In this section we remember famous matches from the past. Matches that were significant to the club and heralded stars of the future, highlighted legends of YM cricket and produced champagne moments.
The first match we look at is the Leinster Senior Cup Final of 1986.


Y.M.C.A. 1st XI v Phoenix 1st XI
Leinster Senior Cup Final
Sat July 28th 1986
Played at Park Avenue, Railway Union C.C.

On the day of the final Sean Pender wrote in the Irish Times  'there may be a winner's medal for Sullivan'. He also added that if YMCA were to defeat Phoenix in the Leinster Senior Cup Tim Sullivan would become the first Australian to collect a winner's medal in this competition.

The 25-year-old Sydney pace bowler came to Dublin on an extended holiday and in a very short time had made a big impact in Dublin cricket. As a result of a friendship struck up back home with Alan Lewis, who spent a winter "down under" Sullivan joined the Claremont Road club and had already taken 45 wickets that season.
Always very difficult to score off even if he was not taking wickets, Sullivan started off his Leinster campaign as an out-swinger, but on advice from Ireland's opening bowler Simon Corlett he developed an in-swinger as well and was a very awkward customer indeed.
And it was in the bowling department that YM appeared to have the edge. Not only was Sullivan top of the averages but the number two spot was filled by Jonathan Garth. Between them they would go onto claim 110 wickets in the season at less than 10 runs apiece. The performances of Sullivan had clearly acted as a spur for Garth whose game improved to the point where he was regarded as a front rank Irish bowler.
For Phoenix to plan to see off this pair and to make their runs off the other bowlers would be a dangerous strategy. Ian Keartland and Ian Burns were not easy to get hold of either and if Clive Davis who by the nature of his bowling often bought his wickets, proved expensive Colin Haine could step into the breach and not look ordinary.
The Phoenix batsmen facing this attack would also come up against the best fielding side in Leinster. The captain Alan Lewis, Garth, Eamonn Masterson, Sullivan, Graham Verso, Burns and Angus Dunlop were all superb fielders. And in Keith Bailey a wicket-keeper of the highest quality.
Phoenix would want to be extra careful and in taking sharp singles when the ball is in Dunlop's vicinity. He had already shown when sub-fielding for Ireland earlier in the season that he had developed a powerful arm and was quite capable of running a batsman out with a mighty throw from any part of the ground.
The all-round qualities of Burns who missed the early part of the season also made a vast difference to YM. A more-than-useful bat and bowler, uncanny judge of the quick single, a hustler in the field, he had transformed a good side into a trophy-winning one, as even before this final YM had already looked like securing the league title.
In front of this team was Phoenix, who also had plenty of stars. This was a very experienced side full of winners who had been the most successful team in Leinster for the past decade or more. 
And if anyone was to wrest the initiative from YM that man was Alf Masood. An in-form Masood only had to occupy the crease for an hour or so to put the issue irretrievably beyond the opposition's reach, so completely could he destroy an attack in very few overs.
Support for Masood would come from any number of Phoenix stalwarts, the Pigots, Stan Mitchell, Neil Taylor, Michael Halliday, Gerry Murphy, David Ensor and the captain Gordon Black who was an admirably aggressive competitor for whom the possibility of defeat was never something to be even contemplated.
With Murphy behind the stumps the Phoenix attack led by Halliday would be backed up Hugh Milling, Brian Freer, Black, Masood and sixteen-year-old David Streek.

On the morning of the game the following teams were announced. Phoenix batsman Stan Mitchell would have a late fitness test for a neck injury, which he passed and teenager David Streek was made 12th man.

YMCA: A.Lewis *, K.Bailey, I.Burns, C.Davis, A.Dunlop, J.Garth, C.Haine, I.Keartland, E.Masterson, T.Sullivan, G.Verso
12th man N.Bailey
PHOENIX: G.Black*, D.Pigot(jnr), D.Ensor, B.Freer, M.Halliday, A.Masood, H.Milling, S.Mitchell, G.Murphy, D.Pigot(snr), N.Taylor
12th man D.Streek


The Final

MASTERSON STEERS YMCA HOME

This was a final of fluctuating fortunes in which YMCA eventually beat Phoenix by 4 wickets.
Eamonn Masterson steered YMCA to a nail-biting success after his side had been perilously close to the rocks at 108/5 chasing 190 and with his captain Alan Lewis and international colleague Jonathan Garth already overboard.
Increasingly taking command in the crisis, Masterson drove four 4s and a majestic six in his undefeated 44 and while the honour of making the winning hit was not ultimately his - the admirable Keith Bailey in a minor hero's role taking three 4s of the 56th over to clinch victory - Masterson was unquestionably YMs match winner in almost everyone's calculations. 
Tim Sullivan proved to be a tenacious ally. After Dunlop had gone at 108, he helped Masterson put on 47 for the sixth wicket in eight overs, getting YM back on target after the asking rate had soared to over five an over. In the Phoenix innings, Sullivan bowled 12 overs for 20 runs and among his three victims was the prized scalp of Alf Masood trapped leg before for only four - enough to win the individual accolade on most days.
Alan Lewis wrote years later that Sullivan had a plan for Masood who he thought was vulnerable early on as he drove the ball away from his body. Sullivan's plan was in the first over to get him driving with a few out-swingers and then fire in the in-ducker. And it worked.
Then there was from young David Pigot a fighting half-century that lifted Phoenix back into the game after Masood's early dismissal had so stunned them that it took 12 overs for the total to reach double figures and 30 - half of their allotment - for 60 runs to be hoisted on the board. Pigot batted for 183 minutes for his 50 which included (1x6, 3x4s). Michael Halliday, who had three boundaries in his 21 and shared in a stand of 44 with Pigot and later in a fine spell of spin bowling, claimed 2/18 in 12 overs had his supporters as well, as indeed had Ian Burns with runs, wickets including the in-form Neil Taylor and a catch to get rid of David Pigot(snr) who spent 30 overs making 22 runs.
In the end , however, the man of the match award went to Dunlop for the part he played in a positive opening stand of 74 runs in 23 overs with Burns. Dunlop's 45 - he was eventully run out by a fine throw by Pigot(snr) - contained 4x4s and some handsome shots through mid-wicket in particular and provided the platform on which Masterson, Sullivan and Bailey subsequently built their side's success.
Any luck did go YMs way. The winning of the toss meant Phoenix were forced to bat first on a damp track on which the ball did not come onto the bat (it would have been very difficult for Masterson to have played the type of knock he did at the same stage of the Phoenix innings, so slow was the wicket at that point).
Then Phoenix whose first defeat in their last eight finals this was, lost Gerry Murphy with a damaged hamstring when going well on 22 and the injury no doubt contributed to a below-par performance from him behind the stumps later on. As well, when YM batted not only did three close run-out decisions go in their favour but several edged shots particularly in that opening partnership, just eluded eager hands.
But in the final analysis you make your own luck. Maso certainly did and from 1984 to 1991 (8 seasons) YM would win the Leinster Senior Cup 6 times. Quite a feat.