Thursday saw the final day of our schools coaching programme in the North Inner city area where massive strides have been made to develop the game further, particularly in the council’s Central Area. Both Bruce Mc Devitt and Fergal Scally (Dublin City Council sports officers) have been key personnel in assisting Cricket Leinster develop the game further in the area. Heading the DCC cricket programme is development officer Fintan McAllister, supported by a number of other Leinster coaches.
The programme started with the four schools listed below receiving 6-8 weeks of schoolyard coaching sessions, learning the skills of the game during the April and May period.
This finished with a blitz on June 15th which was held between the different schools where there were over 100 participants present. This event took place at the Alfie Byrne, Clontarf Road, Dublin City Council astro pitches.
Further to this, each school received their own Dublin City Council/Cricket Leinster branded cricket set (pictured) where they can now deliver their own cricket sessions in their schools during sports days & PE time.
Well done to all participants who took part at the blitz – an exciting and enjoyable day for everyone involved with the teams.
Cricket Leinster would like to thank Dublin City Council for their continued support of these programmes.
Commenting on this year’s programme Bruce McDevitt (Senior Sports Officer, Dublin City Council) was delighted with the pilot programme stating ‘We are delighted to have formed a very productive working partnership with Cricket Leinster. The North East Inner City cricket programme has provided many young people in the area with an opportunity to parktake in a sporting activity that was new to most participants when starting the programme. The large numbers involved over the 8 weeks of the programme illustrate the potential interest in cricket in the area and we look forward to working closely with Cricket Leinster in progressing the sport further over the coming years’.
Fintan McAllister
Dublin City Council - Cricket Development Officer