News

We continue our build up to the Irish Women’s Team playing in the the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifying 2017 in Sri Lanka, where we had a chat with YMCA and Typhoons player Lucy O’Reilly.
How did you start playing cricket? Are there any other sports you play?

“We have a huge back garden at home, and me and my brother would be playing cricket in it all of the time. I joined CYMS but they had no girl’s cricket, so when I was seven I started to play with Leinster. When I was about nine I went to play for YMCA and that’s where I have been since!”

“I play hockey for Railway as well as for my school St. Andrews. I missed out on a cup semi- final with them because I had a bulging disc in my back, so I was really disappointed about the game, and my back! I also played Gaelic Football with Templeogue until I was about 12.”

How did you feel the 2016 season went for the team?

“At the end of 2015 we went to Thailand for the World T20 Qualifiers. It was the first tour that I went that had both Gaby and Robyn Lewis in it. They are close friends of mine and it was good fun with them. It was great to win that tournament, and it built up a really good team atmosphere for the rest of 2016. We hoped that the World T20 in India would go as well as Thailand would, but it didn’t happen that way. I think the big thing the team got from that was we played more games against the bigger nations, and it helped the squad in gaining experience in close contests, especially the game we played against Sri Lanka. This really helped us in those close games against South Africa in the summer.

“It was a great boost to beat South Africa at home. We played six games against a team that is ranked higher than us, and especially in the T20 Series, it showed how close this team is to nations such as South Africa. Those performances were more recognised at home, because people came along and actually saw us winning games, rather than reading it when we have done well away from home previously. They could see what this team is capable of doing.”

How do you feel about Kim Garth & Isobel Joyce playing in the WBBL?

“It is great to see two players from the Irish squad who are not just making up the number, but who are also contributing to the successes of their teams. They are showing what Irish players can do on the world stage, and it is great recognition of where this Irish team is going. I had a chat with Kim after her debut for the 6ers, and she said the day was unbelievable, with the big crowd, the players she is playing with and how she played herself.”

What have you been working on during the winter?

“The start of the winter was a bit weird for me because I was injured. It was frustrating since I couldn’t get on with my game and I had to focus on rehab. But after going through that, I really do appreciate how important your fitness and S&C is to your game. It was annoying that I had to do small workloads of S&C initially, but it was a blessing in disguise because I feel a lot stronger and well prepared physically for Sri Lanka. It was also good to have the break after the season.

“Preparation has been going well for the competition. I felt that the trip to La Manga was really good for me and the team. We were able to get a lot of work done out there to get us ready for Sri Lanka.”

What has Aaron Hamilton brought to your game?

“I think the big thing with Aaron is that he has been with us for longer than a year. So that gives us stability with our coach. He now knows our strengths and weaknesses, as well as knowing what each person is all about. Stability like that helps with getting to know him, and the same for him in getting to know us. He has helped me with a lot of cricket basic, which has been really good, as well as putting me in match scenarios, so I am more comfortable with that pressure when we are in a competitive game.”

What are you hoping for out of the World Cup Qualification in Sri Lanka?

“Definitely it is to qualify for the World Cup in England. I think if we did it, it would be a big boost for the women’s game in Ireland, and I feel that this squad is capable of getting there. We will have to play well to progress, but I think that we can do it.”

No
Connaught