4ths Reports 2009

Armagh V Larne (18th July)

Armagh fourths eventually recorded their first win of the season in an excellent all round display against old rivals Larne on The mall last Friday.

Armagh skipper Keith Wilson won the toss and batted on an excellent strip in sunny conditions.  Armagh openers David Spratt and Ricky Morrison started with great gusto before Spratt was caught in the deep for 21 whilst Morrison was similarly out for a hard hitting 30.  Larne However hit back as Brownlee claimed the 2 prize wickets of McCarter and Hoey cheaply.  Davy Nicholson then hit a quick fire 10 before finding the only fielder in the deep off Humphries and it was left to Keith Wilson and Ally Dodds to save the day as Dodds seemed to make batting look easy before he was unfortunately run out for a fine 35.  Club stalwart Arnold Courtney was also a victim of a run out as he perished in the dash for quick runs Armagh finished their 35 overs on 169-8 with Wilson finishing undefeated on a fine 44.

In reply Larne started off well as openers Mcdonagh and Mcveigh put Armagh’s opening bowlers Johnny Morton and Ally Dodds to the sword.  However with the score on 66 the evergreen Arnold Courtney removed Mcveigh and in the next over Andy Hoey bowled the danger man McDonagh for an excellent 47.  Larne skipper Michael Lyle hit a quickfire 26 before Wilson removed him with his first ball courtesy of a fine catch by Ally Dodds.  Larne by this stage were on the ropes and some excellent spin bowling by young Ian Crowe claimed 2 crucial wickets as Larne ran out of steam with Keith Wilson and Arnold Courtney proving their worth by doing what their best at and polishing off the tail.  Courtney finishing with two wickets and Wilson with four as the hosts romped home by the margin of 32 runs.

ARMAGH IV 169-8 (K.Wilson 44no, A Dodds 35, R.Morrison 30, D.Spratt 21, L.Brownlee 2-25)

LARNE III 137-8 (D.McDonagh 47, M.Lyle 26, E.Burke 18, K.Wilson 4-12, A.Courtney 2-20, I.Crowe 2-36)

Armagh V Instonians (19th July)

Armagh Fourths entertained Instonians Thirds two Saturdays ago and despite being defeated by 5 wickets put up a good display against a fine Third XI side.

Keith Wilson once again won the toss and elected to bat on the same strip as the Larne victory. Armagh started poorly losing Ryan McCarter and Willie Carberry both failing to trouble the scorers. David Spratt batted sensibly before being bowled by the wily Jacques for 27. This brought together Andy Hoey and Keith Wilson as they added 60 for the 4th wicket before Hoey was caught in the deep for a brilliant 41. Wilson continued Hoey’s momentum with a fine 35 not out. However Armagh lost the incentive Hoey and Wilson had earlier produced as Nicholson (5) , Stoops(0) and Dougan (0) all fell cheaply. Arnold Courtney wielded the long willow in the dying over before he was bowled for 13 as Armagh finished on 147-8 in 35 overs.

Armagh however applied themselves well to the situation reducing Instonians to 85-5 with Andy Hoey taking 3 quick wickets and claiming the run out of skipper Graham Higgin in farcical circumstances. Ian Crowe yet again bowled his leg spin well claiming the wicket of top scorer Booley for 41. Unfortunately for Armagh the determined batting of Alexander and Neill took Inst across the finishing line without further loss as they put on 63 for the 6th wicket as Armagh squandered a few hard chances in what was a game a very young Armagh side done all that was asked of them.

ARMAGH IV 147-8 (A.Hoey 41, K.Wilson 35no, D.Spratt 27, B. Alexander 5-27)

INSTONIANS III 148 –5 (Z. booley 41, B.Alexander 37no, G.Higgin 26, A.Hoey 3-40 I.Crowe 1-39)

Armagh V Muckamore

Armagh Fourths played their second league game of the season last Sunday playing hosts to Muckamore III.  In a rain interrupted 30 over contest Armagh batted first and could only muster a disappointing 94 all out.  David Acheson top scored with a lusty 24 while Ricky Morrison and Ally Dodds both recorded 17.  Armagh’s top order of McCord Hoey, McCarter and Wilson were all guilty of poor shots and it promises to be a hard year for the 4th XI against some very useful opponents.

In reply the visitors were briefly halted by some heavy rain as the weather proved Armagh’s best chances of forcing a shock result but passed Armagh’s meagre total in the 24th Over with the loss of 4 wickets.  Openers Campbell and Roni scored 25 and 26 respectively in a particularly one sided encounter.  McCord, Wilson and the Hoey brothers claimed a wicket each as Armagh paid the price of poor batting and the cardinal sin of not using up their quota of overs.

Saintfield V Armagh

Armagh Fourths travelled to Saintfield last Saturday and added to their recent good form with an emphatic and facile 68 run victory in excellent conditions. 

