Forum

does anybody know what the permutations are for the downpatrick lurgan game?

how much do downpatrick have to win by to go above ballymena?

can carrick still be relegated?

Congratulations NDCC

Would just like to congratulate North Down on their season, very well deserved by a top team.

I think if you read their match report for their last game v CI, it more or less echoes every sentiment, that anyone i've spoken to thinks...

The draw for the signed Sachin Tendulkar bat was drawn by Brendan Gelston of Drumaness on Saturday 4th September. The winner was Jonathan Stevenson of Donaghcloney CC.

For all those who have seen Johnny bat this year will agree that he needs all the help he can get!

For those who are crying "fix,fix" the draw can be seen on our facebook page - see www.donaghcloneycc.co.uk.

Donaghcloney CC would like to thank all those who supported this draw and the Pune Academy tour earlier in the season.

really interesting end to the season especially as a result of the "2up 2down" rule. One worrying aspect is the number of "failed to field a team" that has appeared. I am aware that the hierachy are delighted with the progress of Cricket Ireland but, as I predicted in postings a couple of years ago, cricket is mirroring ulster rugby in that the club game in NCU is in decline. I'm not convinced that the blazers in Cricket Ireland are all that concerned as long as the national side is on the up.

DK - Dermott's book was entitled "A Stone in the Glasshouse"
Published in 2003 by none other than Dermott Monteith Publications.
Foreword by John Elder and printed by The Northern Whig.
In case you can't get a copy - a couple of extracts for you.
I could only find in it Dermott's 'best Team to play when I was a Selector' - in batting order:
Steven(sic) Warke
Decker Curry
Stephen Smith(sic)
Alan Lewis
Angus Dunlop
Ed Joyce
Garfield Harrison
Paul Jackson
Conor Hoey
Ryan Eagleson
Paul McCrum

The second extract is in homage to Jimmy Boyce featured in Clarence's piece this month.

"At Brighton one day when Ireland were playing Sussex in the B&H Cup, Jimmy was among the Irish party of officials being entertained to lunch by the Sussex President Lord Caffyn. He was sitting beside Lady Caffyn at table and told her at great length how he had just been entertaining Bertie Vogts and the German national side in Belfast. During a silence in the lunchtime hubbub of conversation Lady Caffyn was heard to exclaim, 'I didn't know the Germans played cricket.' Mr IFA. Mr Ballymena!"

Can anyone help me track down a copy of Dermott Monteith's book (not sure of title and published around 2000?). In it Dermott discusses the local game and names his Ireland team of the 19th/20th century

After spending a season playing Section 1 here within the NCU, it has become apparent to me that if Cricket Ireland and the NCU are interested in producing players for the next level (International cricket) the rules need to come into line with international cricket. The no-ball rule need a serious rethink. For me, the fact that a bowler is called for a no-ball when he bowls a bouncer and it flies between shoulder and head height is an absolute injustice. How can you encourage youngsters to be quick bowlers if they can't bowl a decent bouncer without being penalised? Also, how are you going to produce batsmen who can play comfortably off the back foot against quicks when he knows he's not going to receive any short-pitched deliveries? Bowlers should be allowed at least one bouncer (between shoulder and head height) per over. What about the relaxed nature of fielding restrictions? I think they should come into line with ODI rules too... across all limited overs competitions

Section 2 team.

Some good players on that side but not sure how they would fare in the Premier League. I think maybe we underestimate the gap between even Section 1 and the Premier League.

One player omitted who was getting rave reviews in previous seasons is Templepatrick's Robert Smith.

Great to see veterans like David Greenlees and Neil Carson still featuring in the scorecards most weeks as well as youngsters like Robert McKinley .

It's that stage of the season when we can think about nominations for select teams of the year. My personal votes for a section 2 select for 2010 go to
M Shields (Academy)
G Alexander (Larne)
N Carson (Donacloney)
N Connelly (Dunmurry)
S Kidd (Millpark)
D Greenlees (Academy)
R Johnson (Cooke Coll)
R McKinley (Larne)
S Leckey (Millpark)
S Hanna (Donacloney)
J Irons ( Academy)
In my view a very strong side which could compete very well in premier league!

Andy, no disagreement at my end, just an observation. I understand the minister's concerns relate to the sacking of David Wells and the ensuing cost to the IFA. In any case I'm sure we are 100% in agreement with the sentiments in 'Boyce the Voice" article as we've missed him dearly in cricket.

don't think we're going to agree on this one Hiler. I feel that the threat of withholding funding was as a result of the Minister having his ear to the ground and being aware of the general public disquiet at the workings of the IFA following the disgraceful ousting of JRW Boyce. As a member of a club that has seen the benefit of public funding I am loth to criticise DCAL and would suggest that any club seeking such support should contact the Muckamore officialdom for the way forward with applications.

re Keith Ogle

You can apply for grants even though the ground isn't yours.

Re: Millparks ground

as Keith has put cloneys case forward i will do the same for ourselves like keith says we too were given criteria which has to be in place for next season we already have sightscreens and plans are in place regarding covers also our square has been put to bed last week we have people coming in to help with the wickets so they should be in good nick for next season!!! we still arent promoted yet so this could all be a bit premature

Andy,
The comparison is straightforward as it involves a government minister publicly admonishing a governing body of sport for its senior management and pointing out that it could affect future government funding unless changes are made. Jim Gracey produced an excellent article some time back, but the minister's input has been well documented on http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland for weeks. The rights and wrongs are irrelevant, it is the interaction of politics/politicians and sport that was being highlighted. You have been fortunate over the years that the resident MP for North Antrim supported sport but didn't meddle in it!

wylie - unless i am mistaken donacloney have managed to secure promotion this year without a pro and with a team made up from the village. They have invested some resource in bringing a coach into the community to promote cricket at grass roots in the area.
As highlighted by keith ogle the club does not own its own ground and as such cannot get a grant. Locals are offering to build sight screens and raise funds for covers.
Surely this is the sort of grass root cricket development we need more of. It is a good news story that the various cricket development bodies could get behind and support. That support could be leniency on regulations and perhaps funding assistance. A lot of clubs got covers a few years ago from the icc tournament here which assisted greatly.
I have to confess to knowing zip all about millpark.