This year has seen quite a few new members join the Ladies team and the potential for our busy season ahead is very exciting.

Captained by the keen bowling arm of Mary Ward, and assisted by vice Captain Aoife Keegan the team really has been rejuvenated.

We are training on Monday evenings in the nets and on Thusdays we are out on the crease getting some match practice in. With the coaching team of Kirk and our National star Dave Langford Smith we are looking forwad to an exciting season ahead. Read below for our recent match reports.

Captains Match Reports

Cup Final

9th August 2008

Phoenix v Pembroke

Well, we got to the final in dramatic style! and faced Pembroke C.C. The day was dry (oddly) and warm. Phoenix had a full team and a 12th person (v. p.c. I know). We were ably supported by the Kevin Gallagher, Jim Gallagher - Helen Caird's darling husband Jean-Louis, Mr. Fahy and El Presidente and his entourage..  (if I have forgotten anyone please accept my apologies and my thanks for being there). Due to the weather conditions (i.e. the prospect of rain) it was decided that the overs would be reduced to 20.Phoenix won the toss and elected to field first. Mary Waldron and Hanna deBerg White (anything to Chris??!) opened the batting for Pembroke. They got off to a great start, and Phoenix faced a tough day in the humidity.Lyn Taylor and Irene Gowing opened the bowling. It took us a while to break down a resilient Pembroke, but with the fall of Mary Waldron's wicket (bowled and caught by M. Ward) Mary went walking for 35. Hanna proved a touch more stubborn who refused to leave the crease and was not out for 56. Again Phoenix field bravely and with full commitment the wickets began to fall. Aoife Keegan returned to her bowling after a surgon in South America -leading to Emer Bell christening her Mrs. Peru. On her third ball, Aoife took her first, sending Carol Cromer walking for 0 LBW. J. McDowell went for 3 with some brilliant fielding she was run out. Now here is my personal favourite. Aine Gallagher took to the crease, she has a good bat and tends to go wallop! M. Ward bowled a ball going down leg, Aine went for it, clipped her glove and it was BRILLIANTLY caught by Ms. Rachel Cobbes, who had a wonderful day as wicket keeper.Lyn had bowled a fabulous ball to Pembroke's captain Rebecca Gallagher, which was brilliantly caught by Reiltin O'Connor.. Pembroke and the end of the 20th over, had a total of 126, leaving Phoenix chasing 127 difficult but attainable.

Irene and Lyn again padded up, and began the second innings. Unfortunately Irene was dismissed LBW for 22, M.Ward in third took to the crease, with Lyn. Phoenix most definitely had the momentum at that stage, and were there or thereabouts with the run-rate. Then... QUELL SURPRISE... it began to rain ALOT! The match was abandoned until Monday at 5:15 with 9 overs remaining. Lyn and Mary again walked on to the crease in Leinster. Unfortunately, Mary forgot how to block low snaking deliveries and was out second ball. The fall of wickets came quickly, but Lyn (36 runs) still stood firm, as did Emer Bell (9 not out), who had some cracking shots. Unfortunately we did not get enough runs on the board, and at the end of the Innings Phoenix lost by 33 runs (a total of 94).We put up an excellent fight, it was difficult to come back on Monday to finish off the game, and even more difficult to take up where we left off. So, we came second! Well done girls. I guess, in the end it wasn't so bad losing to Pembroke in the final!!

Semi Final of the Cup:

Thursday 7th August.
Well, the day surprisingly was dry, unfortunately the damage had been done to our pitch due to the "lovely" weather we had suffered previously therefore our ground was unplayable. After much tension! it was "decided" that we play the semi-final in Leinster. Phoenix lost the toss, and Leinster elected to bat first. Mary Ward opened the bowling, and unfortunately for her, the Leinster batters decided to have a field day! However, all was not lost as Lyn Taylor and Irene Gowing bowled Phoenix into an excellent position. Lyn had 25 off 7 overs for 2 wickets, her first wicket was an excellent ball which was brilliantly caught by Irene Gowing sending V Gee (opening batter for Leinster) walking to the clubhouse for 14 runs. This was a huge wicket, and thus began the exhibition of how to bowl under pressure by Lyn and Irene. Irene then bowled Natasha Smith (captain of Leinster), who went for 14 runs (this was Irene's first of 5 wickets). This was followed by Lyn's LBW sending Z Delaney packing for 29. This was the beginning of a swift fall of wickets for Leinster. Irene left the crease with brilliant figures 6.2 overs for 22 runs with 5 wickets. Ms. Helen Caird, as wicket keeper felt she ought to get in on the action and had 2 stumpings! All the excellent bowling was back up by some brilliant fielding by all of the Phoenix ladies. Each person giving their all. Leinster were all out for a total of 102.

