In a previous article, Michael Sharp wrote about the clubs that took part in Leinster competitions but are no more. A list of such clubs is set out below.
Introduction
To supplement my recent article on “vanished” clubs, I have done summaries of what is known about each from LCU handbooks and trophy engravings.
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Aer Lingus: Entered competitive cricket for some years in the 1950s but dropped out. Returned in the late 70s. Problems with regular availability of players meant that they had difficulty in sustaining a league challenge but were quite a force in cup cricket in the 1980s and early 90s winning the Junior Cup three times. Although the club did not depend solely on Aer Lingus employees , they had a small panel and sadly as players dropped out, they could not be replaced and this led to their eventual withdrawal in 2003.
Arklow:Don’t appear to have played in Leinster leagues but entered in the Junior Cup for a number of years in the 1950s, winning it in 1953. Played in the South East League.
Athy:First ever winners of the Intermediate Cup in 1895 and retained it the following year. No particular record of them after that but played in some cricket in the Midlands /South East. Entered Leinster cup competitions for some years in the 1990s. A separate newly formed club from the same area entered the Junior C League for a season in the early eighties but did not survive beyond that.
Avondale:Played at Junior/Intermediate levelfor some seasons in the noughties. Won Junior A League in 2007. Merged with North Wicklow to form Wicklow County in 2010.
Ballyeighan:Played cricket in the Midlands/South East for many years before entering Leinster competitions in 1995. Initially very successful and rose up the leagues. However they could not sustain matters, fell back as some of their better players retired and eventually dropped out in 2003.
Balrothery:Fingal club who played in Leinster competition from 1950 to 1985 winning various cups and leagues. In 1986 merged with Man-o-War to form North County.
Beaumont:Won the Intermediate Cup three years in a row from 1902 to ’04. No record of them thereafter.
Bellew:Co. Meath club from an area near Drogheda who played in competition from the late ‘40s to the early ‘60s. Won the Junior League in 1952.
Bellshire:Had two teams playing at Intermediate and Junior level when handbooks commenced in the early ‘40s and presumably had been playing for some years before that. Played in Milltown on a ground used for winter sports but not clear where exactly it was. Won the Minor Cup in 1934 (2ndXI) and the Intermediate Cup in 1946 but dropped out of competition after the 1947 season.
Blackrock:Played in the Junior League in1940 and possibly for some seasons before that. No record of them participating thereafter or where exactly they played.
Bray Parish: Won the Minor Cup in 1959 andentered league cricket in 1960. Appear to have lost their ground in Bray due to development work in late ‘60s. Played in Pembroke Wanderers hockey club in early seventies but then dropped out. Competed as Bray in cup competitions for some years thereafter and re-entered league cricket as North Wicklow in 1990. Merged with Avondale (see above) to form Wicklow County in 2010.
Carlisle:First mentions are as winners of the Junior Cup in 1926 and the Intermediate Cup in the following year but may have been in LCU competitions from the start in 1919. Participated in the “Qualifying League” in the 1930s. Won this league in 1940, were offered promotion to the Senior League but turned it down. They remained in the “Senior 2 League” until 1970 when they were accepted for promotion. Remained a “senior” club with some successes until 1998 when falling player numbers forced them to fold. First eleven won Senior 2 League in 1940,’63,’67 (shared) and Senior 2 Cup in 1943, ’53, ’56 and ’63 prior to promotion to Senior status. Won Senior League in 1988, ’97, Section B in 1993 and the Wiggins Teape League in 1995. Lower teams won Intermediate Leagues in 1963 and 1980 and Junior Leagues in 1935 and 1982.
Chapelizod:Played in Intermediate and Junior Leagues from 1949 to 1961 inc.. Won the Junior Cup in 1957 and 1960.
Co. Longford: No apparent connection to current club. Only recorded mention is of them winning the Junior Cup in 1952. No record of them playing league cricket in that season or others.
Cremore:No record of when the club started but they were playing league cricket in the “Qualifying League” in 1940 and played in the Senior 2 league for most years thereafter until 1960 when they dropped out. Had two teams for most of their existence but dropped to one in final years presumably due to falling numbers. Ground was in the Glasnevin area of Dublin and increasing building activity may also have been a factor in their demise. Won the Senior 2 Cup in 1949 and 1958, the Intermediate Cup in 1957, the Junior Cup (2ndXI) in 1945 and the Intermediate League in 1954 and ‘57
Deanhill:Club from the Navan area of County Meath who played in league competition from 1953 to 1967. Won the Intermediate Cup in 1956. Despite their demise, the tradition of cricket in the general area was a factor in the formation of Knockharley in the 1980s.
