Monday, July 28th, 2014
The final of the inaugural Cork T20 Cup will take place at Farmer’s Cross on Friday August 1st with a 6pm start time.
Cork County A and Cork Harlequins will contest the final and David Griffin, President of the Munster Cricket Union and the tournament referee will be on hand to present the trophy to the winning side.
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2014
The first semi-final of the Cork T20 Cup took place at the Mardyke on Monday evening where Cork County A took on UCC. UCC won the toss and asked County A to set a target. Peter Barlow and Barry O’Sullivan opened the batting for Cork County and some excellent running as well as the odd boundary helped County to 26 for no loss after 5 overs.
Barlow was first to depart, caught at point by Khan off the bowling of Tahir for 14. Scot Jeffers joined O’Sullivan and they succeeded in putting on 13 when O’Sullivan was out caught behind off Khan. Aidan Kelleher cover drove Khan to the boundary but fell next ball, caught by Tahir at cover point.
That wicket meant that County had reached 48-3 at the halfway stage and still had some work to do in order to set a sizeable target for UCC. Jeffers wasted no time in upping the run rate and took three consecutive fours from Ishmail Khan before dispatching a free hit to the square-leg boundary. Kevin O’Sullivan who had joined Jeffers at the crease when Kelleher was out continued to feed his partner the strike and the home side had reached 86-3 from 15 overs.
Shahrukh Baig eventually made the breakthrough for the visitors when Jeffers holed out to deep mid-wicket but not before he and O’Sullivan had put on a 52 run partnership to put County in a relatively strong position at 100-4 from 17.2 overs, Jeffers falling 9 runs short of a half century.
Chris Van Heerden joined Kevin O’Sullivan at the crease and took a single to square leg before O’Sullivan pulled a Baig free hit for six and then cut him for four. Some aggressive running helped to put pressure on the UCC fielders and they conceded four overthrows, helping County to 125-4 with one over remaining. Two runs came from the first two balls before O’Sullivan cut straight to gully for 20 out of 127-5. Chris Van Heerden finished off the innings with a boundary, flashing over the slips and County had set UCC a daunting target of 134 to win.
Kevin O’Sullivan opened the bowling for the Tennis Club End and took a wicket with his first ball, Singh edging through to Peter Barlow behind the stumps. Barry O’Sullivan bowled from the University End and had Abdullah Khan caught behind before bowling Bryan Deadman for a duck.
County were well on top at 26-3 and things soon got even better as Shahrukh Baig was bowled by Sachin Saxena for 19. Sean Power was next to go, bowled by Scot Jeffers and he was soon followed by UCC captain Ali, debutant Josh Van Heerden taking a terrific catch at short fine-leg.
Despite the efforts of Kevin Galvin and Danyal Siddiqui, it was always going to be an uphill struggle for UCC and when Galvin was caught by Aidan Kelleher off the bowling of Scot Jeffers the game was up for the away side.
Brian Kelliher(2) and Chris Van Heerden(1) picked up the final three UCC wickets for the loss of just 4 runs and County had completed a comprehensive victory by 62 runs. Cork County A now go on to face the winners of Cork Harlequins and Cork County B in the final of the inaugural Cork T20 Cup which is likely to be played at the Mardyke in a fortnight’s time.
Kevin O’Sullivan
Friday, June 27th, 2014
Saturday will see all three Cork County teams in action. The 1st XI travel to Dublin for a top of the table clash with Malahide in LCU Division 2. This game is sure to be a cracker with Cork County, unbeaten in league competitions so far this year set to take on a strong Malahide batting line-up including the likes of Reinhardt Strydom and Leinster Lightning batsman Fintan McAllister. County will travel North with great confidence having taken 24 points from their clash with Rush last week and will hope for a similar performance this weekend.
