THE final of the Leinster Senior Cup was severely disrupted by rain yesterday, requiring the sides to return on Monday evening. Clontarf still need 100 runs to win off 22.1 overs to beat Pembroke.

But the final moments of yesterday's play could prove vital, as both Mitch Watterson (53) and BIll Coghlan (62) perished in the gathering gloom.

Coghlan had given the first surprise of the day at the toss when he asked Pembroke to bat, a decision that looked flawed when the Sandymount side batted through to lunch without losing a wicket.

Theo Lawson (79) and Gary Baugh (45) put on 118 for the first wicket but they took up 40 overs of the 60 and rarely got out of first gear. Andrew Balbirnie came in and batted positively to be 57 not out at the close, but Pembroke may rue having him waiting to bat so long.

A flurry of wickets by Alex Cusack and some sharp run outs saw Pembroke to 236-8, which looked 30 runs short of par.

Robert Forrest fell to the excellent Allan Eastwood for 13, before Coghlan and Watterson came together in a stand of 99. They looked in the mood to finish the game last night but the clouds returned and the pair were both dismissed in the last six balls of the day, giving Pembroke some hope when they return at 6pm tomorrow.