2nds Reports 2009

Saintfield V Armagh 28/06/09

Young Armagh Team Lose Narrowly to Saintfield

     Armagh travelled to Saintfield on Sunday full of confidence after their awesome display the previous day to Larne.  

     Armagh where again put into bat on another decent hard looking wicket which once again proved costly. Armagh openers Ryan McCarter and 12-year-old Andrew Hoey put on 73 for the first wicket inside 18 overs before Hoey was dismissed for a great 25 which included 3 4’s. This brought Michael Hoey to the crease that hit 86 the previous day but he could not live up to it being caught for 6. Adam Breakey and Ricky Dobbs hit 10 and 18 respectively before they where both run out via direct hits from the boundary. But McCarter soon brought up his 1st half century for the seconds in a stylish display. His elegant stroke play followed up with graceful defensive allowed him to record a career best 64. Armagh finally where dismissed for 164 which was 40 runs below par on the solid wicket.

     The away side worked hard in the field in hot conditions but Saintfield attacked form the off recording 58-1 after just 10 overs. But skipper Ricky Dobbs picked up his first senior “five-for”. Lukman Uddin and Michael Dobbs each picked up a wicket a piece with the latter gifting his courtesy of a fine catch by wicket keeper Breakey which was his third dismissal of the day.

     Saintfield won the game with 3 wickets to spare in the 38th over. It was a good quality determined show by a youthful Armagh side. Next up for Armagh in an away expedition to Cliftonville next Saturday.

Armagh V Larne 27/06/09

Magical Hoey Cleans Up Larne

     Michael Hoey shone brightly as Armagh seconds defeated Larne at The Mall on Saturday in a high scoring encounter.

     Stand in skipper Adam Breakey lost the toss but was put in to bat on a hard wicket, which seemed to favour the batsman and this turned out to be correct.

     Armagh got off to the worst possible start when opener Duncan Steed fell for just one run in only the 3rd over. This brought youngest Michael Hoey to the crease, which turned the game around. Michael with Paul Scowcroft added over 100 partnership for the 2nd wicket, which was recorded with fine, stoke play to all parts of the ground. Scowcroft making his first game of the season recorded a delightful fifty before being dismissed for 52. Hoey recorded his first senior fifty for Armagh soon after with a powerful drive through the covers. Michael “Monks” Hoey was finally dismissed run out for a career best 86 which included 11 boundary fours hit to all corners of The Mall. Peter Elliott struck a quick fire 45 which included two huge sixes in what was a great power display. Armagh finally finished their allocated 40 overs with a mammoth score of 237-4.

     Armagh’s young team where confident they could defend this huge score but they were given a scare by the relentless Larne side. The home side picked up a wicket in the second over of the game when Lukman Uddin rooted their opener. Wickets where picked up at regular intervals but slack fielding and bowling allowed Larne to record a 5th wicket partnership of 89 before it was broken by Michael Dobbs. Larne needed 48 to win from 7 overs but tight bowling from Dobbs, Hoey and Steed allowed Armagh to record a 15 run win.

     Michael Hoey picked up the man of the match award with 86 runs, a run out and bowling figures of 3-38 of 8 overs. But it was a great batting display which won Armagh the game.

Downpatrick V Armagh 21/06/09

     Armagh seconds travelled away to Downpatrick on Sunday, which was to be their second of three games in the space of three days. After a short delay skipper Ricky Dobbs elected to bat in a rain affected Twenty-20 match played on an artificial wicket.

    Armagh never built any decent partnerships from the start with wickets falling at regular intervals with Michael Hoey (3), Adam Breakey(0) and Andrew Hoey (0) all falling in quick succession. Dobbs hit a few lusty blows in a brief cameo of 11 before falling to Lever who picked up three wickets with medium pace. Sean Collier also applied the same technique in the shortened game before being dismissed by a classy caught and bowled effort. Young Michael Dobbs playing his first game for the seconds recorded a fine 11 not out whilst Lukman Uddin stroked the ball around the ground for 14 which was to be Armagh’s highest score. The away side were finally dismissed for 73 in the 17th over.