The 2nd XI host UCC at the Mardyke on the same day. With both teams looking for their first league wins, this game is sure to be a competitive one. UCC come into the game on the back of a four game losing streak while the home side endured a disappointing five wicket loss in Farmer’s Cross last Saturday. Ali Khan, Peter Barlow and Kevin O’Sullivan return to the team after the exams and together with the experience of Niall Tynan, Justin McGurk and Barry O’Sullivan aswell as exciting young talent in the form of the Kelleher brothers and Chris Van Heerden, County will be hoping for a winning performance.
Billy Quinn’s 3rd XI make the trip to Tralee to take on Kerry. A win would go a long way for both sides in the Division 3 league table, particularly for County ahead of their Cup tie with Cork Harlequins next weekend. Andrew Sommerfield and Ryan O’Connell return for County, bolstering a batting line-up which has had a slight dip in form recently. Home advantage could be key for Kerry with away sides tending to find the artificial wicket a daunting prospect recently.
The 1st XI return to Munster league action on Sunday when Clare visit the Mardyke. County have been in spectacular form in Munster recently, with the experienced core of Ross Durity, Robert Duggan, Morne Bauer and Stephan Grobler all in terrific form with the bat. Clare have also had their share of success in recent weeks with the demolition of Cork Harlequins in Farmer’s Cross last weekend the highlight. This game could have an important say in deciding the Munster Division 1 title and both teams will have their sights fixed on a win.
Friday, June 20th, 2014
It is with great disappointment that Cork County have been forced to forfeit their Munster Senior Cup Quarter Final tie with Tipperary County Cricket Club which took place on Sunday, 11th May, due to fielding an ineligible player. The player in question was Rory O’Keeffe who had joined the club from Cork Harlequins during the off-season. Cork County went on to win the fixture by 186 runs.
The Club acknowledge that the selection of Rory for this Cup fixture was a mistake and an oversight as he was subject to a 2 match ban handed down by the Munster Cricket Union at the end of the 2013 season, while he was still a Cork Harlequins player, and which was due to be carried over into the start of this season.
The Munster Senior Cup as a competition has always been held in high regard by the players and supporters of Cork County having won the trophy seven times in the past ten years, and so it is extremely disappointing to have been eliminated in this manner but the Club looks forward to returning to the competition in 2015. The Club also remains firmly focused on achieving success in both Munster Division 1 and Leinster Division 2 competitions this season.
Friday, January 17th, 2014
The Munster Cricket Umpires Association (MCUA) are once again looking at organising an MCU Pre-Season Level 1 Umpire Training Course in 2014.
It would need between 10 and 12 full participants to make this viable at a reasonable cost (for attendees approximately €50 which includeds course materials) and the MCU will also contribute more or less the same total amount. Provided we have sufficient uptake the location shall be decided based on where the majority of the participants come from – which may be some central location if the participants come from throughout the MCU catchment area. Up to 2013 it was held in either Cork or Midleton (College) while last year it was in the Woodlands Hotel, Adare.
In addition to first time participants, those who have attended an earlier Level 1 (or indeed the old ACU&S Level 6 course) and who have not passed the examination, are welcome to attend the course again and re-sit the examination. While all interested persons are welcome to attend, we are particularly keen and shall give priority if necessary, to individuals who shall be available on a fairly regularly basis to umpire matches throughout the season.
The course shall be run with the assistance of our LCU&SA colleagues Alan Tuffery and David Walsh. I shall also be involved this year, having attended a Level 1 umpire Tutor Training Course in early December last, but one of my LCU&SA colleagues shall be the Lead Tutor, as this requires that individual to have involved in giving such courses on a number of occasions before being a Lead Tutor.
The most likely dates for this at the moment are as follows:-
An outline template for the Level 1 course is attached. It should be noted small variations may occur from year to year in the content. All topics that are likely to be included in the examination will be covered; indeed for many of the questions the Powerpoint slides used during the course will be used in the examination questions.
If you are interested in attending the Level 1 course or are aware of a fellow club member who would be interested, please contact David Griffin at dmagriffin6@hotmail.com.
