Both teams went into the games as underdogs, but CI, who knocked out holders Leinster in the previous round, will be particularly disappointed after bowling out Phoenix for 208 and reaching 82 for one in reply. But they lost their last seven wickets for 68 and were all out with more than seven overs unused for 188.
Andrew White’s Instonians found it much more difficult against a classy Merrion side who piled up 271 for nine, and the defending Premier League champions never threatened, beaten by 117 runs.
In the National Cup, the John Mooney fairytale season with Strabane continued as they reached their third Final, defeating the Ireland international’s home club North County by six wickets.
Mooney took three for 26 as the hosts were bowled out for 106, and he was there at the finish, 13 not out, although it was professional Naz Nawar, 69 not out, who won the match in just the 15th over with three successive boundaries.
In the NCU Premier League, Muckamore completed the perfect weekend by winning the Challenge Cup dress rehearsal against Lisburn at Wallace Park by one wicket, Pavan Karthik hitting the winning run off the fifth ball of the 49th over.
The victory confirmed Muckamore’s place in the top six post-split and left Lisburn possibly needing to win their final game at home to Instonians on Saturday to confirm their spot.
Cliftonville Academy can also still make the top six – they have two games left – despite losing to Woodvale, who rejoin Waringstown at the top of the table.
Meanwhile, Dragons won the Super 20 title on Sunday despite losing their final game to Scorchers in Malahide.
IRISH CUP SEMI-FINALS
Shaw’s Bridge: Merrion 271-9 (S Modgill 61, J Anderson 40, P Francis 40, A Rosslee 38, S Doheny 35; A White 2-40, J Magee 2-52) Instonians 154 (37.2 overs, A White 41, A Ly 22, N Smith 20; T Stanton 3-25, M Devaraj 3-25, M O’Reilly 2-26).
Merrion won by 117 runs.
Phoenix Park: Phoenix 208 (47.4 overs, G Dockrell 44, J Munjal 36, A Sidhu 26, L Shields 20; C McCullough 4-23, J Mulder 2-28, M Best 2-32) CIYMS 188 (42.5 overs, C Dougherty 59, A Coulter 39, J Matchett 37; D Ranolia 3-26, T Kane 3-34, A Sidhu 2-44).
Phoenix won by 20 runs.
NCU PREMIER LEAGUE
Wallace Park: Lisburn 213 (48.1 overs, N Jones 57, G Halliday 34, J Waite 28, N Whitworth 27, D Miller 24; S Henderson 5-39, S Suresh 2-34) Muckamore 215-9 (48.5 overs, B Calitz 51, M Gleghorne 48, J van der Merwe 37, L Allen 37; R Macbeth 4-32, N Whitworth 2-43).
Muckamore won by 1 wicket.
Ballygomartin Road: Woodvale 192 (49.4 overs, L Kaestner 92, R Pretorius 26; A Raut 2-24, R Bessell 2-31) Cliftonville Academy 144 (45 overs, V Chopra 42, J Wilson 32; R Pretorius 3-13, L Kaestner 3-32, A Adey 3-33).
Woodvale won by 48 runs.
