Crunch weekend in the cups for Waringstown

The villagers travel to CIYMS on Saturday in the Ulster Bank NCU Challenge Cup before visiting Clontarf in the Irish Cup the following day.

They will almost certainly have to do without opening batsman James Hall for both matches. The right-hander has a hamstring tear and is expected to be out for several weeks. However, James McCollum and Adam Denninson have been forging a good partnership in his absence.

CI remain favourites for all the big domestic trophies and will be a tough nut to crack on their own ground.

Sunday’s trip to Dublin will be just as tough. Clontarf are recent winners of the Irish Cup and include big names like Alex Cusack, the Ireland all-rounder, and his fellow international Andrew Poynter