In the run-up to the centenary of the Leinster Cricket Union in 2019, I have been given the task of writing a number of articles on various matters relating to the history and development of LCU competitions. These will appear on the website over the coming months. As we head into a new season of league competitions, I felt it would be appropriate to start with one detailing the history of the various trophies that teams will be competing for over the coming months. Later articles will include ones dealing with the various cup competition trophies and individual awards.
Open Competitions
Division 1 – The Allen O’Donnell trophy
From 1919 to 2009, the top league competition in Leinster went by the name of the Leinster Senior League. A major reorganisation over the 2009/10 off season has meant that since then it is Open Competitions League Division 1. In the first years of the league there was no trophy but one was purchased in 1923. There does not appear to be a record of what happened to this trophy but it appears that at some point it was replaced by a new one, which survived until the mid-1970s. For the 1977 season the Clontarf club presented the union with a new trophy in memory of their then recently deceased distinguished member Alan Allen O’Donnell. He had been a Clontarf stalwart for many years and President of the LCU from 1961 – 63. This is the current trophy. Unlike many others, it clearly relates to cricket being a set of stumps in metal on a wooden base. Present holders are Leinster, the sixth occasion that this trophy has resided in Rathmines.
Division 2 - Belvedere Bond League Section B Trophy
The Wiggins Teape company were a major sponsor of Leinster cricket from the 1970s to the 1990s. Producers of stationery products, the company name and some of their main brands gave their names to various competitions. For a time the senior league was known as the Belvedere Bond league (the brand name of a popular writing paper produced by the company).
With the growth in the number of clubs competing in the Senior League, it was decided in 1993 to split it into Sections A and B. This meant that the Allen O’Donnell trophy would now be presented to the Division A winners and a debate ensued as to whether or not Division B should have its own trophy. Wiggins Tape filled the gap by presenting a silver plate for the “Belvedere Bond League Section B”.
When the 2010 restructuring occurred, it was decided that this would now be the League Division 2 trophy and it remains so, Merrion being therefore the current holders.
Division 3 Trophy
Until 2015, what had for many years been the former Senior 2 League trophy was used here. It was a very attractive trophy – a small silver cup decorated with cricketing figures and bats. Unfortunately it went missing (presumably stolen) after the 2015 LCU Dinner. The base was returned anonymously some months later. Presumably the cup had been melted down for the silver content. A new trophy was purchased in 2016 and is now in use. 2017 winners were Pembroke 2 , the first time that club has won a league trophy since taking the former Senior 2 league in 1966.
Division 4 – Kelly Trophy
In 2002, Civil Service C.C. won what was then the Senior 3 League. Noting that the trophy in use at the time was not a particularly imposing one, the club decided, in association with the Kelly family, to present a new trophy in memory of their former player David Kelly ( brother of well known Gerry) who had died tragically some years before. This has become the Division 4 trophy. Usually won by second elevens, Merrion 3 had a rare triumph in 2017.
Division 5 – Dermot Sweeney Trophy
During the 2009/10 winter, Dermot Sweeney passed away. He had been a long standing member of Clontarf C.C., a former President of that club, he had also served as Treasurer of both the Leinster and Irish Cricket Unions. The following summer, his brother Tony and Clontarf donated a trophy. It is unique, being a cricket bat with engravings. The move to eight team league structures that occurred that year meant that some new trophies were required and this one slotted neatly into Division 5. Going from strength to strength since their entry into Leinster completion in 2013, Longford were the 2017 winners.
Division 6 – Leonard Amoroso Trophy
An unusually shaped and quite ornate cup, it was presented to the union by the Amoroso family and Railway Union C.C. . A distinguished army officer, Leonard Amoroso and other members of his family were longstanding members of that club. He had also served Leinster cricket as President of the LCU for nine years from 1952 to 1960. A club of much more recent origin, Castleknock, took the trophy in 2017.
