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Here's more good cricket news ( except for those that think it's dead). Go to Facebook and "like" Enniskillen Cricket Club. You will see that the local coaches are in schools and a 6 a side event is planned for 24th November in Lisnaskea.
Rather than just go on and on I am going to make it a habit of posting links to every good news story I see about cricket in Ireland on this Forum And remember this iniative in Fermanagh and that by Donacloney are taking part in the winter.
I'm fed up reading about Kempy but I never get fed up reading stories like these.

Just found a link to this on Twitter. Maybe those that think cricket in the NCU is dead should take a leaf out of Donacloney's book. Let's get more of these positive stories on the Ulster Cricketer forum.

Donacloney Cricket Club

Over the next four weeks until Saturday 5th December, we will be running youth coaching, weather permitting, on Saturday afternoons.
A session for P6 and P7 students will be from 12 noon until 1.30.
1st - 4th Years will be from 1.30-3.00.
Places will be limited for both and on a first come basis.
We would also ask that if any parents would be interested in helping out with the coaching of the young people now or in the summer, we would be hopeful of running a Welcome to Cricket introductory coaching course in the new year if there was sufficient interest.
Any further queries please comment below or email kyle@donaghcloneycc.co.uk

Neil - my last word on this unless you want to continue it over a pint in the Adair Arms.

Surely we have the league structure you want.

Those that have - Premier League
Those that haven't - Section One and below.

Anyone that wants to play with the best move to a Premier League club and those at PL clubs who feel they aren't getting what they want from the game move to a Section One or below club.

Simple really. Allow clubs spend their money as they feel is right for them and give players an option to find a level they enjoy playing at.

Ps . Text me if you want to discuss this over a pint.

Lads
My last word on this.

Ricky... I am a pessimist.
I am worried that what happened to club rugby in this country could happen to club cricket here.
I know at my own club bog standard 2ndXV players were getting paid £120 for sitting on the bench and not getting on during AIL games in the 1990s. Simply scandalous and our club is still feeling the fall-out of that.
Club rugby was set back 20/25 years and is only now beginning to show the shoots of recovery.
Cricket, in my eyes, is heading the same way - and to what end.
When the money runs out, what happens?
I would like a league structure in place that those who have and those who don't do not have to face each other.

Ricky... as for "not someone looking to further themselves by playing against the best".... I am a 47-year-old has-been who's career is just about finished.
But I had the pleasure of playing against the best players this island produced both for Ballymena and Ulster Country when overseas professionals were as rare as a warm, sunny Saturdays at Eaton Park.
And it was great and would love it all to return to that some day. Here's hoping!

On a brighter note... anyone know if any of the cup draws for next summer are due to be made before Christmas?

Neil i lke your Elite All Ireland League idea. Certainly worth considering. And similarly to the rugby version, the irish cricket union could issue grants to clubs participating to assist with expenditure.
Do away with the interpro series.
The top end of the rugby set up works well in that the top AIL leagues effectively feed the Ulster Rugby side.

We can not wait to welcome these big guns at Queensway.. Bigger they are harder they fall!! We will be in the clubhouse having a beer win, lose or draw!!

I wish you guys had been at the NCU AGM. This is the sort of discussion that has been missing for several years although I'm told it happens at the roadshows. Pros or no Pros, 8, 10 or 12 team leagues, all-Ireland league, player movement et al. There's plenty of merit in the arguments on both sides of the fence- the Pros have been good and bad for club cricket, the merit of an 8-team Premier League is unproven and as for an All-Ireland league there is merit, but no appetite amongst the top clubs. Time and expense are big negatives.
Let's hear more opinions down the leagues as they are just as important in these discussions as the big clubs. And let's hear some comments from the players as they are directly involved.

Re Neil
Clearly you are a pessimist and not someone looking to further themselves by playing against the best. Do you not think young lads will learn from playing against decent pros and challenge themselves more to either taking their wicket, not get out to them or score runs off them?
As for your comments about Kemp - as Ivan has said he's 38 years old, and probably not as 'experienced' as McMillan in terms of internationals. Do you honestly think Kemp will score 1000 runs like a Van Der Dussen, Ervine, Malan and even locals Ryan Haire, James Shannon and James Hall could do?

Guys " Kempy" is 38 years of age. What's the big deal about him ? Craig McMillan played here and he didn't "spoil" the competition. Rudi Bryson played here and it didn't "spoil" the competition. I still remember a young Andy Patterson ( I was standing at short leg) hooking Rudi out of the ground at Greenisland. Very good young players like Andy relish playing against these guys .
I get out and about to watch a lot of cricket and I can not think of one single young player whose development has been hampered because of the introduction of better pros in the last ten years. Maybe Neil and Bumper can name a few.
Muckamore have been on the receiving end of more hammering than most over the past twenty seasons in the PL yet every pre season the only focus is getting back up to have another go.
You don't see anyone from Derriaghy on here complaining about having to play against better players in 2016.
As for 8 teams , 10 teams or 12 team leagues no one mentioned this at the NCU AGM.