In the knowledge that Phoenix were chasing 103 to win and with fading light, Lyn and Irene padded up and took to the crease. Something I should have mentioned from the get go.. It was lashing out of the heavens..! With the ground saturated, the out field was very slow, boundaries were very difficult to get, but with great determination and concentration Lyn and Irene held firm. Under exceptionally difficult conditions and batting in the darkness, and for once there is no exaggeration here, I mean THE DARK... Lyn having opened batting had a total of 41 not out and Irene had a total of 33 not out. I would dearly love to expand on the every shot play by these excellent players but unfortunately, due to the darkness! I couldn't see!!! So at 10 p.m. (yes I said 10 p.m.) Lyn and Irene got the 103 that we need to send us rain soaked in to a glorious final! From the captain, I want to say how amazing you both were. You showed total commitment to the game and I on behalf of the team (if I may!) thank you sincerely. I also would like to thank Kevin Gallagher (our team manager!!) for umpiring in ridiculous conditions and for all his help and commitment he always shows to the ladies team. Thank you Kevin.

Phoenix V Malahide

30th July 2008

We lost the toss, and Malahide elected to bat first. Lyn and Mary opened the bowling, which was very tight, with Mary having just 13 off her 5 overs. The fielding was excellent, Rachel back from her travels resumed wicket keeping duty and testament to how good our fielding was is the 3 run outs.. Reiltin, that near catch was brilliant!! Deirdre your bowling was excellent great way to come back. 17 runs off 5 overs for 1 wicket.  The tight fielding and bowling meant that we were chasing 76 to win.

Irene and Lyn padded up to open the batting. The opening bowler for Malahide was very good, she only gave away 8 runs off 5 overs for two wickets.. both Lyn and Irene out for catchs. Mary in true skipper style took the field with Helen. Helen put up a great score of 24 which kept the score board ticking over.. and Mary powered some amazing shots to the boundary, before being bowled on a deceiving  dribbler!! Reiltin then took the crease, and with some great shots, and patience, we got to the target!  An encouraging win considering we face Lenister on the 31st (tomorrow) in the Cup Semi Final!!

Phoenix V Clontarf

2nd June 2008

We lost the toss and Clontarf elected to field first. Lyn and Irene took to the crease and thus the beginning of a wonderful partnership of 106. Lyn had some beautifully placed shots along with some great boundaries, and was unlucky not to get her 50. Irene played some exceptional shots and had a smattering of boundaries giving her, her second 50 of the Season (well done!). This was coupled with some excellent running, for "quick singles" and my God were they quick!!
We then took the field, and given the fact that we only had 10 players, our fielding and positioning was excellent. Special mention goes to Irene for that brilliant catch off Dee's ball! Classic. Lyn opened the bowling, and continued here excellent bowling rate, keeping Clontarf run rate down. To be honest, the figures speak for themselves 10 runs off 4 overs for 1 wicket! Nothing else needs to be said. Aoife and Mary had some fine bowling as did Dee.

Pembroke V Phoenix 1st

13th June 2008

The phoenix ladies went up against Pembroke last Friday, Friday the 13th and unfortunately it was unlucky for us. Phoenix won the toss and opted to bat first. The Pembroke Bowling proved too much for Phoenix on the night, with the ladies all out for 52 runs. There were glimmers of hope from the Phoenix batswomen with some great fours by Lyn Taylor and Caeleen Jones.

We didn’t give up without a fight though. Fielding was as good as ever with some great protection of the boundaries by new comer Elaine Spencer and some excellent wickets from Lyn Taylor, Irene Gowing and Aoife Keegan. The writing was on the wall however and Pembroke won by 8 wickets.

Phoenix 1st V Malahide

4th June 2008

Rained off

Clontarf V Phoenix 1st                                        

We lost the toss, but there our loosing ended. We fielded first, first ball bowled was hit for four and honestly I thought at that point it was going to be a long night!  

However, our fielding was superb. Inga, Rachel and Caeleen, all new to the team and showing no fear let nothing past. The same too could be said for Nicola, Dee, Helen, all in new positions in close. The boundary’s were patrolled by Reiltin, Aoife, Lyn, Mary and Irene and the effectiveness of the Phoenix field proved a frustration for the Clontarf batters so much so that at one point they were wondering what did it take to get a four. This combined with a strong bowling front left us in a strong position for the game. Lyn was excellent with 18 runs off 5 overs and Mary took a crucial wicket. After the 20 overs, Clontarf had racked up 101.

Lyn and Irene opened the batting, knowing we had a total of 102 to chase, Lyn faced the first ball, which she knocked for four with, what one might call, aplomb. Irene, not to be out done, hit her first ball for four too. This was swiftly followed by running three! This four hitting lark set the precedent for the rest of the match, where Irene ratcheted up a total of 55 followed closely by Lyn with 40, giving them a partnership of 102 and ergo, the match!  

As usual great support from Jean-Louis and Kevin and a special thank you to Dave and Kirk for the coaching, it really was evident in the match last night. So we have our first victory of the season! On wards and upwards from here!

Phoenix 1st v Trinity
7th May 2008
The Ladies team had our first match on Wed May 7th. We faced a very good Trinity team who fielded tight, bowled well, and batted VERY well.

Despite the loss, I think we can take heart and know that we have areas to improve on! All of which will come with practice and experience! So I'd like to thank you all for the effort, and for the new girls I hope you enjoyed it!

Helen Caird had a sterling steady performance with 20 runs, which kept us ticking over, she also took a hefty wallop on the leg for her troubles! Irene took a lovely wicket, and Lyn steadied the bowling a lot with some full accurate balls and was unlucky with her dismissal  Nadine in her maiden match got her maiden run! Congratulations.