The LCU&SA Training Officer, Inge Bevers (lcusaeducation@yahoo.ie) , intends to run a Level 1a course in Terenure Cricket Club on the 1st & 2nd March. Those who have attended a level 1 course and also sat and passed Level 1 course examination are eligible to attend. The LCU&SA could facilitate one or two of our qualified umpires for this course. Some experience of umpiring (at least over a season) after passing the examination is also very desirable before doing a Level 1a course. Liam Hale and Ger O’Sullivan have done this course already and they shall give you further information on what is involved if you approach them. Ger has recently completed a Level 2 course recently and has already passed the written part of that course – he is now the highest qualified umpire in Munster having only sat Level 1 in March 2012!
If any of you are interested in the Level 1a course please contact Michael Hickey at mfhickey@oceanfree.net.
Friday, November 1st, 2013
The Munster Cricket Union Annual Awards night will take place on Friday, 8th November, starting at 8 p.m. at The Mardyke cricket grounds.
After a great year of cricket in Munster, which had many highlights, it will be a great night to honour those players and teams who excelled during the season.
Among the awards to be presented on the night are the Senior, Junior and Minor Players of the year.
Cricket Ireland President Robin Walsh will be the Special Guest of Honour. and finger food will be available on the night.
Cork County had a clean sweep of all Munster Senior competitions while also coming close in Division 2 so it will be a good chance for players and supporters to celebrate the season’s achievements ahead of next Friday’s Annual Club Dinner.
Monday, July 8th, 2013
Cork County 2 took on Co. Clare 2 on a bright, sunny summer’s Saturday afternoon at the Mardyke. It was technically Clare’s home game but due to lack of a ground in which to play they had to make the long trip down to Cork for the game.
Jeremy Mace won the toss for Clare and chose to bat on what looked an absolute belter of a wicket. It was County who got the upper hand immediately though, Junaid Amin (4-9) trapping Patrick McDonnell (0) lbw with the 5th ball of the innings.
Gurpreet (6) and Danish Ikram (12) then put on a decent partnership before the latter nicked off to Oliver Creedon (2-25). Gurpreet soon followed lbw, the bowling of Oscar Cotter (1-26) far too good for him.
County captain Kevin O’Sullivan had 5 seamers to choose from and it was first change bowler Oliver Creedon who picked up the next wicket, John O’Brien (14) chipping straight back to the bowler.
Wickets fell in a hurry after that, Martin Keohane taking a fine catch at point to dismiss Manvinder (6) off the bowling of Hugh O’Brien and Jeremy Mace the recipient of a golden duck, again off O’Brien.
John McDonnell’s middle stump was dislodged by Justin McGurk(1-40) and Richard Morton was bowled by the excellent Junaid for just 9.
Clare were in deep trouble and it went from bad to worse for them when they lost top-scorer Rajan (27) and tailender Tom Jones (0) in Junaid’s final over to finish on a below-par 113 all out. With the pitch playing beautifully, they would have expected at least 175 from their allocated overs.
After the interval, County went after the target with a vengeance, Brad Morgan (56*) smashing the Clare bowlers to all parts of the ground. After the slight inconvenience of losing opener Oliver Creedon (2) lbw to Jeremy Mace, the ‘away’ side took a more careful approach to things.
Watchful batting by Ian Coleman (30*) and Morgan getting County comfortably over the line in the 14th over.
A fantastic performance by Cork County 2 resulted in a 9 wicket win which puts them second in the division two table with four league games remaining.
Monday, July 1st, 2013
Cork County 2 welcomed Limerick 1 to the Mardyke on Sunday 30th June for a Division 2 fixture. Conditions were perfect for cricket, the cloud cover that had been around in the morning moving away just as play began.
