Forum

Ireland Squad

There is no chance of Ireland ever developing as a cricket nation as long as the sickening stench of nepotism surrounds selection for all the provincial teams and also the full Ireland team !

This is the case for all underage and senior teams - pathetic to say the least ! If you keep giving people an opportunity they are bound to have a good performance every now and again !

Eddie Richardson must now realise he isn't mixing with the right people ! If only one of his relatives was on the full Irish selection panel ..........

A Few Tips
CIYMS v CSNI Home win
Instonians v Carrickfergus Away win
North Down v Lisburn Home win
Waringstown v Muckamore Home win

Academy v Bangor Away win
Armagh v Woodvale Home win just
Downpatrick v Cliftonville Home win
Holywood v Donaghcloney Mill Away win just
Lurgan v Derriaghy Away win

Also I see a Mr C Boomer on this site hope he is still writing his poetry and tell him I miss the poetry postings thanks

Colin, the youth cricket has been very slow this season, at least it seems that way. We no longer have a youth section at Portadown. However, every club should do what they can to promote youth cricket, and this week the Taverners coaches began an intro to cricket session for 7 to 12 year olds from a local youth club summer scheme. 25 kids cricketing indoors on rainy day (thunderstorm brought them indoors actually) was quite a handful, but it went well. Only four more sessions to do. Then we'll begin our disability cricket programme.
Almost every town has these 'youth summer clubs' operating during the school holidays and even term time evenings and weekends, and they are always looking for activities for their children. There is usually a small amount of funding available for expenses for providing the 'coaching' (probably the wrong word) as well..
Don't expect kids to just come to a club because a club has a youth section. Awareness is the ticket for promoting cricket.

Peter Woods Great chatting to you and lots old friends at cup final
Saturday final with all the fixtures on a sunday (only 3 team dont play sundays) with the right marketing there be over 1000 supporters as NCU have the product we just dont sell cricket enough it we serious about our sport we must get our juniors to the big days as even our 78 year old groundsman never stopped clapping for the quality of fielding Shane Getkate and Allen Coulter were superb as was 90 %.The point is whats wrong with trying ONE year and make our SENIOR CUP FINAL something that junior and senior cricketers thrive to play in .Was great match James Shannon Nicklai Smith Nigel Jones and my man the match Ryan Hunter shot selection and even at 60 that excites me want play .MASSIVE respect to all North Down ground staff and to see there chairman Peter Shields be involved from picking litter to getting his band helpers be 100%on making it great day means we deserve to support North Downs efforts with a bigger crowd and day as could not fault a thing .PS COULTER bowled two superb YORKERS but amazes me not more bowled as even the short of length stuff was going for boundaries cant wait see next years SATURDAY FINAL living and spared .and even had thumb it home to Dundrum as wanted see CIYMS lift the cup and celebrate .

Re my last post, better to get your clubs to commit to more youth cricket rather than vomit.

First time posting a message on this forum as I regularly post on the Cricket Europe Ireland site and often give tips on matches but with not a great strike rate this year.

I am just wondering as I am into stats big time where I could find scorecards from the Ladies Premier League and Cup matches please apart from CSNI whose cards are up, it would be nice to see how players do from week to week.

The NCU should be congratulated for introducing new clubs to the League 1 along side a North Down 2nds along the sides Instonians, Laurelvale and Templepatrick from last year.

May I also add my congratulations to CIYMS on the Cup win on Saturday v Insts and well done to Waringstown in winning and North Down on a valiant chase in the T20 Final last Sunday along with Armagh winning the T20 Trophy v Woodvale.

Along with Waringstown, Clontarf, Cork County and Bready it will be a great day at The Lawn to showcase T20 cricket in Ireland

I attended the Challenge Cup Final on Saturday and had a most enjoyable day. Congratulations to Nigel Jones and CIYMS and commiserations to Instonians who were in with a great chance until Jones and Hunter batted so well to effectively see it through.
Also thanks to the NCU, Arthur J Gallagher, the media and all at North Down who worked so hard preparing for the day.
During breaks in play I engaged in conversation with fellow spectators about the number on the number of players on the two teams who had been coached and developed as since youth by the two Clubs themselves . We counted only five, four of whom were playing schoolboy cricket this year. This leaves James Shannon as the sole adult.
I appreciate that others such as Andrew White and Eugene Moleon have been at Instonians for a while and that their squad of 16 undoubtedly contained some other younger players, many of whom have played 1st Eleven cricket this year.
Whilst one appreciates that successful teams attract good players, it is still a very disappointing statistic.
Hopefully in next year's Final we will see more "homegrown" players on the pitch.
Finally our correspondent from South Down was threatening to send a post of his own regarding Cup Final Day. Over to you Jeff!