Drogheda YMCA: Were in league competition in 1940 and 1941 and may have played earlier. Dropped out then but appeared again in 1946 and participated for most seasons up to 1958.
Eastern Command: Played at Junior league level from 1949 to 1964 at a ground in Phoenix Park near current two clubs.
Garda:Entered league cricket in 1988, playing in the Iveagh Grounds (once the home of the St. James Gate/Guinness club). They were successful for a number of years, winning the Junior C league in 1991. Player numbers declined however and they withdrew from league competition in 2006. Continued to field a team in the Minor Cup for a couple of seasons but eventually folded completely.
Gas Co. : Made a brief appearance (three seasons ) in the early ‘60s playing in what was or became the Bank of Ireland sports ground on Mount Anville Rd. in Dundrum.
Guinness/St James Gate: The Guinness company had their own sports facilities at the Iveagh Grounds in Crumlin (bought in the 1920s). Cricket was one of a number of sports played there and St James Gate C.C. played in Leinster competition for many years. They won the Minor Cup in 1946 and a Junior League/Minor Cup double in 1948. They were in the Senior 2 league for several years in the 1950s but slipped back to Intermediate grade in the 1960s. Changes in the company led to the grounds being run by the Guinness Athletic Union rather than the company itself and from 1966 the cricket club was named Guinness C.C.. Although it was open to non-company employees, numbers declined and they withdrew from competition in 1982.
Hammond Lane : Played on a ground in Beaver Row, Donnybrook in lower leagues intermittently in the 1940s and every season from 1951 to ’61 inclusive. Dropped out then. Won Minor League in 1953 and Minor Cup the following year.
Harding:Were in existence when handbooks began in the 1940s so may well have started before then. Played at Intermedate/Junior level until 1967. Won Junior League in 1945,’46 and with their 2ndXI in ‘51. Used ground in Londonbridge Rd/Newbridge Ave, Sandymount, probably old Three Rock Rovers hockey club ground before their move to Grange Rd..
Ierne:Played in Richmond Rd., Drumcondra and at one stage fielded three teams at Intermediate, Junior and Minor level. Were in existence in 1940 so probably started before then. Second eleven won Junior league in 1950 but 1953 was the club’s final season.
Imperial Tobacco Company (Imperials): Founded sometime before 1940 as they were members of the “Qualifying League” (one step below senior) in that season. First name on Senior 2 league trophy for 1942 although records indicate that that league began in 1941. Continued in that league until 1946 but no record of them competing thereafter. Played somewhere in Crumlin.
Independent:Played on a ground in Baggot Rd, Cabra for five seasons (1948 – ’52 in Minor/Junior leagues. Possibly some connection to Independent newspapers. Won Minor Cup in 1950.
Irish Times: Were in existence in 1940 when handbook records started but obviously were formed well before that as they won the Junior Cup in 1927 and ’28. Played at Intermediate/Junior level until 1945 season. Ground listed as Milltown Rd., Clonskea.
Jacobs:Another clublisted for 1940 season so obviously started before that. Missed some seasons in the ‘40s and early ‘50s but came back from 1954 to ’61. Played at Rutland Avenue, Dolphin’s Barn.
Knockbrack:Fingal club of longstanding. Entered Leinster competition in 1964 and at one stage fielded three teams. Merged with Ring Commons to form KBRC for some years in the 1980s. Trophies won – Intermediate Cup 1984, Junior Cup 1965,’66.Minor Cup (3rdXI) 1996. Middle Cup 1979,’80 and as KBRC in 1987. Intermediate A League 1977,’78,’93. Intermediate B League 1975. Junior A League 1966, 1994 (2ndXI) . Junior B League 1998 (2ndXI). Unfortunately the club lost their ground to building development after the 2003 season.
Land Commission: Won Intermediate Cup in 1897, ’99 and 1900. Believed to be forerunner of Merrion C.C.
Man-o-War:Fingal club who played in Leinster competition from 1963 to 1985 winning various cups and leagues. In 1986 merged with Balrothery to form North County.
