I’m tempted to reflect the words of Mother Teresa, a Legend to many people throughout the world. The State of the NCU could be in a similar position given her wisdom. I quote-
“Yesterday has gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only to live today. Let us begin.”
Many of our clubs live for today and for good reason. The modern cricketer has set aside most of our legacy, history and folklore, and we now leave it to the old generation to bemoan.
Aren’t we living today and with plenty of surprises in NCU cricket.
In the Premier League currently Woodvale and Muckamore rival Waringstown at the top and the Men’s Challenge Cup final will feature Lisburn and Muckamore, who are celebrating their Sesquicenntennary year. Unfortunately, there will be no team from the NCU in the Irish Senior Cup final after Instonians and CIYMS lost in the semifinals respectively to Merrion and Phoenix. It was a tough weekend for Instonians as they also lost in the NCU Senior Cup semifinal to Lisburn.
One has to ask-what has been happening this season?
The reason is simple-the influx of overseas players.
Long gone are the days when Ireland football Manager Jack Charlton introduced the culture of “Does your granny come from Ireland” as big Jack made the most of overseas players. Cricketers were slow to adapt preaching amateurism, but after 40 years its all but gone. Nowadays, if you have the money then recruit overseas and if you have a big budget, poach from another club. After all, for many young aspiring players it is their livelihood with the prospect of representative honours and a lucrative Ireland contract. Clubs are akin to franchises as ‘home’ players of each team are rapidly declining. We live today and most teams have several overseas players. The irony is that winning league and cups are not reflected with remuneration. The NCU are frugal when it comes to rewards!
The sceptics often ask-has this improved?
The answer is simply-YES. However, a little warning. Limavady crumbled when the money ended! Clubs are now a business these days.
Ireland will host Zimbabwe in an historic first Test match at Stormont on 25 July starting at 11am. The ground is in a splendid condition thanks to grounds man Phillip McCormick and let’s hope Ulster cricketers and supporters will be there in numbers. It promises to be a competitive game and Ireland will want to forget the horrors of the T20 World Cup last month. Admittedly, Ireland didn’t perform, but the organization of the ICC and their hotels, grounds, itinerary and venues has been described as a shambles. At least Stormont won’t have this problem.
The NCU Men’s Challenge Cup final will be at Stormont on Friday 2 August starting at 11am. Both teams are in good form and there was an early indication of what might happen when Muckamore beat Lisburn by one wicket last Sunday in a league game. It’s amazing that Lisburn have never won the final since 1994, and then it was shared with North Down in a tie. In the same vein, Muckamore beat Downpatrick in 1963 their first and only win.
As Mother Teresa said- “We live today. Let it begin.”
Muckamore has published an excellent Sesquicentennial book to celebrate and for cricket archivists and authors it is a must entitled-
“From Mill to Moylena and More-The Threads That Bind Us”
Muckamore Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club 1874-2024
JCH
