In August the 24 year-old scored his maiden century for Ireland against the Netherlands, and earlier this week he scored his maiden century for Surrey in their county match with Leicestershire at Grace Road. Nobody deserves the honour more than this promising young cricketer, who is now fulfilling all the promise he showed throughout his schoolboy career.
Gary was literally born with a cricket bat in his hands and there will be no prouder parents than George and Iris who have always given him their total support. His senior debut is amongst the youngest on record in NCU cricket, and he created his own piece of history when he once scored a century for the Methodist College School in the morning and another for the club in the afternoon. His 122 off 124 balls for Civil Service North against North Down in the senior cup semi-final in 2008 was arguably his best performance at club level, because he did against one of the best teams in the NCU and on their own home turf. He has since gone on to greater things not least establishing himself in a competitive Ireland team and winning a county contract with Surrey. He is the epitome of the modern cricketer as he can adapt to all formats, and he can double up as either batsman or wicket-keeper. He is a superb athlete and an excellent fielder in any position. He scored 113 for Ireland against the Netherlands earlier in the month, and his 125 for Surrey was his best performance at the highest level. It included a fifth wicket partnership of 218 runs with the Surrey run-machine Mark Ramprakesh and there could have been no better person than the former England veteran to share his moment of glory with.
Gary made his debut for Ireland in 2005 and has now played 90 matches. His interest in cricket was nurtured by a doting father who was no mean batsman for the RUC in the seventies and who later umpired. George played in the famous RUC team that included John Craig and Bobby Cooke, two Ulster Town veterans, and for a time the police team was not only one of the best teams in NCU cricket, but Sixes champions at both Newforge and Eaton Park. George’s cricket heart has always been at Woodvale and he still keeps a close involvement within the Ballygomartin Road set up. One of my favourite photos of father and son is Gary perched on George’s shoulders at the 1991 senior cup final at Downpatrick, the final dubbed the “Battle of the Pros.”
Gary you have come a long way since then.
Congratulations!
Clarence Hiles
Editor