Kevin O’Sullivan won the toss for County and he chose to bowl first on the grass wicket which had been used the previous day. The decision looked a good one as opening bowler Junaid Amin(4-33) accounted for Limerick skipper Nigel Aspinall(0) lbw in his second over.
Fellow opener Farooq Hussain(1) also departed quickly, edging behind to Ian Coleman, again off Junaid. Things soon got worse for the visitors; Niranjan Srinivasan bowled by Ahmed Bilal(1-29) for 3 and Tariq Shah(2) caught and bowled by Junaid to leave the score at 14-4.
Waqas Jamal(18) and Hashir Sultan(24) put on a good partnership to steady the ship for Limerick but the persistently good line of Junaid Amin eventually made the breakthrough, Sultan attempting to slog through mid-wicket but instead losing his middle stump.
Shane Burke(55) joined Waqas at the crease and succeeded in frustrating the home side’s bowlers with some excellent shots straight down the ground. O’Sullivan adjusted his bowlers, bringing on Narsa Renjarla(1-28), Brad Morgan(0-48) and John Kelly(2-32) but still could not find a breakthrough until the first over after drinks when Paul McDowell ran out Waqas.
County thought they had regained the momentum when Kevin O’Sullivan caught Shane Burke off the bowling of John Kelly but the square leg umpire seemed to think it was above waist height so the wicket was chalked off. It did not matter however as Kelly had James Spencer(0) caught at square leg just two balls later.
After the wicket of Asif Shahab(15) had fallen it looked as though County would rip through the tail but nothing could have been further from the truth. A brilliant 45* from Fassy Ahmed helped Limerick to get to 203 all out; Renjarla taking the final wicket by bowling Stephen Cheatley(2) after some valiant defence from the number 11.
The Leesiders were visibly disappointed at the interval, poor bowling and sluggish fielding having cost them dearly. Nevertheless openers Brad Morgan and Ian Coleman took to their task with ease, dispatching openers Fassy Ahmed(0-43) and Hashir Sultan(0-38) to all parts of the ground. Morgan, who had hit the two previous deliveries for four, got a life when he skied one to cover off Ahmed only to be dropped.
Nigel Aspinall brought in Asif Shahab(0-26) from the River End but he could not make a breakthrough, the score ticking along to 94-0 before Morgan eventually departed for 49, caught at point off Spencer(4-44)after he skied one attempting to tickle down the leg side.
Hughes and Coleman(53) continued to push along the run rate, the young wicketkeeper bringing up his half-century with a single to mid-wicket. The home side lost Hughes(11) to an inswinger from Spencer which clipped the top of middle stump.
Aidan Kelliher joined Coleman at the crease but the partnership was only 19 runs strong when Coleman was caught behind off Spencer. Kelliher(10) soon followed; falling lbw to the same bowler.
John Kelly(5) holed out to Asif Shahab at mid-on off Stephen Cheatley(1-24) and it was left to Ahmed Bilal(22*) and Paul McDowell(8*) to finish off the job for County sealing a five wicket win for the home side and propelling them into second place in the Division 2 table.
Monday, June 24th, 2013
Cork County 1 travelled to the Lydican on a dreary June Saturday for a Munster Senior Cup quarter-final clash against last year’s beaten finalists Galway. Persistent rain through Thursday and Friday aswell as on Saturday morning had left the artificial wicket slippery and the outfield damp.
Galway captain Danish Ali won the toss and took the obvious decision to bowl first. Due to the damp conditions the start was delayed until 12.45 and the game reduced to 44 overs per side. Ross Durity and Mirza Baig opened the batting for the visitors and despite the ball skidding on produced some expansive shots to put County in a commanding position at 28 for no loss after four overs. Durity departed for 18 from 22 balls, edging Waqqas to ‘keeper Ronan Mahon. Baig(12) soon followed, bowled via an inside edge off the bowling of M. Ali(1-7). Ian Coleman was joined at the crease by Morne Bauer but the partnership did not last long, the latter bowled second ball by an excellent inswinging delivery from Rohit Bisla(1-38).
