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Re Davy Boy - I think Cricket Ireland are missing a trick here! What about a ‘spot the spectator’ competition along the lines of the old ‘spot the ball’! Put an X where you think he’s standing!!

Clarence for a start not everyone was off yesterday maybe the price for tickets food and drinks and why watch a poor ireland team as the selectors have no balls to change the team or tell a lot of players your ireland career is over so many players at this level well past their sell by dates.

Any reason why the Ireland v Afghanistan match was so poorly represented by the public at Stormont yesterday? It was a poor crowd. The Afghans probably outnumbers the Irish!
The ground was terrific and the setting ideal with ads surrounded the perimeter and a tented area for refreshments.
Little wonder the Irish were deflated by the response. There were more northern numbers at Malahide against Pakistan!

Hi Ed, As I told you in my last post I was hoping to go to the Super3s match in Balbriggan but with the amount of of rain overnight I thought that will be off, but low and behold the match went ahead and followed it on the app.
Is it to early to congratulate CIYMS for their win in the league following last Saturday at The Lawn. League Section 1 is looking like Lisburn and Holywood with Lisburn favs to go straight back up and a three way battle to avoid relegation with Lurgan, Laurelvale and Donaclooney Mill in the mix, just fancy Laurelvale to get out of it as the others have hard fixtures. Well done to Templepatrick in League Section 2 for the promotion and now between Cliftonville Acadamy and Ballymena, but the newly joined clubs in Cliftonville Aca are the favs to join them and is their a new Section planed for next year with 7 clubs in Section 2 relegated this season is there new clubs joining or is 2nd XI's going to be involved in this
Once again Ed keep up the good work and stay healthy

Carrickfergus Cricket Club mark 150th anniversary with NCU President's Fixture
A Northern Cricket Union President's XI will play Carrickfergus Cricket Club, at Middle Road, on Sunday 26th August (1pm). It is a Twenty 20 fixture to mark the 150th anniversary of the Carrickfergus Club, with the President's XI bringing together players of the past and present.
The day will also include remembrance, with a tree planting service for the late Gordon Brown, Club President, and an Ashes Service for the late Bobby Henderson.
NCU President's XI
Callum Atkinson
Adam Berry
Ross Boultwood
Nathan Burns
Harry Cook
Uel Graham
Andrew Haire
Alan Rutherford
Ryan Smyth
Alan Waite
Stephen Warke
NCU President, Clarence Hiles, said, 'To reach the sesquicentennary milestone in such a healthy position speaks for itself at Carrickfergus Cricket Club. I am delighted the event will be marked with a NCU President's XI fixture against the club on Sunday. Carrickfergus Cricket Club was a Founder Member of the NCU in 1886. Let's hope the weather is kind on Sunday'.

I suppose that as we get towards the end of this season the various Competition Rules and Regulations will be, again, altered, or dare I say ignored, in order to get games finished!!

Looking a friendly this friday night for our under 13s anyone fancy a game at cregagh??

NCU Girl's Under 17's to play North West Girl's Under 17's, at Bready CC.
The Northern Cricket Union (NCU) has announced a Girl's Under 17 squad to play their North West counterparts, at Bready Cricket Club, on Monday 20th August (11am).
The girls and officials will then stay to watch first Twenty 20 International between Ireland and Afghanistan.
NCU Girl's Under 17 Squad
Abbi Leckey - CSNI (captain)
Sophie Hinds - Lurgan (wicket keeper)
Amy Hunter - Instonians
Zoe Kilpatrick - Lurgan
Cara Murray - Waringstown
Emma McMurray - Lurgan
Erin McQuiston - Cliftonville Academy
Katie Palin - Instonians
Sarah Sandford - Waringstown
Taryn Schutzler - North Down
Freya Watson - Instonians
Coach Chris Elliott says, 'This is the last inter-provincial fixture of the season for the girl's, and they are looking to redress last weeks defeat to the North West in Coleraine. It is set to be a great day for the girls as they will watch Ireland play Afghanistan at Bready, in a the Twenty 20 International fixture'.

