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Re: Cup Finals
All credit must go to the groundstaff and committee of PSNI CC on making Newforge playable on saturday despite the square being under water at 8am - how many senior teams would have put that effort in to allow a 4th XI game to take place.
Well done to CIYMS 3rd XI for winning a great cup final. It was a credit to your club that so many of the club turned out to support.
Not bad for a club that 4 years ago couldnt field a 3rd XI!
I was just wondering how a club can put forward its ground for a cup final, the day it was meant to be played it was rained off and then they say that it might not be able to be played on the reserve date at their ground anymore!
Surely if a club takes a cup final they should be/are committed to the date and also the reserve date?
re Paul Stafford - think you're getting a bit "spitting the dummy" here. As someone who WAS in the sponsors tent(sic) on Sunday I would confirm that Muckamore were defeated by a much better side on the day. While the home side didn't do themselves any favours with 35+ extras. Re the CC defeat - this was a 20 over game and the result reflected the current league positions of the respective clubs. As the one who originally raised the question about their departure from Greenisland and being slapped down very vociferously by Mr. McChesney (funny how he never came back to say i was right!) I am not carrying a torch for C'ville as they are well able to do this but fairs fair.
RE Conor Breet walking - an example of "spirit of cricket" in the Academy - T,patrick game when an appeal was withdrawn over an LBW decision. Oh if everybody played the way the Kennedys play!!
Staffy,
Maybe you should put the place you are instead of using the word 'taliban' in your location. If you were to see the number of fallen coming back from Afghanistan each and every week, you might think again before using that name.That is not a very nice description of anyone, even though it is in jest, never mind the good guys in Cliftonville.
No Staffy i've never played in the Senior League, but it's Cliftonville Cricket Club , not team. I'm that clubman we discussed, the fella that turns up to every net, bowls 3 hours and enjoys it. Captains 5ths ,4ths,3rds and 2nds. Makes teas, does scorebooks, marks pitches, does diy, cajoles, motivates, sits on committees, fund raises,writes match cards, reports , websites and answers critiques of the club he loves.
That's who i am, 9
league titles, and 4 cup winners medals , three player of the year awards, 53 wickets in one season . All in all, I've fulfilled my potential. No shame playing second fiddle to test players, internationals and 1st class professionals.
If only i'd lived in Lurgan.
Wow what a list, i could have added another 20 names to it but what's the point, take a look at every Senior league team from the mid 90's to now and they will be totally different teams. Carrick replaced 8 players in their line up this season!
The Senior league was decided by the amount of time a team took to bowl 50 overs , but rules are rules and wins of any description are still wins.
Mr McChesney joined Cliftonville not long after myself, we have been friends for over 20 years, played Cricket together, football together, chased women together, drank together and slagged each other off , that's the game of life .
Staffy,
As far as i know the pattersons havent left Cliftonville, yes they live in England ( due to work ) but are still fully paid members. Warren and Conor have also been playing this year for the 1sts and 2nds and BA is on the road to recovery from a very seroius double break of the arm.
Andrew Cowden left to join Carrickfergus at time when Cliftonville had quite a strong top 5 to further his career and may I just add that he has become a serious all round cricketer.
At least the other guys stayed at Cliftonville the 1st time we got relegated to help us get back up from the then section 2, so you wont here any complaints or sour grapes from me because they left CCC last year. Good luck to all the guys.
Maybe when we play Lurgan in the next few weeks you could have a drink with big frog to clear a veiw things up especially your views about us leaving Greenisland.
For the record.
I like Bod. Arriving at greenisland for a cup game and seeing him with 3 extension leads from the pavilion and a hairdryer on the wicket is still one of the funniest things I have seen in cricket.
I was simply quoting Froggy Hamilton who said...'Bod' , doesn't get much first team action these days, lives down Portadown way, Lurgan should give him a call, they liked slow bowlers who didn't turn it down there.....
I was simply pointing out you don't need enemies when your own teamates say that.
