Railway Union Annual 2018

11th Edition

Park Avenue, Sandymount, 4.

Railway Union Cricket Club @railwaycricket Showing all major sporting events on our 20+ large TVs and Projector Screens both Indoor and Outdoor. Also supporting the 1st ever 5-day IrelandIreland TestTest vv PakistanPakistan atat ,Malahide, startingstarting MayMay 11th11th andand thethe twotwo IrelandIreland vv IndiaIndia one-dayone-day internationalsinternationals onon JuneJune 27th27th andand JuneJune 29th29th Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

RAILWAY UNION CRICKET ANNUAL 2018 Willow Lodge, Park Avenue, Sandymount, Dublin 4, +353 1 2691783 Website: http://railwayunionsc.com @railwaycricket Railway Union Cricket Club Editors: David P Carroll and Francis Xavier Carty Published by Railway Union Cricket Club Printers: Donegal Printing Company, Letterkenny, 074 9121710

CONTENTS

Messages, RUCC president, Cricket Leinster president 2 Vice presidents 4 General Committee 2018 6 Club captains 2018 8 Welcome back to Ranil for 2018 season 8 Thank you to the hosts for many of our ‘home’ games in 2017 10 Annual awards and dinner night 2017 11 Arthur Deeny 12 Great chase in Malahide almost succeeds 16 End of season youth awards night 19 St Michael’s capture Primary Schools Super League 23 150 – congrats to sporting colleagues & neighbours Pembroke 26 Rohingya refugees drive cricket revival in Carlow 28 Cricket in Carlow – a recollection from 1962 31 Message from Philip Smith, general manager, Cricket Leinster 34 Railway Union senior fixtures 2018 35 One step forward, two steps back 43 Alex Stiles in Australia 45 “Hard work, there is no substitute” – ’s new coach 47 Irish Universities Indoor Championships 53 “A sense of truth and honesty pervades all of the writing” 54 Club weekend in and Limerick early 1960s 56 From eyesore to icon - the Poolbeg chimneys 58 Five in five balls … 59 Under 18s, 1959: Champions of Leinster 60 Statistics and Highlights 2017 61

Cover design: David P Carroll, photo of Ranil Dhammika, courtesy Joe Curtis

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Brendan O’Brien, RUCC president

IT IS AGAIN my great pleasure, as president of Railway Union Cricket Club, to welcome to Park Avenue all members, visitors, and supporters during the 2018 season. We look forward to making new friends and renewing old acquaintances during the year.

This season will also see the unveiling of our new cricket square, which was raised and relayed in 2017 and resulted in so little senior cricket in Park Avenue. It seems to have been successful with a lovely covering of grass and no flooding at all during the winter months. To give the square even more time to settle, our first home Senior League fixture is not until 2nd June, though we do welcome Burndennett to Railway on Saturday, 19th May in an Irish National Cup fixture. We hope to host our vice presidents’ lunch on that day.

I wish all captains, players, and teams a most enjoyable season. Like most clubs we rely on a small number of dedicated members to our section, our committee, vice presidents, coaches and members; their continued help is greatly appreciated and any assistance you can offer will be most welcome.

Running a cricket club these days continues to be difficult financially and I would ask all members and friends of Railway Union to continue to support all functions and social activities during the year.

Finally, I hope you enjoy this year’s Annual and that all readers will fully support those who kindly placed advertisements to make the publication possible.

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Derek Dockrell, president Cricket Leinster

MEMBERS AND FRIENDS of Railway Union CC,

It gives me great pleasure as president of Cricket Leinster, to wish you all the best for the 2018 season.

The season will have many challenges for all clubs, their players and members. For Railway Union CC, there will be challenges also but the improved facilities should act as an incentive to develop the club further in the coming season and as a catalyst in the years to come.

2018 will see the new Laws of Cricket introduced to all games and the revamped Spirit of Cricket setting out how the game should be played. Ensuring that games are played in the right spirit is very important for the game, for youths starting to play the game and for retaining recreational cricketers. I would ask players to respect their opponents and the officials and to play hard but fair; where there are no official umpires, it is particularly important that clubs and captains show leadership on what is acceptable and what is not. The game belongs to the clubs as well as to the players and it is up to all to ensure that it is played in the right spirit and atmosphere.

The season will also be important for Irish cricket with the hosting of the first test match in Ireland following ’s elevation to full membership of the ICC. As Ger Siggins pointed out, our first test match against Pakistan was the women’s test match at College Park in 2000 (which Ireland won). The test match v Pakistan, along with two T20 international matches against India, will provide us with high profile matches here and allow us to see two of the best teams in the world.

To Brendan as president, to members (both playing and non-playing) and especially to all those who work hard for the club, I hope you all have an enjoyable and memorable year in 2018 - the 99th year of Cricket Leinster/ LCU.