Robert Duggan(35) and Coleman(27) then put together a fluent partnership with most of the runs coming through boundaries. Galway bowlers Danish Ali, Conor Mullen and Jaffer Hussain all attempted to provide a breakthrough which eventually came courtesy of a run out, Coleman deciding to take on the throw of Waqqas at fine leg and losing out. Robert Duggan had racked up three boundaries to this point and he along with new batsman Oliver Creedon continued to add quick runs to the scoreboard. Three boundaries from Creedon along with two more from Duggan including a lofted four over mid-wicket brought County to 117-4 before both batsmen perished; Creedon(13) caught behind and Duggan bowled both courtesy of Umair(2-20).
Captain Andy Wootton(9) was bowled by Danish Ali and things looked bleak for County with 8 overs remaining but Ahmed Bilal produced two fantastic straight sixes aswell as finding the boundary at mid-wicket for four after being dropped at long off. Peter Barlow(3) attempted to support his big-hitting partner but found it hard to beat the close fielders. Bilal eventually fell for a memorable 21 off 33 deliveries, Junaid Amin fell first ball to Waqqas(3-24) and Barlow was run out attempting a single, Kevin O’Sullivan finishing 0* and Cork County at least thirty short of where they wanted to be at 168 all out after 42 overs.
After a short tea-break County took to the field and Andy Wootton made a breakthrough in the very first over, Kevin O’Sullivan taking an excellent catch diving forward at mid-off. Iliff Summitt(2) soon followed his opening partner back to the pavilion, caught by Oliver Creedon at extra-cover, again off Wootton. With the ball swinging and the surface still wet, batting conditions were difficult and opening bowler’s Bilal(2-17) and Wootton(5-14) made the most of it with two brilliant spells. Galway’s third wicket fell to Bilal, Umair Chaudry(13) pulling a short pitched delivery to Kevin O’Sullivan at fine leg.
Rohit Bisla was next to perish, caught at slip by Bauer off Wootton for just one. Conor Mullen(0) survived one stumping appeal but fell to the very next ball, Ian Coleman with great work behind the stumps to send Mullen back to the hutch. Galway’s dangerman Waqqas was removed second ball, edging a swinging delivery from Bilal to Coleman behind the stumps. Jaffer Hussain and M.Ali didn’t last long either; the former caught off Wootton for his fifth wicket, the latter caught off Junaid Amin(1-15).
Danish Ali(33) and Sajjad Mahmood(15*) put up a bit of a fight for the home side and it took three bowling changes to eventually break the partnership, seamer Morne Bauer(1-8) having Ali caught by Peter Barlow at mid-wicket. The game was soon up for Galway, Robert Duggan(1-2) sealing victory for the Leesiders with the wicket of S.Khan(0) and condemning them to a 78 run loss. Cork County will now face Clare at the Mardyke in the semi-final as they bid to retain their Senior Cup crown.
Saturday, June 8th, 2013
Cork County take on Cork Harlequins in Munster League Division 1 tomorrow in cricket’s form of a Cork local derby at the Mardyke. The match, which starts at 12.00 p.m., sees the two top sides face each other for the first time this season.
Cork County have had a great start to the season having won 5 from 5 in Leinster League Division 3 and also winning their opening match of the Munster league campaign against Limerick Raiders. Though its still early days, these fixtures usually have a big bearing on where the silverware ends up at the end of the Munster cricket season.
Due to Cork County’s strong start to the season, Harlequins have had to draft in two experienced players from Dublin in the form of Irish International John Mooney and Stephen Moreton for the game. County will have a good blend of youth and experience with the likes of Morne Bauer, Ross Durity, Ian Coleman and Oliver Creedon which has served them well so far this campaign.
For those interested, the match starts at 12.00 p.m. at the Mardyke and with the weather set fair it should be a great day out. All are welcome to pop in with no admission fee required.
