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George Dockrell collected his second notable award of the 2012 season at the fifth annual Cricket Writers of Ireland Annual Dinner in Malahide CC. The Russell Court Hotel Player of the Year was his second award from CWI too, having won the Port Hotel Young Player of the Year in 2010.

In his speech George thanked those who cover the game in the media, and promised that the Irish team would continue to give them plenty to write about over the coming years.

The gala evening was graced by the presence of Ireland players Gary Wilson and William Porterfield, who arrived in Dublin earlier in the evening on the third leg of their marathon charity cycle. They told the attendance of their exploits on the road and were heartened by the great reception and support they had been getting throughout the country.

They were joined in Malahide by team-mates Trent Johnston, Ed Joyce, John Mooney, Paul Stirling, Max Sorenson, Kevin O’Brien, George Dockrell and James Shannon. A raffle for a signed shirt and VIP tickets to next season’s game against England yielded takings of €590 which were then passed on to Gary by the cricket writers for the appeal fund.

Ginger O’Brien and Gerry Duffy were inducted into the RSA Hall of Fame which has been a popular segment of the CWI dinner for several years. They join previous recipients Alec O’Riordan, Dougie Goodwin, Ivan Anderson, Stephen Warke, Ossie Colhoun and Roy Torrens.

Photo: Rob O’Connor/Rocshot Photography

James Shannon was named as Port Hotel Young Player of the Year, while Jonny Thompson of Brigade won the Ulster Bank Club Player of the Year award.

In recognition of his astonishing 17-ball fifty in his match-winning 79 against Afghanistan in the ICC World twenty20 qualifier final in Dubai, Paul Stirling won the CricketEurope Ireland Award for Outstanding Performance for 2012.

And Malahide and Ireland bat Clare Shillington was also presented with a special CWI Award for Outstanding Performance from Ireland captain Isobel Joyce. Clare became the first woman to win 100 caps for Ireland in September, when she also scored fifties against Pakistan and Bangladesh and her maiden international century against Netherlands.

The glittering affair in Malahide was the last presided over by chairman Robin Walsh, who steps down from the CWI when he becomes Cricket Ireland president in 2013. The occasion was tinged with sadness too, as Robin recalled the great former secretary of Cricket Ireland John Wright, whose 70th birthday would have been yesterday.


Barry Chambers
George Dockrell with Robin Walsh © Rob O’Connor/Rocshot Photography
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