From club teams to national teams the deliberations of selectors are rarely greeted with unanimity and more often that not invite criticism. I admire the Newsletter’s Alistair Bushe for stepping into the Lion’s Den every year with his Newsletter NCU and North-West Team-of-the-Year Awards, because he’s on a hiding to nothing! The late North Down Chairmen Eddie Doherty was once quoted as saying the “best committee is a committee of one” and those who remember Eddie 20 years ago will vouch for his amazing capacity to get things done, albeit with a few raised eyebrows here and there.
Picking top teams is inevitably down to opinion, but everyone loves to add their tuppence worth and that’s what gives the selections so much interest. The top team is newsworthy and I’m sure there will be plenty of opinions offered on inclusions and exclusions, but at the end of the day it is the Newsletter’s choice.
Congratulations to all the players selected as each and everyone had splendid seasons, so perhaps Bushy is not too far off the mark, if indeed at all. It was widely expected that Waringstown, North Down and Instonians would dominate the selections in much the same way as the three top clubs dominated the past season. And while Civil Service North’s Nigel Jones may not be playing at a Top Three club, he would certainly be an automatic choice on any NCU club team. Carrick’s veteran all-rounder Ryan Eagleson is perhaps a surprise choice, but given his commitment and enthusiasm to the game he would certainly be a popular choice with many.
Rory McCann (Instonians)
James Hall (Waringstown)
Lee Nelson (Waringstown)
James Shannon (Instonians)
Ryan Haire (North Down)
Nigel Jones (Civil Service North)
Kyle McCallan (Waringstown)
Jonathan Bushe (Waringstown-WK)
Eugene Moleon (Instonians)
Ryan Eagleson (Carrickfergus)
Martin Moreland (North Down)
One assumes Kyle McCallan would have the difficult job of selecting the batting order, but in this fantasy team that’s never going to be tested.
If there is one criticism then it would be that the team wasn’t recognized at the NCU Gala Dinner at the City Hall. While the night was packed with presentations and speeches, the Team-of-the-Year deserves special recognition and it could all have been done in a few minutes in one collective presentation. Thankfully the Newsletter completed the formalities later and, all their picks are now the proud owners of suitably engraved tankards.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
