappointment in the Village (ructions was a word that was mentioned by those that could recall!) particularly after such an epic victory.
The following Saturday the Malahide Committee issued a lengthy statement again printed in the nationals. It read that the Club regretted the misunderstanding and that its members did not have the opportunity of seeing its team in the semi-final.
Trinity beat Merrion in the Final by one wicket making it a remarkable three in a row for the students.
Inevitably, the Leinster Senior Cup changed to a limited overs format in 1972 (60 overs per side).
2nd Round Leinster Senior Cup 1963
Malahide CC 302/10 (Paddy Neville 98, Joe Caprani 57)
Pembroke CC 232/10 (Joe Byrne 79, Doug Goodwin 6/73 in 47 overs, Les O Shea 4/103 in 51 overs)
Malahide win by 70 runs
Leinster Senior Cup Final 1963
Merrion CC 155/10
Dublin University 157/9
DU win by 1 wicket
Brian Gilmore 2023