Report by Paul Reynolds

The scene was set. It may have been the start of a new season, but 2007 had led to a change of attitudes in this household. If I was going to get through another season, the correct preparations were going to have to be made. So in went the music, a fresh copy of the Irish Times (and I managed to leave the book at home - probably wouldn't need it though, as surely the umpires would call off the proceedings early). All was set.

And then the strangest thing happened. There was a strange sensation in the air, an ethereal feeling that seemed to spread happiness and joy to all it touched. The sun came out.

So the paper remained pressed, the music quiet, and it was time to get on with the reason that some of us exist for.

As is normally the case at this time of year, both sides were professing that they were severely under strength, but after the disasters of 2007, Leinster just had to start with a win. North County had first use of the wicket, which was true, but didn't play as easily as it looked it should have done.

After being the club's leading bowler last season, Sarfraz Anwar has been a welcome recruit to the world of the parenting cricketer, and as is the rule amongst us, he hadn't trained all winter. There was a definite creakiness eminating from the shoulder area of both him and skipper Rob Kenealy at the other end, and before we knew where we were, North County had raced away to 50 from seven overs. Slowly the brains of the bowlers started to communicate with the rest of their bodies and a semblance of decorum was restored. None of the Leinster bowlers really impressed, but the wickets slowly started to come. Without the aid of the scorebook, I'm struggling on detail, but a procession of long hops were hit to grateful fielders, and North County slowly slipped to 120-5.

It should have been better/worse depending on where in the county your support lies. Four catches were put down in the slips, and Enniskerry resident Calum Paterson grassed his first chance in LCU cricket, before taking a harder one later. In general the fielding wasn't too bad, and with the tail exposed Malcolm Rule was able to exert some form of strangle hold, a scoreboook assisted 2-13 from 10 including ten from his first over and several wides.

There was a valiant rearguard action from the young North County spinner after a Stephen Roughen delivery landed in Reynolds' gloves via the middle of his forearm. It looked sore, but he carried on for a while through gritted teeth,depositing Roughen deep into the car park to get some measure of retribution. A mid innings break was needed as the pain got too much, before some lusty blows at the end of the innings saw County reach 173 all out in a fairly frenetic 35 overs.

In reply Paterson and Reynolds strode to the wicket, Reynolds appearing at the top of the order for the first time since the fall of the Berlin Wall. It was one of those tricky pre-tea sessions, and whilst Reynolds did indeed make it look tricky, Paterson helped himself, and the Rathmines men were at 59-0 at tea. Paterson's dreams of a debut ton for Leinster lasted approximately 1.32 seconds of the second session, as North County found the breakthrough immediately. Dave Staunton soon followed, and when Owen Henson and Reynolds all left to join him, the hosts were in the hunt at around 70-4.

In the co-responding season opener last year, Mubashir Ahmed and Raza-ur-Rehman were accused on these pages of not showing enough commitment and concentration (along with others),but their partnership was the cornerstone of Leinster's innings. Combining lusty blows with cultured defence, the pair took the Leinster total to 140, and apparent safety. But a side that only won three times in the league last year may not be too psychologically sound, and so it seemed, as a clatter of wickets led to an uncertain finish.

Raza was first to go, soon followed by Mubashir, and the nerves were being frayed. Sarfraz Anwar top edged a pull (all the Leinster players struggled with the cross bat shots), and Bikram Arora also departed (completing his TFC Award) leaving about 12 needed with two wickets left. The third debutant Malcolm Rule was playing sensibly, despite two lofted shots in his first two balls, but it was the arrival of Rob Kenealy at the crease which made it obvious that the end was nigh, (although which direction was anyone's guess). His first attempt to land on top of the indoor hall was edged into his pads, and when Rule was caught behind, it was going to be Kenealy who would have to take the responsibility.

Despite hardly batting in nets over the winter, Roughen showed the most immaculate of defences, repelling 10 balls, before Kenealy got the chance to free his arms, and bop the two runs needed over mid on.

A huge relief for Leinster, and not much lost for North County