Mayo County:Formed in late 1990s by some ex Dublin cricketers working in the Castlebar area. Entered Minor Cup for a few years winning it in 1999. Folded after a few seasons.
Monkstown:Were a member of the “Qualifying League” in 1940 and had existed for several years before that as they won the Intermediate Cup in 1932,’34,’35 and ’37. Were one of several “non-senior” clubs invited to play in the Leinster Senior Cup in its early years and did so in the late ‘30s, early ‘40s. Played in Serpentine Avenue (presumably Pembroke Wanderers hockey club)) for most of their lifetime but moved to a ground in Milltown Rd. in 1946 and this appears to have been their final season. A Monkstown club re-entered Intermediate and Junior competitions from 1965-68 playing in Newbridge Avenue/Londonbridge Rd., Sandymount.
North Wicklow : See and Avondale and Bray Parish above re genesis of present Wicklow County.
Old Belvedere: Entered competitive cricket at Intermediate level in 1950. Originally confined to past pupils of Belvedere College but had members from other Jesuit run schools and eventually went completely open. Promoted to Senior 2 level in 1951 and became a “Senior” club in 1957. Outstanding record for many years – Winners Senior League 1974,’76. Senior Cup 1964,’65,66,’70. Wiggins Teape League 1982 (shared),1992, Senior 2 League 1956,’68,’71,’75. Senior 2 Cup 1977,’80, ‘83 , Middle League 1962,’92. Middle B League 2003. Middle Cup 1970,’72,’76,’91,’92,’95,’08. Intermediate Leagues 1950, ’69,’70. Intermediate Cup 1967,’80,’89, ’91. Junior Leagues 1967,’70,’75,’92,’03. Junior Cup 1954,’55,’75. Various problems particularly falling numbers led to the club dropping out of competitive cricket in 2013 and eventually folding altogether.
Parkheath:Were playing at Intermediate level in 1940 and had been around for some years before then. Second eleven won Minor Cup in 1931. No record of where they played. Appear to have dropped out after 1942 season.
Pembroke Wanderers: Known as hockey club but must have had a cricket team for a while as they won the Junior Cup in 1914/15/16. Ground at Serpentine Avenue was used by various clubs in later years.
Pioneers:Secretaries address was office of Pioneer Total Abstinence Association so presumably it was a club set by that body. No information on when they started butwere playing at Junior level in 1940 and presumably for some years before that. Junior Cup winners in 1941. May have had some connection with Belvedere College as they played at Belvedere school grounds in Cabra. Dropped out after 1946 season.
Portrane:Fingal club who played in the grounds of St Ita’s Hospital. Were in existence prior to 1940 and continued in competition until 1946. Dropped out ’47 to ’50 but re-entered in ’51. Changed name to St Ita’s in 1959 but pulled out finally after ’61 season. Did Minor Cup/League double in 1951 and won Junior Cup in 1956.
Postal Services: Played pre 1940 and on up to 1954. Intermediate/Junior level mainly but played in Senior Cup in some of its early seasons. Ground was in Dublin suburb of Whitehall. Junior Cup and league double in 1949.
Raheny:Were playing in 1940 and continued at Intermediate/Junior level to 1943. Ground in Raheny area. Won Intermediate League in 1940.
Richmond Asylum/Richmond/St.Brendan’s: Earliest mention is as winners of the Intermediate Cup in 1910. Repeated this feat in 1914,’15,’17 and ’20. By 1940 they were competing in the Intermediate League and Cup as Richmond. Won that league in 1947. Played in Senior 2 league from 1948 to 1964. Played in grounds of St. Brendan’s Hospital in Grangegorman and changed name to St.Brendan’s in 1959.. Dropped out of competition after 1964 season.
Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland (RCSI): Fielded a team in the Junior League and Cup in 1940 and ’41 and possibly before that. Re-entered competitions in 1952 and remained involved until 1978, fielding two teams for some seasons. First team played in Senior 2 League 1965 –’75. Had several outstanding players who won individual trophies and played some “Senior” cricket with other clubs in the second half of the season. Ground was In Bird Avenue beside current CUS school ground used by Merrion.
Royal Hibernian Marine School: First winners of theJunior Cup 2010. Won it again in 1911 and 1913. One of the founder members of the Leinster Senior League in 1919. Disbanded after Irish independence in 1922.