Couldn't agree more Ozzie.
...."No point in having players such as Kempy playing against amateurs as it will become soul destroying very quickly...."
It IS soul destroying.
And I believe you learn nothing about being dismissed cheaply every match or going for over 8 an over playing against such opponents.
It results in a loss of confidence and an erosion of the enjoyment you get from playing.
It's like playing 18 holes against Jordan Spieth, running against Usain Bolt or trying to go a round with Floyd Mayweather... You have no chance.
And this is not defeatist.
This is being realistic.
Ordinary club cricketers have no chance.
If teams want to go down this road, spend a lot of money and continually bring in players from other countries and unions let's have an Elite Irish League with the Interpros scrapped.
Waringstown, CIYMS, Instonians, CSNI, maybe even Noth Down, Merrion, Malahide (I see they are looking for a full time Director of Cricket now), North County, Clontarf, Coleraine, Brigade and maybe even Donemana.
And let the rest of us get back to playing senior cricket in our respective unions.
With elite league teams paying clubs for use of their better players if these individuals want to give it a go and keeping them for a certain length of time. ie.. one, two or three year deals.
If these clubs have money let's see all cricket on the island benefit.
This way the better players throughout Ireland get to play in the top tier if they choose and those who don't stay and enjoy their club cricket.
No more mis-matches, no more walk-overs, no more two-tier eight team leagues.

Perhaps I have been 'drip feeding' my views so I will clarify my position.
I said at the time and I still feel it was a mistake to go for an eight team Premier League.
I accept your point Clarence that some degree of elitism is part of sport.
The 8 team league is too restrictive and has had some harmful effects on club cricket-
1. Talented club players, young and more seasoned players seek to play for the 'big five'.
2. Many of these players soon become disillusioned from batting 3 and bowling 10 overs to batting 8/9 if at all and getting a few overs.
3. Clubs outside the Premier lose players and their ambition and desire to compete at the top level.
4. If you want more talented players playing in the Premier League then have 10 or 12 teams in the league.
5. Then you will have a top 4, another 4 chasing consolidation and 4 battling relegation.
6. You will enable clubs to retain their best players and their talented youngsters.
7. You will give clubs back the ambition to strive to reach the top.
8. You will have much healthier club cricket basis for the NCU.

BUMPERDALE - A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS.

As I understand it the Inter Pro series is a pre requisite for ICC funding and Ireland's quest for Test status.
I think the plan is to get the tournament recognised as First Class standing. As funding improves I think you will see more of our internationals return home to play club and Inter Pro cricket as their county contracts come to an end and fewer young players will go across the water but play here in the Inter Pro series and in club cricket. It might be an idea to include two or three regional teams from Scotland and turn it into a Celtic competition.
I have never understood how the Inter Pro set up can have any negative impact on clubs and it certainly doesn't ever occupy the thinking at Muckamore except it's great to see Neil Gill playing at that level and it gives young players like Sam Gordon a goal to aim for.
I think the interest in the Inter Pros will grow although I'm not sure the three or four day games will ever attract many spectators. After all county cricket has struggled for crowds for years

Why have an interpro set up ?
Why not use the money spent on thr knights as grants towards premier league clubs. This is the reward should you gain promotion from section 1 and meet the criteria required fir entry.
Clubs can spend as they wish. This in turn will strengthen playing standards and facilities.
Figures quoted a few months ago on this site I think said approx 100k a year to run the Knights. Over 10k a club when you divide it up.
A nice incentive should you gain promotion to the elite league.

I suppose Taito I can only really guage by what's going on at Muckamore . We now can field five teams ( and all on the one day if need be ), the youth section is buzzing wth more coaches than before , we have a ladies team. New equipment to help on the ground , a new purpose built shed for the equipment a complete facelift for the bar underway so yes at Moylena cricket is healthy.
I see reports that Ards are improving their facilities , Arnagh Cricket Club are fighting back , I see Dundrum and Donaghadee encouraging youth cricket , better pros coming into the league, Derriaghy on a roll , Templepatrick working hard to develop on and off the pitch and I see Saintfield and Bangor advertising for coaches , loads of NCU under age squads each with two or three enthusiastic coaches so from where I look I see NCU cricket in a healthy state. I think Section's One and Two will be very competitive next season with up to half the teams in each league having a realistic chance of winning their league.
I just think those in a less positive frame of mind need to take a hard look at themselves and ask are they doing enough to promote the game in their area. Are they in the schools ? Are they running Easter and Summer camps , are they throwing their club open to people who gave never played the game before?
I think there are far more opportunities in cricket then there ever has been. Cricket Academies, winter tours , Cricket Development Officers etc. So I see a healthy sport but of course with room for further improvement .

Ivan,

Do you really think the NCU is in a healthy state? I think there are a few clubs that are in a strong place thorughout the club but in general i think the strength of NCU cricket has declined over the years. I also think that most clubs are struggling more than ever to get teams out and keep boys committed throughout the club. This was never a problem when i was growing up, as i said not every club is the same but many are in that situation. So i would have to disagree.