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Andy Kennedy: "The only "drawback" about Stormont is meeting the "Ballygomartineers" or the Victoria guys!"

Wouldn't matter if the game was ast Stormont, Clontarf or Lurgan Park... You'd meet those Victoria guys! And no doubt, it would be a pleasure!

self-interest & the emphasis on "the bottom line" holds sway. What sort of message does the ICC send out with today's announcement?

On the 17th April I will be running The Virgin London Marathon this time in aid of The Lord's Taverners.
The Lord's Taverners is an organisation which is the offical charity for recreational cricket and the UK's leading youth cricket and disability charity. Sport and recreation are essential for young people and the Taverners mission is to give a "sporting chance" to those in need.
In Northern Ireland The Lord's Taverners have assisted many clubs with grants for non turf pitches and Kwik Cricket equipment and provided mini buses and other equipment for children with special needs.
So i am making this appeal to local clubs and individuals to support a worthy cause.
You can do so by donating to Justgiving.com/john-torrans62 or you can find a link on Derriaghy CC web page.

Roy
That would be a shame then and a slap in the face to the Irish players playing their first ODI since the World Cup, for those helping to make the arrangements for the matches and to the touring Pakistan team.

If there is a low turnout I wouldn't be surprised if Cricket Ireland say “enough is enough” and host all the major games in Dublin. And who would blame them. There is already a perception within Dublin cricket circles that all major matches are better attended when played anywhere but Belfast!

And what will happen? The same people who do not turn up to support matches in Belfast will complain loudly and vociferously about the Southern bias towards hosting games and wonder why no games are held in Belfast.

What should the NCU have done Roy? Should they have allowed the Challenge Cup, Junior cup, Junior league games, etc to take place?
In my opinion by cancelling the fixtures there is a good chance of quite a number of playing cricketers taking the opportunity to turn up to Stormont to watch ODI cricket. And since we live in a free country they can choose to do something else as well on that free date if they so wish.

Just completed my Level 1 ECB umpire's training course this afternoon and a very worhtwhile and enjoyable weekend and Friday evening it was.

Under the excellent tuteledge and instruction of established N.C.U. umpires Keith Smith & Alan Neill,
it certainly taught this grass-roots cricketer alot more than I thought I knew about the game and I would strongly recommend anyone with an interest in cricket to give it a try, even if only to broaden your knowledge & confidence within the sport!

Best thing I've done in a long time!

Bet there will be a big turn out of club cricketers at Stormont on the 28th May for the Pakistan match !!!!!!!!!

Most will spend a day with their family for a change or perhaps arrange a practise match/BBQ at their own ground !!

I know my local club probably will

totally agree with the positive comments re the Pakistan game - I still recall a fantastic game at Downpatrick where the WIndies gave a superb display. Flossie still talks about it and the boys remember the "crowd-friendly" visitors. As for the cost -comparable prices 90 euros to watch Ireland playing rugby and Mr. McCarter has detailed the cost at Windsor Park. The only "drawback" about Stormont is meeting the "Ballygomartineers" or the Victoria guys! Then it gets dark early! With the regard to the Cup Final being a "closed date" I doubt if there would be a lot of support. I recall making a proposal at an AGM some years ago that would have allowed the "lower" teams of the finalists to rearrange. The most vociferous opponents were from the "Markets" club!!

Jim, the other countries you mention are established test nations with a huge cricket following, if Ireland are to progree to ODI status the game in the country has to reach as wide an audience that is possible. With a free weekend in the NCU this means that the local cricketers can support the games, and if they are to bring friends or kids that have never been to a game of cricket before surely this is getting the game to such an audience. Irish cricket needs to show it has the infrastructure to progress, part of which will be attendances and creating revenue from some fixtures. If everyone has your attitude Irish cricket is doomed as you say, but gladly most people do not.

The NCU has had a lot of negative press in the last few years, and at times i have been right up there giving it out, but praise where praise is due a very positive step.

Jim... stay in the past & your back yard then!

That point of view thing again!

