The last time there was this much Archive-on-Archive action was when we played Ashford in 2021. But this time the opposition was the Law Library or 'Bar' XI. Such has been the symbiosis between the two over the last few years that Ian Kavanagh coined the term ‘Barchives’ to describe the frequent mash-up of Library and Archives to make up numbers for fixtures. The last 18 months or so have seen participation in Library cricket return to rude good health and this summer, in turn, has seen the first back-to-back iteration of the Shanley Cup for many years.

Last year, the rejuvenated Law Library triumphed in a Blackrock College deluge as the Archives batting line-up variously misfired or succumbed to injury. This year's setting was a fine evening at Shanganagh as the Archives faced a Law Library line-up containing Barchivers Marc Murphy, Roly Budd, Tony Kerr, John Berry and (for those with very long memories indeed) Keith Spencer, star of the first ever Archives Handbags win about 8 years ago. Oh, and the Director who was about to back the wrong horse for the second year running in this fixture.

With Captain Bennett slightly delayed, Bajpai took toss duties and the Archives batted first. Tan set the tone for his innings by peremptorily smacking paceman Spencer’s first ball for a four to long-off (Will would be the first of three Archives retirees). Hill departed after a quickfire three and Kenny, clearly not recovered from being made to run himself into the ground at North Kildare the previous week, managed to injure both groins with his first run. In a necessary departure from the diktats of the panjandrums at the MCC, he was offered a runner (first Tan, then Bajpai), limping – quite literally – to 14 before being caught and bowled by Archiver-turned-Librarian, the Director.

Bajpai inside edged a Marty Block ball onto his stumps. Tratalos was lucky to survive being almost bowled through the gate on the way to his retirement, in which exalted state he was joined by big-hitting Archives debutant Beamish, who (perhaps ill-advisedly for his long-term Archives future) deposited the Director’s bowling halfway up a distant tree. Cox played all round a lovely ball from Kerr, while Hunt and Fanning (who, like Cox, looks a very stylish addition to the Archives’ ranks) saw the Archives through to the close with 7 and 9 respectively. Goldstein and Bennett did not bat.

The Library were chasing 125, and a good start would be half the job. The situation could be re-assessed once each of Budd, Murphy and Spencer had got their more-or-less 20 apiece. Your correspondent (batting at 8) was so confident he would not be needed that he started drinking.

The first reality check was the departure of Murphy, bowled by Tan. The second was the decision of Budd to walk after an unusual dismissal when a straight drive was athletically palmed on to the non-striker’s stumps by Bajpai. Some onlookers thought he was out of his ground; others were not so sure. Confusion reigned. Appeals were being prepared. In the end, Roly walked, for which he was later to be named man of the match.

The third reality check was an excellent ball by Cox to bowl Spencer, while two Law Library players at the opposite end of the Cricket Experience Spectrum, Block and Bakshi were excellently caught by Tratalos. It fell to Kerr and the Director to give the Law Library a fighting chance. It was going well for a while, until Kerr was harshly given run out. Corrigan and the Director couldn’t keep the throttle down in the face of Hunt’s flight, and Cox and Bennett’s line and length. Mills retired, but Ryan and Corrigan fell agonisingly short in a brave chase. The Shanley Cup comes back home for at least another year. Now to add the Handbags…

[Written by: Simon Mills]