Sackville Press: Were playing in Junior League and Cup in 1940. Won the cup which was recorded as being only two years after their entry into competition. Continued at this level in 1941 but no record of them in competitions thereafter.
Sandymount:Won the Intermediate Cup four times in the 1920s (1921,’22,’23 and ’26). Their second eleven won the Junior Cup twice in that decade (1921 and ’25). No record of the club in later years. No apparent connection with any of the currently existing clubs in the area. Believed to have played in an area between the present Star of the Sea school and where Marine Drive on the edge of Sandymount village is now. At least one of the side roads off Sandymount Rd. dates from the 1920s/30s and this house building may have been a factor in their demise.
Santry:First published handbook in 1941 shows they had played in Junior competitions in 1940. May have been around in earlier seasons but no record in handbooks thereafter.
Shamrock Rovers: Listed in the first ever handbook as having played in 1940 (Intermediate level) but no record of them in competition for 1941 or subsequently. Name would indicate some connection with the soccer club but no information to hand on what that might have been or even where they played.
Skerries:Cricket was played in the Skerries area from the late nineteenth century on with several teams in the town and surroundings. By the 1920s there were sufficient teams in the Fingal area to form a league and Skerries C.C. won the first Fingal League competition in 1927. It appears that a decision was made at that time to enter a team in the Leinster leagues but it is not clear if this actually happened and there was no team in Leinster in the early 1940s. Skerries C.C. played in the Junior league from 1946 to 1948 but then dropped out. Suitable ground facilities were always a problem and apparently this was the main reason for their withdrawal. In fact it was not until the formation of The Hills C.C. in 1969 (entered Leinster league 1970) that matters became more certain.
St. James Gate:See Guinness above.
St.John Bosco Boys Club: Competed in Junior League and cup for a season (1970). Used Civil Service C.C. ground.
St. Mary’s College: There had been a St. Mary’s College past pupils cricket in the early years of the twentieth century which actually predated the rugby club. Not sure how long they continued but there was a team playing at Intermediate level in 1940 and presumably for some years before that. Ground then used was in the Templeogue area. Dropped out after 1945 season.
St. Paul’s: Won Junior Cup in 1922. No other reference to them to hand.
Stradbrook:Were in existence in 1940. Presumably had been established for some time. Fielded two teams in Junior and Minor Leagues in 1940/1/2. No reference thereafter. Presumably played somewhere in the Blackrock area but no information to hand about exactly where, what, if any, connection they had to the Blackrock club listed above. May or may not be coincidental that both clubs dropped out at the same time.
3rdOBU (Old Boys Union):Founded in mid 1930’s for former Boys Brigade members. Entered Junior League but developed into a quite successful club which by the 1950s and early ‘60s was fielding four teams with a first eleven in the Senior 2 league. Won Senior 2 cup in 1954, ’55 and ’57, Intermediate Cup 1948,’53 and ’59 (2ndXI), Minor Cup 1945. Senior 2 League 1955 and ’62. Intermediate League 1955 (2ndXI), Minor League 1954 (4thXI). Numbers declined and for various reasons the club dropped out of competition after the 1966 season. Played initially in what were then St. Andrew’s school sportsgrounds on Stillorgan Rd., where RTE is now. In 1945 moved to Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club ground at Churchill Terrace/Serpentine Avenue which had previously been used by Monkstown C.C..
Thoms:Another of the workplace related teams which were around in the 1930s and ’40s but then gradually died off. Handbooks do not record the club’s participation after 1943, despite them having won the Junior League in 1942. They played at Mount Prospect, Clontarf.
UCD:Were one of the founder members of the Senior League in 1919 but dropped out after the 1925 season. I have no record of what happened then but they reappear in the Junior League in 1945. They remain until 1950 but then drop out again. From 1945 to ’48 they are recorded as playing in Belfield but for their final two seasons 1949 and ’50 their ground is listed as Phoenix Park. In 1948 they moved from Junior to Intermediate grade and in what appears to have been their final season of 1950 the fielded two sides in the Senior 2 and Intermediate Leagues respectively.
Virginians:Entered Minor League in 1952 and won it. Promoted to Junior League and played at that level in following years. Dropped out after 1959 season but re-entered for a year in 1964. Ground was in Glasnevin.
Wicklow:Played in Minor League 1946-51 inc.. Ground is listed as Bel-Air Hotel, Ashford. No indication of connection to later clubs. Won Minor Cup in 1949.