£25 for a days cricket isnt all that bad and cricket ireland have to make their money somewere!

especially when u see ticket prices for internationals in England and also for 90 minutes of 2nd division standard international football at Winsor Park for £40!

Re. Cricket Ireland ticket pricing.

Surely £40 is terrific value for two days of ODI cricket? My ticket for the Northern Ireland v Slovenia match on Tuesday night was the same £40 so Ireland v Pakistan certainly doesn't have much to beat entertainment wise!

I think the idea to have a closed weekend in the Union is completely right as well. Attendances for the Bangladesh matches last year were awful and unless they improve you would assume that Belfast will be left waiting for their next matches.

Hopefully the NCU public can give these games and the Ireland team the support they deserve.

I'm not sure I agree with the arguement that moving the game will swell numbers attending and help Irelands cause for full ODI status. If so, then we as a cricket nation are doomed. Why can we not get the attendances to the games on weekdays here?? I know, because we haven't got the interest here, its that simple. So changing the day from Friday to Saturday may suit us for encouraging the people to go, I fear its for short term benefit. Other countries play their games during the working week, and whilst they maximise the pull of saturday cricket, they don't close down the whole of the ECB for it! I won't be going to watch either, I'd rather be watching Andy K making more rather poor decisions LOL

I think we need to get our heads on the bigger picture. It will be a travesty if Ireland play Pakistan at Stormont on both the Saturday and Monday in front of anything other than a full house. Ireland don't fear anyone anymore and if we get behind them it can lift the game at all levels. Get those young Junior players along and give them something to aspire to. There's more to this sport than standing on a park pitch , fielding and umpiring. We need heroes and in the current Irish teams we have many guys who can be called heroes. It might help if the Irish players on full time contracts but not in a county deal turned up at different grounds around the country on Junior night , did a bit of coaching , signed autographs and did a 15 minute chat on the places they have visited , the world class players they have played against etc. We want youngsters wanting to be the next Kevin O' Brien , the next Eoin Morgan, the next George Dockrell etc
I also think we need to make the Senior Cup final an "occassion" again. A day to renew friendships but also make it a special day for the players who are fortunate enough to play in the final. I understand the corporates wanting a Friday but surely the sponsor would get more out of it from a packed house. And rugby clubs have proved at their pre match dinners that you can get the corporates out on a Saturday on special occassions. Tickets at £25 to see world class players like Afridi, Gul and others seems good value when you think it's a tenner to watch Ballymena Utd v Dungannon Swifts in the Irish League to watch guys some of whom trap it further than others can kick it.

CANT believe that id ever agree with Tayto but fair play think he is 100% correct most clubs would deff support the senior cup final esp on a closed sat an if was me id go for it this year an evn suggest if both clubs agree they can postpone their game with NCU agreement ,an any clubs wanting too play can ? then next year closed fixtures as its a disgrace imo that we cant support the major showpiece . Someone said teams dont support other clubs fact is ive seen lots of clubs from all sections their as it cup final day in our beloved sport an think we should be backing our union in all the changes that their trying .As for 25£ thats resonable for days entertainment think its over 60£ see ODI in england so i for one will be their hopefully with as many juniors from Dundrum cc as when i started watching IRELAND PLAY you only went see the opposition but now their is two very competitive teams too enjoy an have say very few ive spoke too isnt PROUD of the workrate an superb performances that this fine squad have achieved an i think theirs a lot more too come SO HOPEFULLY THEIR WIL BE A BIG CROWD AT STORMONT for this is the next step in Irelands journey that can take them too the top table an i for one wish they every success.

Andy, I have to say i totally disagree. I think lots of players from many clubs in the NCU would travel to see the senior cup final. Like how it was in the past, huge crowds with people there to make a day of it, not necessarily supporting either team but supporting NCU cricket on the biggest day of the year. Surely this would also be more appealing to prospective sponsors for the following season too if they were to see such a well attended showpiece.

Obviously too late for this season and that is fair enough, but its good to hear from Roger that it is something that the NCU are considering.

on a different notes , any new signings in section 1? Andy magennis to saintfield, any others? and any new pro's?