ANDREW Poynter received the man of the match award in the RSA Irish Senior Cup final from National Coach Phil Simmons and then said he hopes his Ireland career is not finished.

A year and a day since his last international appearance, in the abandoned game against South Africa A in Belfast, Poynter scored a superb 102 not out as Clontarf won the RSA Irish Senior Cup for the first time, with a six wickets victory over favourites Merrion.

Poynter has missed many more Ireland games than he has played – 44 out of 158 since his debut in 2008, but the 26-year-old could not have chosen a bigger stage on which to state his case for a recall.

Coming to the middle when Clontarf were 58 for two, chasing Merrion’s imposing 253 for seven, Poynter, first in company with veteran Andre Botha and then young captain Eoghan Delany – both out for 42 - played strokes all round the wicket, for a win which even losing captain Dom Joyce described as “totally deserved”.

A sweep for six by Poynter was probably the shot of the game but his eight other boundaries were not far behind while he and Delany ran Merrion into the ground and forced numerous misfields which ultimately proved crucial as Clontarf won with just six balls to spare.

John Anderson, for the fourth time in this season’s competition, was Merrion’s top scorer but his dismissal for 87, the last of Zander van der Merwe’s four wickets, with five overs to go, also reduced Merrion’s final total, despite Joyce’s unbeaten 51.

Already Leinster Division Two champions, Clontarf are the second team from outside the top flight to win the Irish Cup, emulating Railway Union's achievement in 2006.

Malahide made it a north Dublin double yesterday when they won the RSA National Cup, with a 46 runs victory over Derriaghy at Downpatrick. Ireland international Fintan McAllister batted through the innings to finish 157 not out in Malahide's 284 for three.

And The Hills won the Alan Murray Twenty20 Cup after a thrilling final against Railway Union at Sydney Parade. Railway needed two to win off the last ball, bowled by Max Sorensen, but a run-out going for the second left the scores tied on 153 with The Hills declared the victors on fewer wickets lost - seven to nine.