I am getting bored with the whole Cliftonville thing now especially when I intended no slight in the first place.
Introduce yourself to me Davy, sometime and I'll buy you a beer. I don't remember playing against you in Senior cricket but you might have a lower profile on the pitch than off it. Maybe that's why you do the book.
Now you have secured Section 2 status by crushing Cooke (25 for 5) and picked up a major trophy after defeating favourites St. Johnston by destroying them in a bowl out, you can enjoy the rest of your season.
Wayne
Bod has done nothing mate and I am NOT slagging him , only repeating what his colleague said about him in a clumsy attempt to have a go at me. His words not mine.
All I did was lament Cliftonville's fall from grace by being all out for 10 (genuinely meant)and one person has taken that the wrong way.
Davy Hamilton
As for no-one in Cliftonville knowing who I am it is hardly surprising as virtually everyone who played senior cricket there has left. Andy Patterson, Mark Patterson ,Graeme Lyness, Gerard Brophy, Kyle McCallan, Johnny Terrett, Kamal Merchant, Paul Stirling, Richard Stirling, Michael Turkington,Barry Cooper, Andrew Cowden, Warren McCully, Andy Clement, Brian Anderson, Alphonso Thomas, Gerald Dros, Conor McCully etc must have had their reasons.
Even Greenisland Sports Memorial Ground decided it was time to move on from Cliftonville CC. (In the last few days their reasoning has become a lot clearer to me)
But then again maybe I am wrong, they are wrong and Cliftonville is indeed still a very fine club.
fergy,i dont know the politics behind your club or anything about your past players but it would be good to see the strongest team possible playing for downpatrick as i watch a good few games in the premier league and have seen you play at least 4 times this season i feel that there is a big gulf between the two leagues in standard of players and especially the oversea pro's and i honestly think you would struggle with current squad in the top flight.that is only my opinion and i know it doesnt count for much but i would be interested to hear what other people think.
What has Stephen McChesney done to deserve a sledging staffy?? There is a lot to be said to be still turning out for a club that has gone through a rough trot.
Many other non spinning spinners would stop playing or perhaps join some big club in the north west and play for their 2s when they were skipper of a team that gets relegated the previous season!!!
Well done Cliftonville and enjoy your success.
Sorry Paul , got caught 'short' there, Must've been all that celebrating last night.
Was just going to say it takes a Big man to admit he's wrong----
just reading back a few pages on the forum.... Sam Magill... Now i know you are a north down man and all that but it may have been a we bit too early in saying that the only trophy waringstown will win will be if the planters wins pub of the year.... considering they are clear at the top of the ulster bank premier league!! Now i still maintain that they will do well to win it as irish commitments persist, believe Nelson plays his last game of the year at the weekend as he leaves with the Irish 19's and kyle McCallan missing as well but a very dangerous statement to make considering their position. i have no real affliation will either club but do think comments like that can end up with egg on your face.
"nothing makes the rose as sweet smelling than the pungent dung that helps it grow" - Frog 2009
No need for a Pro round these parts Staffy , old bean , your constant put downs are motivational enough for my boys. Most of them are too young to know who you are, but i tell them you were the Lurgan Skipper that got the peatdiggers relegated.
Mr McChesney is a good clubman and more than happy passing on his expertise in our seconds, Most Senior cricketers think a clubman is a Mini with a pull down boot.
I'll keep taking the tablets Paul , but remember the old saying- 'the bitterest pill is the hardest to swallow'
Many congratulations to Cliftonville Cricket Club for winning the Ulster Shield Final. It's good to see there are people at the club who can do some talking ON the pitch.
Indeed this famous victory only proves the difference between Cliftonville now and 10 years ago is only a figment of my imagination and they are indeed still a very fine club.
PS I'm sure there are a number of clubs down round these parts who would be only to glad to have Stephen McChesney in their ranks even if he is 'a 2nds player who doesn't spin it'.
Keep taking the tablets Froggie.