Club Feature - Gorey CC

Cricket in Co. Wexford goes back to 1833; Lord Courtown created probably the first oval cricket ground in Ireland over a decade later. Gorey and its surrounding environments is steeped in cricket history, with at least four previous Gorey clubs competing in a host of various grounds right up to the 1950s. Sadly, cricket declined in popularity for various reasons, with the last competitive club in the region being Camolin, which collapsed in 1979.

It wasn't until 2015 that the renaissance of cricket emerged with the formation of a club, founded by various local & diverse people. Dormant it may have been but never extinct, as many veterans, enthusiasts, inquisitors, 'new' Irish and recently based players expressed a deep desire to reconnect to its roots. They revealed their identity under the reincarnated banner of Gorey Cricket Club. Three fundamentals pivotal to success, as detailed by newly elected Chairperson, AL FitzGerald was:

• Promotion of cricket in the region, with an emphasis in schools to suit all abilities
• Accredited Coaching
• Protocols on Safeguarding- an essential requirement

Built on a strong constitution based on transparency & accountability, Gorey has exceeded all expectations to date. Based in the grounds of Courtown Hibernians AFC, eager participants trained on a hard gravel surface playing Taverner matches on a grass wicket between two soccer pitches. Gorey's first social game played that summer was against Bagenalstown where Mr Clive Foot, President, showed our members old scorebooks & more importantly names of previous matches from the last century. Such was the level of excitement, Gorey played in total ten games with some Junior matches included.

Accounting for ourselves very well, and with numbers fast increasing the next step was inevitable, to secure a pitch.

Our dedicated Committee rose to that task by negotiating with Courtown Hibs an adjacent field on a long term lease with the use of their splendid facilities. Events moved rapidly; members picked stones with their bare hands filling wheelbarrows and buckets as a  tractor and trailer followed close behind ploughing the new field. An artificial wicket was installed as the general public generously contributed finance to offset the growing expense.

Hosting Adamstown in Cricket Leinster’s Division 14 of July 2017 was a historic day, Gorey's first competitive league cricket match in their home ground. Following the much-valued experience, we won the league the following season, as well as receiving our first Silverware: The Dick O' Neill Cup. This was achieved by beating North Kildare in a nail-biting final by just two wickets in the last over. Topping it off, it was 13-year-old Brady Archer who securing us victory.  Following that, a Russell Court Cup final appearance against Tyrellstown ended in despair as Gorey lost a very close run game.  A magical 2018 season will live in the memory of Gorey Cricketers for a long time.

Local politicians and dignitaries honoured Gorey CC in 2019 for reinvigorating cricket and attributing positivity to the community, through sport, in the North Wexford region. The Local Chamber of Commerce is delighted to be associated with Gorey Cricket Club.

A healthy schools programme, including most of the regional primary schools has been a great success. Driven by Herbie Honohan, the Wexford Development Officer. The Trent Johnston Cup, a blitz day for the local schools, is now an annual feature in the club. This year there were plans afoot for a Secondary School tournament between the three local colleges. As well as an expansion of the Johnston Cup to come under the umbrella of the Leprechaun Cup, sponsored by Blue Insurance, with the support of Wexford Sports Active.

The Coaching Clinic organised last Summer by Herbie Honohan and Cricket Leinster’s South Leinster Development Manager, Naomi Scott-Hayward, and run with the assistance of club coaches and local coach Peter Hudson, was a resounding success and one to be repeated.

Currently, Gorey has sixty members with numbers growing, a Senior team, a Development Team with hopes of a 2nd Senior team soon, a Junior section for Hard/Softball participants and a possible Women's team shortly. A proposed trip to Sri Lanka in 2022 is also a realistic objective.

High debt of appreciation goes to our past & present Club Committee on their vision and tenacity, Particular mention to AL Fitzgerald, Mark Leonard, & Haley Squire, our members & coaches inspired by Captain Anslem Diaz, Ross Norman, Umar Khan, & Gary Murphy. Vincent Murphy for his expertise, umpire Steve Wood, Coach Chris Sheeran since departed to the UK, Sports Active Wexford, Courtown Hibs, CL Philip Smith GM, Briain O' Rourke, Naomi Scott-Hayward, Herbie Honohan & Peter Hudson to name but a few.

As the great Tenor Andrea Bocelli once said  'You can only be great if it is your destiny', Gorey Cricket has returned to its roots.