Millpark drop their good form with first league defeat so far

Millpark suffered their first league defeat of the season on Saturday, going down by 33 runs in Monaghan.
Ben Talbot couldn't help Millpark to victory in Monaghan. INBL1426-289EBBen Talbot couldn't help Millpark to victory in Monaghan. INBL1426-289EB
Ben Talbot couldn't help Millpark to victory in Monaghan. INBL1426-289EB

After recording four wins in a row, the locals were in confident mood but, missing a few players including form batsman Ryan McCart, perhaps the game always had the potential as a banana skin.

Skipper Paul McCart won the toss and had no hesitation in bowling on what looked a difficult pitch to score runs on.

Millpark immediately created chances with dropped catches, close LBW shouts and near run outs featuring in the first few overs.

It was to be dropped catches that were to be Millpark’s undoing. At least five straight-forward chances were shelled, which undid some excellent bowling, including an outstanding 4-15 from Davy Glover.

Monaghan were bowled out for 102, which on most grounds would have been very much below par, but with the pitch showing signs of unpredictable bounce, it was to prove too much for the understrength Millpark to chase.

Openers Davy Glover and Stu McCart found it extremely difficult to get bat on ball with the only runs coming from wides.

Glover’s frustration was ended when he was caught driving on the up. Monaghan had done what Millpark had failed to do and hold catches

McCart was next to go, caught off a ball that lifted off a length before Jason Maxwell was comprehensively cleaned bowled.

However, with skipper Paul McCart and Ben Talbot at the crease, Millpark still had hope.

Unfortunately, Talbot was caught at third man very low to the ground and the skipper was snared by a sharply taken catch off the long sleeved wearing off-spinner. Resistance came in the form of counter-attacking Stevie McCart who ended as Millpark’s top scorer on 18.

More than it being a disappointing result for the Millpark lads, it was a disappointing performance, although take nothing away from Monaghan who bowled and fielded superbly and ran out worthy winners by 33 runs.