    Downpatrick openers got things off to a rapid start with Ferris particular hitting the balls to all parts of the ground. The first over of Armagh’s innings went for 17 with a further 28 coming off the next 3 overs. Armagh were in deep trouble until Uddin bowled McKee trying to play off his legs. Sean Collier hit back with two quick wickets including the dangerous Ferris for a hard 33. That was all the joy that Armagh got with Downpatrick skipper Carson hitting the winning runs in just the 8th over.

    Captain Dobbs quoted, “I thought we done ourselves proud as we came with only nine men with 7 off them being under 16. Again we bowled too wides which we will have to cut down on, particular working hard at practice which as usual is on Tuesdays and Thursdays 6.30pm at The Mall.

Cregagh V Armagh 20/06/09

On Saturday Armagh’s second eleven travelled to newly promoted side Cregagh in what turned out to be a rain hit 40 over game played in wintery conditions. Armagh captain Ricky Dobbs won the toss and decided to bat with Lloyd Hamilton and Duncan Steed opening the batting for Armagh. Unfortunately the innings got off to the worst possible start when both where dismissed in the second over. This brought Simon Cardwell and Adam Breakey to the crease. This partnership looked solid for a while before Breakey drove loosely to cover. Armagh then lost Seamus Crowe, captain Dobbs and Andrew Smith in quick succession. Five wickets fell to Cregagh’s opening bowler who gave a fine demonstration of swing bowling.  At this stage Armagh were 20 runs for six wickets in the ninth over.  This was the beginning of an epic partnership.  Matthew Brownlee joined Cardwell and the pair batted carefully at the beginning in an attempt to build an Armagh innings of some substance without losing any more wickets. The pair put on 87. Both men chose there shots carefully and picked up singles and twos when they were available. Armagh’s run rate was nothing to write home about but as long as these two remained at the crease Armagh always believed they had a chance of getting a competitive score. Brownlee and Cardwell continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over and they had managed to take the score on to eighty runs for the loss of six wickets in the thirty over with a minimum of fuss. Both men new that Armagh had to try and up their run rate in the final ten overs.  Cardwell took the initiative and went after the bowling in an effort that really had the team’s interests at heart but after striking a few lusty blows he skied a catch to mid off and was out for a workman like 37. Michael Hoey joined Matthew Brownlee at the crease with Brownlee continuing his innings in the same vain picking the gaps and hitting the bad ball hard. Hoey struck a couple of boundaries and Brownlee felt it was time to do the same. Using some inventive shots Brownlee hit a few boundaries including a one bounce four to bring up his first half century for the club in a fine effort. However Brownlee attempted one big shot too many and was caught out for a well made 59. Hoey ended up with 23 not out and Armagh’s remaining men of Uddin and Clarke managed to scramble to 150 all out. A fine effort considering Armagh’s bad start, credit must be given to Cardwell, Brownlee and young Hoey at the end who really got Armagh out of what could have been an embarrassment.

The partnership of Cardwell and Brownlee was again to be reunited as these two opened the bowling for Armagh. On a slow pitch both men bowled with great hostility and commitment to the cause. It was Brownlee who picked up the first wicket having the Cregagh opener Simpson caught behind with a fine catch by wicket keeper Adam Breakey. Cardwell bowled well with out much luck and it was again Brownlee who struck again having the number three batsman Thompson again caught behind. Captain Dobbs had a few overs and managed to pick up a wicket. Michael Hoey and Lukman Uddin then came on to bowl and both bowled well. Hoey picked up a couple of wickets including a good catch of his own bowling. Armagh however failed to dry up the runs and apply any real pressure to give them a real chance in this game. Seamus Crowe picked up a late wicket for Armagh but his efforts were in vain as Cregagh won with four wickets in hand. Armagh must look back at this game and rue some of the shot selections by the top order batsman, as well as the amount of extras conceded. This weekend sees the seconds on the Mall against Larne in which they will be looking to turn round recent results and get a first league victory of the season.