Youth Fixtures

If anyone wants to know why grassroots cricket is struggling and where the future players of the game are then look no further than the NCU youth results page

http://www.northerncricketunion.org/database/2017/youth/under15league.shtml

While I appreciate there will be more games to be added to the tables the lack of games even with those yet to be played is poor.

All the overseas pros and coaching courses in the world don't matter a damn if there are not club volunteers giving children the chance to take up the game. I can see the provincial youth squads thriving but these are almost closed clubs now, once your on a pathway with NCU /NW it's hard for a new young player to dislodge you. We need EVERY club in the country fieldin u15/13/11s, they don't have to be superstars just have fun & enjoy the game.

Well done to all those who voluntarily give up their time, I would suggest you ask your cricket committees to vomit more to youth at your next AGM, kids want to play we have to facilitate that.

' Frinton-on-Sea CC are seeking an injunction against the Two Counties League (TCL), which is open to clubs in Essex and Suffolk, on the grounds of discrimination after they were penalised for fielding an overseas player deemed to be ineligible.

The case is due to be heard in court in Chelmsford on Thursday and, if Frinton win, it could eventually set a precedent that would clear the way for many other players to return to action in club cricket across England and Wales. While around 110 players are understood to be directly affected by the ruling, the consequences for future generations could be far reaching.' ....

It's the 'old chestnut' once again Andy, simplistic as it may sound, if the guy is not receiving any financial renumeration from this cricket club then let him play as that being the case, isn't he by definition deemed to be an amateur cricketer and hence can play at whatever level?

( unless he's starred for the 1sts lol...But that's an internal matter and a debate we've had on here many times before and certainly one for another day).

Will be interesting to see the outcome of the Frinton cricket club case regarding 'overseas' players.

We are keen to start a cricket club at Queen's University Belfast and were wondering if anybody here would be interested or know of anyone that would like to join.

If so you can contact me on facebook or via email.

kylewalsh67@gmail.com

Have to agree with Clarence. Bracewell has taken the hit on the on field performances. And the blame can't lie fully at his feet.

Looking forward to seeing how the recruitment process runs for the new head coach role. Given the track record recently in appointing and re-appointing Academy posts. Also worth noting the head groundsmans job at Bready is yet to be filled, despite a readvertisment, mind you looking for a groundsman in May is a bit like advertising for santas grotto on Christmas Eve.

I suspect there are a few guys in those "high performance" roles looking to fill CV's before moving on to bigger and better.

A few weeks ago Neil Fullerton posted about the provision of teas at cricket games. I can report that "teas" are still alive and well in the North West. Highest standards at Ballyspallen yesterday with a team of ladies providing for not only the teams and umpires but for spectators. Conversations round the table were somewhat critical about the teas provided by a leading East Belfast club recently to a 2nd XI from the NW. And first-class umpire accommodation at a "wee club". Puts some NCU clubs to shame. But then again I have posted on this before and we're still being asked to change in storerooms, toilets etc. A "new age" for Irish cricket, Test status, etc.!! I wonder if I will live long enough to see the benefits?

Cricket Ireland Head Coach
You must have some sympathy for the Head Coach John Bracewell, who appears to have been axed. Yes, recent performances have been poor, but surely the responsibility should be shared? The players certainly haven't performed and perhaps Bracewell could be criticised for player loyalty in an aging team. And what about guru Richard Holdsworth, the highly-paid High Performance Director? Do the players and Holdsworth share any blame?
Thanks John for your services in trying circumstances. It was a tough act to follow in the wake of Adi Birrell and Phil Simmons, but I fear the new appointment will suffer the same path unless there is a clear out of personnel, playing and administrative.

Great article in today's Belfast Telegraph of our unpaid groundsman for 55 years Tommy Curlett and Jeff Maguire on raising money for the club for new covers during his 60th birthday charity match 2 stalwarts of Dundrum Cricket Club wouldn't it be great to see the NCU acknowlege their achievements.I don't know of anyone doing groundsman as long as Tommy or as dedicated and Jeff does great work in promoting our club.It would be interesting to hear the thoughts of the officials in the NCU.
Gordon Lowey.