They are only the second club to achieve the hat-trick of wins in 120 years, and they certainly stole victory from the jaws of defeat as Waringstown looked destined to win until right up until the end of the game. And what a cliff-hanger it proved to be with the reigning champions holding their nerve at the crucial time.
Both Waringstown and Academy are no strangers to the tight finishes this season. After all, the winners scraped home by one wicket in their second round match with Ballymena, and the Villagers did the same in their semi-final match with Dunmurry. If ever there were two teams up for the tight finish, then these two had all the credentials required.
Cup competitions are all about performance on the day, and it is amazing how some teams successfully come through cup matches, even if they are inconsistent in the league. Academy have had a mixed league campaign this year, yet the young Waringstown team is well positioned at the top of their league, and seem destined to win it. The Old Boys will do well to stay clear of the relegation zone, but perhaps the cup win will boost their confidence in the run-in?
The Junior Cup dates back to 1891 when Lavinia beat North Down 2nd XI at Cliftonville by six wickets. The match was played in a good spirit and it is interesting to note that the newspaper’s report on umpires McCleery and Bird said that, “they gave every satisfaction.” High praise indeed!
The match is also noteworthy because it marked the first major appearance of fifteen year-old Oscar Andrews who was destined to become one of the all-time greats in Ulster cricket over the next two decades. Lavinia never won the Junior Cup again, and the junior teams of North Down, North of Ireland and Cliftonville (Enfield) dominated the competition in the early years. But it was rare for any club to dominate for too long, and wins down through the years have been widely spread amongst all the NCU clubs. The only other club to win three times in succession was David (Dee) Ferguson’s Downpatrick team in the early seventies. Dee was the younger brother of Downpatrick legend Noel Ferguson, and a lovely person who seemed to get the best out of his team without every looking to authoritarian. He was so popular with the opposition that he almost apologised when he got you out!
Dunmurry also had a useful team in the late seventies and won the cup twice in succession. They marked their achievement by having their victories embroidered on the front of their cricket sweaters, and some of their players wore them for the next twenty years! In more modern times Woodvale and North of Ireland have consistently had success in the Junior Cup, but no club has come close to Academy’s achievements in the last five years. And they did it with both youth and experience in their team, especially ageless old hands like Davy Greenlees and Brian Kelso. Keep taking the pills guys, as you are slowly catching up on the “legend” Billy Dale!
Also, a special thank you to Sam Goldblatt of Goldblatt McGuigan, the sponsors to the competition since the early nineties. Sam brought Touche Ross to the table in 1989 as sponsors of the senior cup, and when he left to set up his own company, Cecil Walker harnessed him to the Junior Cup and he has remained loyal to the cause every since. I’ve no doubt it has cost Cecil a lot of drink over the years, but people like Sam and Cecil are priceless in our game.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