Hello from sunny Nantes in France. Nantes CC is a club in the west of france seeking to promote cricket among the locals. We have thriving men's, women's and junior sections and a recently inaugurated ground in the city's largest park. Most of our cricket is either on our annual tour or when we welcome touring sides from GB or Ireland. We have teams booked to come in September and October, usually to play 2 games in a weekend. However, the team due to come on the last weekend of September, 28th - 30th, has had to pull out. This leaves a space for any club or group of mates who fancy a jaunt over to Nantes (a lovely city) and a game of cricket. If you're interested, please get in touch via our fb page or by replying to this message. We'll do all we can to help you arrange a tour. Thanks and enjoy the rest of your season.

Congratulations to all involved in the work at Woodvale. The ground looks really well with the completion of the scoreboard. Just shows what can be achieved when a club directs resources to its infrastructure.

Hi Ed you probably was wondering where my tips was this week for the Irish and National Cups this week, I got side tracked due to the Golf and my Soccer team down in The Republic Drogheda United beat the might of Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup. Anyhow I would have had 3 from 4 with Clontarf letting me down as I could not see past Waringstown Rush and Limerick. The matches all had something in them to delight us.
On the Womens front it was nice to see Wallace Park in Lisburn being used for the Super3s and nice to see Ali Cowan and Naomi Matthews and Natasha Morton formerly of North Down now with The Hills on the Typhoons side and Amy Hunter on the Dragons side. Amy Benson and Cara Murray also plays in this but I would be hoping that Hannah Grieve Sandi Harrison Suzi Morrison Sam Todd Suzie McCollum and a few others could be picked in this next year.
Some of the NCU women in the Super3s will be in Balbriggan next weekend and I am hoping to be there weather permitting
But why not an interpro between the 3 Unions in Ireland in the Womens side of the sport as it would both benifit the players who would be involved as it would improve their game but also the International side if we are to compete with Sri Lanka Zimbabwe Pakistan and West Indies in the Womens front.
PS Nice to see the Cricket Ireland Flag at Lords over the weekend a little tear was shed and maybe the rain that fell there was from our past cricketers who are no longer with us with a tear of joy

Good luck to Cliftonville Academy and Instonians in their final encounter of the midweek league competition.
Taverners would love to play the winners in a challenge match before the evenings get too short.
Border league winners V midweek league winners. another title up for grabs!

Name the grounds:
Templepatrick (Ballyclare RC) - Vivtoria (Lurgan park) - Holywood (Seapark Oval) - Muckamore
Maybe I should get out more Lol....

The final of the Intermediate Cup Final will be contested by Donacloney Mill Seconds and Cliftonville Academy Seconds, at Upritchard Park (Bangor CC), on Saturday 11th August (Noon Start).
The Intermediate Cup is contested by cricket clubs in Junior League 2 and 3. Both of this years finalists are participants in Junior League 2.
Cliftonville Academy Seconds reached the final by defeating Cregagh II's by 74 runs in the first round, followed by an 8 wicket victory over Downpatrick II's in the next round. In the semi-final Junior 2 league leaders North Down II's were beaten by 94 runs. Prior to the merger of Cliftonville and Academy the latter won the Intermediate Cup in 1977 and 1978, and were defeated by Donacloney Mill II's in last seasons semi-final.
Donacloney Mill Seconds were runners up in the Intermediate Cup Final last season to Carrickfergus II's. Their route to this years final saw victories over Holywood II's (76 runs), and Instonians III's (6 wickets) in the early rounds. In the semi-final Laurelvale II's were defeated by 8 wickets. Donacloney II's completed back to back triumphs in the Intermediate Cup in the mid 1980's (1984 and 1985).
All players, officials and supporters will be made most welcome at Bangor Cricket Club.

Name these grounds!