The 2011 season has been a challenging year in schools cricket, simply because of how late the Easter holidays fell this year. Though schools were encouraged to begin playing their matches after St Patrick's day as this would allow a month of cricket before the Easter holidays, many pitches were unavailable until mid-April. This meant many schools only had one week of matches before the break.
Coaches and administrators are to be commended for working tirelessly to fit all of their matches in before the scheduled finals week which began on May 23rd - just three weeks after the Easter break.
The competition formats reflected the shortness of the time available, and 19 less games were played in 2011 as compared to 2010. But this did not reflect the number of teams playing; two new schools were involved in 2011. Newpark - who impressively won the 1st year II league in their debut year - and Loreto on the Green both entered teams.
Though Castleknock and St Gerard's had intended to enter teams, they were forced to withdraw due to insufficient numbers.
Wesley were the big winners contesting three of the six finals and winning two, the Senior I and Junior I double. Player of the match in the Senior final was recent Ireland debutant Julie Van der Flier, her four wickets early on putting losing finalists Mount Anville on the back foot straight away.
Mount Anville will have been disappointed not to perform on the day, but it was the school's first time back in the Senior I league for a number of years, and they are sure to be back again next year.
High School made the Junior I final a contest and player of the match Laura Rankin impressed in every area of the game to take the match to clear favourites Wesley. In the end, though, Wesley's strength in depth carried them through.
Wesley couldn't win the triple, and Alex came through winners of the Senior II league, while High School were victors of the Junior II final with player of the match Eva Martin instrumental in defeating holders Mount Anville to take the title.
Aravon continue to impress in the 1st year I league, with Ruby Neville helping them retain the cup to make it three years in a row.