St Pat's Old Boys upset CYMS in Royal Hotel Cup semi-final

Fast forward seven days and not only did the final game of the season - which they weren't playing in - go their way, they've been labelled the team to beat in the decider following a strangulation of the unbeaten tournament front-runners Orange CYMS on Friday night.

Connor Slattery's 56 helped the side post 6-146 in their 20 overs, but the first seven over of CYMS' run chase was what decided the match, with Ben Parsons (3-23 off four) and Mitch Taylor (2-12 off four) bringing the green and golds to 4-31.

The first four overs went for 12 runs as Sammy Dwyer and Mick Delaney couldn't just not hit the Saints' two big quicks, they could hardly get bat on ball.

Dwyer had one of the best strike rates in the competition this season but couldn't score off his nine deliveries at the crease, Tom Belmonte (10 off 11), Angus Le Lievre (10 off eight) and Delaney (three off 10) following in short order.

Dave Neil and skipper Hugh Le Lievre came together to put on a 51-run stand and try to right the ship, but neither batter had the boundary-hitting power needed to rein a rapidly climbing required run-rate.

Just as CYMS' contingent on the Wade Park hill was building hope, a mix-up in the middle sent Neil, batting in a hat against the spin of Slattery and Jameel Qureshi, on his way for a well-made 24 off 18.

Le Lievre was caught out trying to go big soon after, and despite some very good hitting from Tom West (28 from 14) giving the side the faintest of hopes, Saints didn't look in doubt on the way to the 10-run win.

Taylor, who was impossible for CYMS batters to hit, said the felt "really good".

"The boys have been putting in the hard yards all season and we haven't gone as good as we did last season ... but it's amazing what the boys can do wen they get around each other," he said.

The left-armer said he thought Saints' season was over after the side's loss to Cavaliers, but said once the side snuck into finals he was "pretty confident" they could do some damage.

"I've seen how everyone's put in the hard yards at training and everyone's looking real good," he said.

As for the bowling, Taylor said he and Parsons were "hard to beat" when they clicked like they did on Friday.

"I went to me mark and went in and bowled quick as I could, I thought Wade Park's a fast deck and if I can push them through they'll be hard to hit," he said.

An "obviously disappointed" Le Lievre heaped praise on the two St Pat's quicks.

"They exploited the conditions where it changes from dusk to night and the ball quickens up really well so credit to them," he said.

"Full credit to St Pat's they brought their A-game, their plans were really clear and the executed well."

While the conditions did suit the Saints with ball in hand and CYMS not used to chasing, Le Lievre said there was no suggestion that was what cost his side, admitting the the green and golds' first seven overs with the bat lost them the match.

"I think we lost the game in the first six or seven overs," he said.

"I thought we bowled and fielded really well and 147 I thought was about par, I felt confident going into the chase but we lost it in those first few overs. We were 4-30 and it's hard to recover.

"Dave and I were able to recover and give us a chance and Tommy West hit a few at the end there to really give us a shot but it was probably too big a mountain to climb in the end.

"When you're undefeated you're hopeful and confident but finals are a different beast and that's been proven tonight."

He said St Pat's were absolutely in with a shot of taking out the title.

"I think they'll be hard to beat because they have good players who play well in big games. They've won last year, I think it's theirs to lose. If you make it you never know and I think they've proven that this season. They'll be difficult to knock off. It'll be a really good final."