The game was played at Saintfield’s main ground, The Demesne, on a hard wicket with a quick outfield, so a big score was always a strong possibility.  Keith Wilson won the toss for Armagh and they certainly didn’t disappoint as they amassed a huge score of 247-3 in their 40 0vers.  The innings was about one batsman, Paul McCord, who plundered a truly breathtaking 139 not out, batting the full 40 overs and scoring sevens “6’s” and ten “4’S” in a display of pure dominance as a weary and fairly mundane Saintfield attack wilted in the balmy conditions.  It was Paul’s highest score and many would be surprised his first century in a career spanning over 30 years and was also the highest individual score for anyone ever playing for Armagh Fourths and the highest score by any Armagh player in the 2009 season.  Earlier for Armagh David Spratt had been dismissed for 11 and Ryan McCarter for 18 as Armagh were 98 for 2 after 23 overs.  The final 17 overs produced an amazing 149 runs with McCord and Keith Wilson putting on 141 runs, such was the might of McCord’s knock for the third wicket before the skipper was out in the penultimate over for a supporting role of 37 runs.  Alistair Wright was the other batsman not out on 4 runs.    

Saintfield’s reply was always going to be hit and miss with chasing such a formidable total.  However they briefly rallied putting on 54 for the first before whom else other than Paul McCord clean-bowled Saints skipper Brendan Mullan for 27.  With his departure Saintfield shut up shop and concentrated only on seeing out the overs.  Saintfield finished on 169-7 in their allotted overs. Bert Hamilton top score with 40 and Paul McCord put in a shout for Man of the Match taking 2 wickets while Johnny Morton and Ian Crowe also claimed two a piece with the young leg spinner Crowe bowling quite brilliantly again and he can consider himself extremely unlucky not to get a hat trick.  All in all it was a day of supremacy for the boys from the primatial city, but the rest of the season will continue to be a tough one for this team which is very much one for future years. 

ARMAGH IV 247-3 (P.McCord 139 no, K.Wilson 37)

SAINTFIELD III 169 –7 (B.Hamilton 40, I.Crowe 2-10, P.McCord 2-27, J.Morton 2-29)

North Down V Armagh

Armagh Fourths travelled to Comber last Saturday as North Down Thirds played host to the Primatial Side.  Armagh skipper Keith Wilson won the toss and had no hesitation in batting against the league leaders on a particularly lively artificial strip.  Armagh made the poorest of starts as openers David Spratt and Paul McCord were dismissed cheaply to Peter Eakin.  Armagh’s tale of woe continued as Eakin wrecked carnage dismissing Ryan McCarter and Ricky Morrison in one over the latter playing a particularly horrendous shot at a straight ball.  Armagh were further humbled in the following over as Andy Hoey popped a short one up to Square leg and Armagh were 18 for 5.  Keith Wilson and Duncan Steed held a mini revival before Steed was bowled for a patient 11 to leave the visitors 54 for 6.  With time running out and quick runs required Wilson and Arnold Courtney plundered a few lusty blows both hitting towering sixes but Armagh ran out of steam being all out in the penultimate over for a paltry 99.  Wilson continued his run of good form this season top scoring with 38 while Courtney delighted his somewhat younger teammates with an entertaining 16.

Not for the first time this year North Down set off their run chase like men possessed as Armagh’s opening attack of Sean McCord and Johnny Morton were put to the sword.  Opener Stephen Hamilton plundered 37 in only 16 balls before holing out to an excellent catch by Paul McCord at long on of Hoey.  Johnny Morton claimed the wicket of Cummings Courtesy of a Morrison stumping and Armagh’s only other success was a run out by Andy Hoey as North Down romped home by 7 wickets in only 12 overs.  Yet again Armagh Fourths received a tough lesson from a more than capable Third XI as they continue to gain experience as the only Fourth XI side in this particular league.  The fourths take a break now until August 15th when they travel to Larne in a must win game and only have a home game to Saintfield to rearrange before the much talked about 2 games against Armagh Thirds which will no doubt be the pinnacle in this 150th anniversary year.

ARMAGH IV 99 all out (K.Wilson 38, A.Courtney 16, P.Eakin 5-23)

NORTH DOWN III 100 – 3 (S.Hamilton 37, K.Adams 24no, J.Morton 1 – 24, A.Hoey 1 – 26)   

Armagh V CSNI

Armagh Fourths continued their gruelling season with a home fixture to CSNI III on the Mall last Sunday. Batting first the hosts managed 109 all out with twin brothers Alistar Wright and Conor Wright proving their worth in this “development team” as they contributed two fine knocks of 23 and 26 not out respectively. Davy Nicholson (12) and William Dougan(10) were the only others to make batting look easy as a fine sophisticated CSNI took advantage of an inexperienced fourth XI side. In reply civil Service found Armagh’s attack very much to their liking polishing off the total in less than 18 overs. Armagh were to only pick up 2 wickets, one a smart run out by Robert Armstrong and the second coutesy of Lauren Breakey clean bowling top scorer Chris McCombe as some of her male counterparts looked on in awe! Special mention to Johnny Morton, Ian Crowe and Alistar Wright who all bowled excellently in a game that offered little.

Fourth XI skipper Keith Wilson was quick to point out that his side were second best by a long way stating “ It’s going to be a long season, the fourths are a victim of their own success finding themselves in a very high league after years of winning games for fun. However with our current youth development policy in the fourth XI coupled with the young lads’ dedication commitment and enthusiasm during a season with many players unavailable for various reasons, it will ensure Armagh will field four teams for many years to come