Murrough’s vision is alive
Written in 2023
It is wholly appropriate that today’s finalists are Leinster CC and Waringstown CC. Two clubs that are among the longest established on the island and successful throughout their histories.
Indeed, Leinster were finalists in the first running of the competition although they came out on the wrong side of a rain affected final against North of Ireland CC in 1982. While Waringstown did not play in that first year, they showed their class in 1983 and won the trophy in their first effort. And what a team they were, simply the finest club side in the history of Irish cricket, the depth was incredible.
If the idea of an all island competition was to see who was the best it certainly succeeded, in those days Northern Cricket Union and North West Union sides were the best as the list of winners indicate.
It took 6 years for a Leinster side to break the Northern domination, if only for a brief interlude, when we in the Leinster Cricket Union breathed a collective sigh of relief as Phoenix got their hands on the trophy in 1986.
The idea had actually come from the Leinster region, specifically Leinster CC and even more specifically the irrepressible Murrough McDevitt. Announcing the competition in the Irish Cricket Yearbook 1982, Derek Scott praised the “industry, perseverance and smooth tongue” of McDevitt. An indication that he may have met some resistance to his idea, one senses.
Like most new competitions, it took time to settle down. You may be aware that the weather in Ireland is a little unpredictable and early season cancellations are not uncommon. Refixes became an issue.
This was a time of recession, there were also political issues, while travelling this island involved a lot more time on the road than it currently does.
The solutions involved some creative thinking and the ”bowl out” came into being. After the Thursday evening net had been completed, it became normal to practice bowling at an unguarded set of stumps in preparation for a potential washout.
The most unlikely players became bowl out specialists. Quick bowlers, it soon became apparent, were a bit of a disaster. In one bowl out, a Sri Lankan test bowler managed to bowl a bouncer when his turn came. A couple of opening batsmen thanked their lucky stars that the rain meant that it was not them facing this guy from 22 yards.
There are so many personal memories caught up in the Irish Senior Cup, memories on and off the pitch.
Apologies but beating Waringstown by 10 wickets is close but not quite top of the list. That is reserved for the wonderful bus journey home from a semi final win, by the skin of our teeth, against Woodvale. Players and supporters sang our hearts out until we realised that our bus driver had missed his turn and we were halfway to Enniskillen. Once back on the right road we continued to sing our hearts out. A journey that, I guarantee, no one on that bus will ever forget nor want to forget.
Clubs throughout the island, no doubt, will have their own version of that trip, the journey home after a great game, what a feeling.
Fast forward to the present day and the Irish Senior Cup is the premier club competition just as envisaged from the start. Glancing through the roll call of previous winners, it is clear that the best teams of their respective eras won the Cup.
After the domination from the Ulster clubs, North County was prolific in the 2000s and Waringstown, well they have remained competitive throughout the years. My own club [Clontarf] had their moment of glory in 2013 when Andrew Poynter played, arguably, the innings of his life to win the game.
As it should be, great occasions deserve great performances. In our first final appearance, Lurgan’s Ross McCollum’s blitzkrieg batting ensured that his team won that particular day.
I am happy to surmise, however, that Murrough’s vision for the competition was more than just another game of cricket. Going to new grounds, seeing new players and connecting with other clubs is perhaps the greatest gift that Murrough’s idea has brought to Irish cricket. The Hills CC always bought into that concept, the chance to travel, to see players that perhaps they had only heard about in the papers and an opportunity to show off their ground, their players and their particular brand of hospitality.
As Willie Dwyer from that club says, a great competition to get to know the family of Irish Cricket. Perfectly put, Willie.
Deryck Vincent
August 2023