Mid-week Competitive Friendlies
The Masters Cricket Group was established five years ago with the encouragement and support of Cricket Leinster as a group of over 50s cricketers drawn from clubs across the province with the objective of playing regular competitive matches through the summer. The intention was that these matches would help keep these “Master” cricketers active in the game and closely involved with their clubs. It has been successful on this front and since then the Masters Group has played about 8 games each season.
Matches are usually played in mid-week afternoons on Wednesdays or Thursdays (easier to access pitches) in grounds across the province, such as Leinster, Stradbally, Knockharley, St. Columba’s, Greystones, Civil Service and other grounds as they become available to us. Players have come from all of the above clubs, and also from Railway Union, Pembroke, Clontarf, Phoenix, YMCA, Laois, Dundalk, Lismore and elsewhere. Many players are still playing league cricket with their clubs; others are retired from leagues but are keen to play occasionally through the summer and to keep in touch with friends in the game. The standard of players ranges through all the CL divisions.
Matches are competitive but are always played in the true spirit of the game. They usually start at around 2.00 pm. Generally matches are between Dublin City and the Rest----of Leinster or of Ireland !. Teams are chosen from the available squad in a balanced way so as to produce exciting finishes in the last few overs.
The matches have been very enjoyable. Sociable teas in the old-style are a normal feature. New initiatives this summer will be a match in Oakhill and interprovincials against Munster Masters.
We now wish to refresh our list of Masters for this season and invite all those interested in joining us (or learning more) to contact one of the names below. There is no membership fee but a small match fee may be required to defray the cost of balls and, where applicable, teas and rent of grounds. We would be delighted to welcome new Masters to the group.
We are now organising fortnightly matches through July and August and below is a list of some already in place.
Thursday 7th July: Stradbally
Friday 15th July: Stradbally Leinster v Munster
Wednesday 20th July: St. Columba’s
Wednesday 10th August t.b.a.
Friday 26th August: Oyster Oval, Tralee Munster v Leinster
We would welcome those interested in playing with the Masters to please contact any of the headmasters below:
Adrian Tudor Stradbally aditudor11@yahoo.co.uk 086 190 8073
Niall Carroll Leinster carrolln@actvc.ie 087 256 7682
Duncan Grehan Knockharley dgrehan@duncangrehan.com; 087 240 2476
Paddy Byrne Lismore etheere@ailleacht.org 086 364 2010