Division 7 – J.McIvor Trophy
The restructuring to eight team leagues in 2010 meant that there were more competitions than had existed in 2009. Two new trophies were required. As mentioned above, the Dermot Sweeney trophy was provided and used for the new Division 5. Dundrum C.C. presented the union with the McIvor trophy in honour of one of their founding members. This was used then and since for Division 7. Current holders are Bagenalstown.
Division 8 – Willie Samuels Trophy
One of two Leinster trophies presented by Carlisle C.C. in memory of Willie Samuels, a key player with them in the 1930s/40s. The other is the individual Div 1 All-Rounder cup. Although he played before the club achieved what was then known as “Senior” status, Willie was a regular wicket taker at what would now be Division 3 and had some good performances in the Senior Cup which Carlisle participated in in some seasons. Clontarf 4 were the 2017 winners.
Division 9 Trophy
As mentioned earlier, the 2010 reorganisation saw a need for some extra league trophies. As it happened, one trophy became redundant with the demise of what had been at various points the Lewis Traub/Lewis Hohn Williams/Dublin Grass Machinery/Senior League. It was an unusual trophy in that it was made of glass. It was used for the new Division 9 league from 2010 to 2013 but sadly suffered a fall and reduction to smithereens during the close season and had to be replaced with a more robust cup from 2014 on. This is now in the possession of Dublin University 2.
Division 10 Trophy (presented by Rush C.C.)
In 2003, Rush 3 won what was then the Intermediate B League and were presented with the related trophy – a large wooden item – “the Intermediate Shield”. Although it stood out among other trophies, it had been around for some years and was showing its age. As it happened, somewhat of a blessing in disguise occurred. A major fire in the Rush clubhouse during the following winter saw it consumed by the flames. The club replaced it with a cup which has been used since. 2017 winners were Greystones 2.
Division 11 – Paddy McGuire Trophy
In the early 1990s the number of teams seeking league competition saw an increase in the number of league competitions . A suitable new trophy was therefore required and one was supplied by the then CYM (now Terenure) club. This commemorates Paddy McGuire, a longstanding member of that club who had played for them through several decades up to the 1970s. Current holders are Ashbourne.
Division 12 – Aidan Dempsey Trophy
Pembroke player and administrator Aidan Dempsey gave long and dedicated service to his club from his schoolboy days. He also served on various LCU committees, was the Pembroke delegate to the LCU Executive for many years and at the time of his death in 2001 was President elect of the union. The Pembroke club, noting that the then Junior B league trophy – a wooden shield that had served for many years – was in poor condition, presented a replacement trophy in Aidan’s memory. Fortuitously Pembroke 6 eleven became the first winners. In 2017 Balbriggan 3 took the trophy.
Division 13 – Bruton Family Trophy
The Bruton family have a long association with the North Kildare club and in the late 1990s indicated that they would like to present a trophy for a Leinster competition. This was welcome as an increase in the number of leagues was happening. It was used for what was the Junior C league for some years. With the reorganisation to eight team leagues in 2010, it became the trophy for what was then the lowest league. Halverstown were the 2017 winners.
Divisions 14,15,16 Trophies
Increases in the number of teams entering league competitions has meant that a Division 14 started in 2011 and Divisions 15 and 16 in 2015. Appeals to clubs to donate trophies for these leagues fell on deaf ears so Cricket Leinster has provided them at its own expense. Current holders are AIB,Tyrrelstown and Bagenalstown 3 respectively.
Womens Competitions
Womens cricket in Leinster started in the mid 1930s and several matches were played each year in the following years. There is no particular evidence of a competitive structure and the game died out in the 1950s. In the 1970s it was resurrected and after a number of seasons of friendly matches a Leinster Womens Cricket Union was formed and league and cup competitions commenced. Some twenty years later a merging into a single union took place and there are currently three league divisions.
Many of the cup and individual trophies were presented by individual clubs or distinguished members. However of the three league trophies, only that for Division 2 falls into this category being the Adrienne Carroll trophy. Adrienne was among the generation that had been players in the early days of the womens game.