## Key Contests in Irish Senior Cup and National Cup## Key Contests in Irish Senior Cup and National Cup This Sunday holds significant clashes as the semifinals of the Irish Senior Cup and the National Cup determine the finalists. The draws are as follows: Irish Senior Cup * Instonians vs. Merrion * Clontarf vs. North Down National Cup * Donemana vs. Killyclogher * Lisburn vs. Rush The reserve day for the semifinals is set for July 21st in case of inclement weather. The finals for both competitions are scheduled for August 17th (Irish Senior Cup) and August 18th (National Cup). Ahead of the clash between Instonians and Merrion, veteran Instonians’ Andrew White shared his thoughts on the upcoming match: On their season: “It’s been up and down. Our league form hasn’t been great, but we’ve had decent runs in both the NCU Senior Cup and the Irish Cup. We’re probably going into the weekend as underdogs, but you never know.” On their underdog status: “We have a side that’s very young, but the challenge is that some of the other top teams have more experience. We do have talented players who can hurt the opposition, and we’re hoping they can step up this weekend.” On home advantage: “Players are used to playing everywhere nowadays, so it will be the team that plays best on the day. Shaws Bridge can be a fast-scoring ground, but it will be the team that executes the best cricket that comes out on top.” On the importance of getting through: “This is only our second semi-final ever. It would be an amazing achievement to get to the final, especially without an overseas professional. We haven’t even thought about the final yet, because we know how tough it will be against Merrion. If it’s our day, it would be brilliant to get there.”
Key contests await in both the Irish Senior Cup and the National Cup with the spots for the finals to be decided this Sunday.
The semi-final draws are:
Irish Senior Cup
National Cup
The reserve day for the semi-finals is set for 21 July in case of bad weather then the final for the Irish Senior Cup will take place on 17 August while the final for the National Cup on 18 August.
Veteran Instonians all-rounder Andrew White was speaking ahead of their clash with Merrion.
On their season:
“Yeah it’s been up and down. Arguably our league form hasn’t been too good, but we’ve had decent runs in both the NCU Senior Cup and the Irish Cup. We probably go into the weekend with the two cup competition semi-finals as underdogs. But you never know.“
On their underdog status:
“We’ve a side that’s very young bar myself arguably, but the challenge is I think when you look around some of the other top teams. They have a lot more experience than we do, but on any given day we have the players that can can hurt the opposition. We do have a talented side, but hopefully come the weekend those guys can stand up and make a big statement in a very big competition on Sunday.“
On home advantage:
“I don’t know how much home advantage really plays and I guess you don’t have to travel on the Sunday morning which is the first thing but you know, players are used playing here there, everywhere nowadays and it’ll be whoever plays best on the day, I guess certain grounds are unique and that can play a part. I don’t think Shaws Bridge you know will do that necessarily. It can be a fast scoring ground, but it’ll be the team that plays the best cricket in the day that comes out.“
What it would mean to get through:
“I think this is only our second ever semi-final. We got to the final a number of years ago against Warringstown and DLS intervened, which was disappointing. But it would be an amazing achievement, given that we’ve no overseas professional. So we’re not relying on that side of things. So it would be an incredible achievement, but we haven’t even thought about the final because we know how big a task we have with Merrion coming down. If it’s our day, it would be brilliant to get to another final.“
