WOMEN’S INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS 2024!

As the dust has just about settled on a brilliant season in the Women’s Competitions, the time has come for Cricket Leinster to announce the individual award winners across each of the four divisions for the 2024 season.

DIVISION ONE

Crawford Cup (Batting)

This award goes to Gaby Lewis (Phoenix), who scored a cool 634 runs in her nine innings at an average of 105.67; Tahlia Dunne of The Hills was the next nearest challenger, however Lewis' average was more than 60 runs ahead of her next nearest challenger, and it was Lewis who’s excellent form propelled her Phoenix side to Senior Cup glory.

Harrison Cup (Bowling)

In a very close race, Sarah Forbes (Pembroke) takes home the Harrison Cup, finishing on 20 wickets at an average of 13.25, Lara McBride (The Hills) also finished on 20 wickets at an average of 13.35. KimLi McDonald closes out the top three with 16 wickets at an average of 18.75.

Dawson Cup (Wicket-Keeping)

Pembroke’s league-winning captain Shauna Kavanagh is the winner of the Dawson Cup, completing nine dismissals and finishing clear of Siuin Woods (Phoenix).

Batting Cup (Batting in Division Two)

With a qualification of 350 runs, Eimear Mullen beats off competition from Melissa Scott Hayward as the winner of the batting cup, she scored her 351 runs at an average of 87.75 including four half centuries, whilst Scott-Hayward scored 419 runs at an average of 52.38, leading North Kildare to second place. Other notable performances come from Rosie Neuman Jones, who scored 433 runs at 43.30, and Aoife Brennan (Merrion), who closed on 353 runs at 35.30

Bowling Cup (Bowling in Division Two)

Aisling McCormack of Rush picks up this award, she took 16 wickets at an average of just 9.25 across the season, and is also accompanied in the top four in the averages by her spin-bowling team-mate Ellie McGee, Sue O’Connor is the other bowler to stand out with an average below 10 in an excellent bowling effort across this Division.

Hearnden Cup (Wicket-Keeping in Division Two)

Jane Butterly (Rush) retains this trophy for the third season in a row after taking 11 dismissals; she beats Valmai Gee (Leinster) and Sorcha Cunningham (Merrion) to the trophy.

Sharp Cup (Batting in Division Three)

Eileen Foley of Rush wins this trophy after scoring 219 runs at a healthy average of 43.80, an honourable mention to Anna Callahan (Railway Union) and Justine Blake (Clontarf), who round out the top three.

Schmidt Cup (Bowling in Division Three)

In a tight battle, Georgia Beatty of Pembroke takes home this award, she took the qualifying mark of 15 wickets at an average of just 7.87, pipping Rush’s Megan O’Donohoe who took the same number at an average of 8.13. Justine Blake of Clontarf rounds out the top three, taking 16 wickets at an average of 10.56.

Wicket-Keeping Award (Wicket-Keeping in Division Three)

Eileen Foley (Rush) takes home the trophy for the 2024 season, having taken nine dismissals across her ten games, as she completes a batting & keeping double haul; Elizabeth Troup (Malahide) and Holly Erskine (Clontarf) also finish in the top three, just one and two dismissals behind respectively.

Batting Award (Batting in Division Four)

With the qualifying bar for this league set at 150 runs, six players passed the marker, three from each of the double-winning Phoenix side, and the double runners-up Terenure. Arisha Foysal led the way with the top average of 52.67, clear of team-mate Olivia Fox-Gill who scored her 184 runs at 36.8, Terenure’s Lily Morgan, Isobel Johnston and Emily Moran occupy the next three slots, ahead of the league’s leading run-scorer Elizabeth Walsh, who averaged 27.33.

Bowling Award (Bowling Award in Division Four)

There was a clear winner of this trophy, with Rhea Nair (Phoenix) taking 24 wickets in her eleven games at an average of just 4.92 and a best bowling of 4-2. Meishan Zhang (North Kildare) also had a good season, taking 20 wickets at an average of 7.60 in her ten games. The Phoenix domination continues as they featured three of the top five averages, with Terenure’s Alison Dillon fifth on the list. 

Wicket-Keeping Award (Wicket-Keeping in Division Four)

Having seen team-mates winning both the batting and bowling cups, Phoenix’s Olivia Fox Gill will be taking home the wicket-keeping trophy; she managed five dismissals in her ten games behind the stumps. Gillian Lynch (Terenure) was the closest competitor, as she took four dismissals in her eight games with the gloves.

All-Rounder Award

This award goes to the best all-round player across all divisions, and is awarded on an average points-per-game basis.

Sarah Forbes of Pembroke claims this award, as her total of 794 points across 12 matches sees her finishing with an average of 66.17 points per game. Rosie Neuman-Jones of North Kildare finishes a close second with an average score of 60.93, whilst both Jenny Sparrow and Louise Little also breached the 50 points per game barrier.

All Awards will be presented at the CL Awards Night & Gala Dinner, in the Round Room of the Mansion House, on January 24th! You can still buy tickets here - https://www.tickettailor.com/events/cricketleinster/1303948