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Railway Union Cricket Club Founded in 1904

President 2018: Brendan O’Brien

Vice-presidents R Arulchelvan BA Grehan F O’Neill F Austin P Grehan D Robb P Barry S Grehan H O’Reilly P Byrne GS Guthrie G Penney B Carpenter L Ingram J Phelan DP Carroll N Jagoe F Savino FX Carty G Johnston G Siggins G Chisholm V Keeley B Smyth N Clarke J Mackenzie DJ Stirrat E Coburn J McNally JC Stirrat J Cohen R Molins M Tariq G Connolly T Mullen E Tillain B Donnelly AL Noone CH Tipping D Donnelly Camilla O’Brien DO Tipping J Donnelly Dermot O’Brien FO Whelan M Flanagan GF O’Brien M Whelan JR Green V O’Meara

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General Committee 2018

Brendan A O’Brien, President 42 Gilford Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4; 2692570; [email protected]

Gerard F O’Brien, Hon Treasurer 4 College Park, Terenure, Dublin 6w; 01 4928068; 086 3232566; [email protected]

Derek Carroll, Hon Team Secretary 13 Trimleston Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin; 01 2691480; 086 0622999; [email protected]

Ciaran Divney, 1st XI 24 Derrynane Gardens, Bath Avenue, Dublin 4; 086 3066040; [email protected]

Kenny Carroll 13 Trimleston Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin; 01 2691480; 087 2757486; [email protected]

Simon Grehan 3 Loretto Villas, Sidmonton Road, Bray, Co Wicklow; 01 2860839; 086 8725271; [email protected]

Nagesh Yadav [email protected]

Upender Reddy 32 The Courtyard, Hill Street, Dublin 1; 086 7915410; [email protected]

Senior coach: Kevin O’Herlihy 085 7130390

Child Protection: Designated person: Franz Savino: [email protected]; 085 7200649 Child protection officers: Simon Grehan (male): [email protected]; 087 1227600 Eva Fairmaner (female): [email protected]; 086 8539944 The cricket club is affiliated to CricketIreland, whose child safeguarding policy is located at:http://www.cricketireland.ie/about/child-safeguarding/ As part of affiliation we adopt the manual an its policies

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Club captains 2018

1st XI: Ciaran Divney 24 Derrynane Gardens, Bath Avenue, Dublin 4; 086 3066040; [email protected]

2nd XI: Shariq Khan 083 120 1992; [email protected]

3rd XI: Upender Reddy 32 The Courtyard, Hill Street, Dublin 1; 086 7915410; [email protected]

4th XI: Ajith Ravi [email protected]

Welcome back to Ranil for 2018 season

RAILWAY UNION Cricket Club extends a warm welcome back to Dublin to Ranil Dhammika for the 2018 season. Having made such an excellent contribution, both on and off the field, to our Club in 2017, we were delighted to engage Ranil for 2018.

Ranil joins us from High Wycombe CC, Perth, Western Australia where he has been playing with distinction throughout their season.

We look forward to a continuation of his form and to his experience and leadership assisting our young players develop and reach their potential.

(Photo courtesy Joe Curtis)

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Thank you to the hosts for many of our ‘home’ games in 2017

RAILWAY UNION CRICKET CLUB endured a difficult and nomadic season in 2017. Due to re-development work, Park Avenue was not in a position to host matches in April or May and subsequently there were no grass pitches prepared to play upon. In addition, our boundary was shortened to facilitate a temporary corporate marquee. As a result, with one exception, all of our 1stX1 matches had to be played away from Park Avenue.

We would like to thank Peter Savill of Oak Hill for making his beautiful ground available to us for several of our 1stX1 matches and to Russell also for making us welcome at the ground.

In order to get through our fixture list, a number of clubs allowed us to concede home advantage and played on their grounds. We also made use of Wesley College and RCSI in Dardistown to play some of our ‘home’ matches.

To everyone who assisted us, in any way, in 2017 to fulfil our fixture list, we would like to say “A Big Thank You”.

We look forward to being back in Park Avenue for a full season in 2018. During last autumn, our square was completely renovated by the contracting firm of Mark Harris, under the direction of our UK grounds consultant, Alan Lewis.

Lots to look forward to in 2018, back in Park Avenue. Some sunshine would be nice as well!

(courtesy Tom Honan Photos)

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Annual awards and dinner night 2017

All photos by Nagesh Yadav

HIGHLIGHTS Centurions: 1st XI: Kevin O’Brien (3), Alex Stiles (2); 2nd XI: Saad Ullah; 3rd XI: Imtiaz Nazir (2), Gerard O’Brien; 4th XI: Tyron Kritzinger Team distinctions: 1st XI: Leinster Senior Cup semi-final; 3rd XI: YMCA Salver final Record breakers: Ist XI: Ciarán Divney, -keeper, 7 victims in a match, 6 , 1 , plus 1 runout. All-time Railway Union and Leinster record. Alex Stiles & Ciarán Divney, 9th wicket stand of 190, another Railway and all- time Leinster record according to available statistics. Hat-Tricks: Adriaan van Dyk (3rd XI)

REPRESENTATIVE Senior International: Niall O’Brien, Kevin O’Brien Senior Interprovincial: Niall O’Brien (North-West Warriors) and Kevin O’Brien ()

CLUB Ernie Banks Cup for Outstanding Achievement: Simon Grehan Young Player of the Year: Alex Stiles Under 17 Player of the Year: Tyron Kritzinger President’s Cup for Most Wickets: Fakhar Zaman (25) Joey O’Meara Cup for Most Sixes: Kevin O’Brien (22) Most runs: (571)

PLAYERS OF THE YEAR 1st XI: Rachit Gaur 2nd XI: Fakhar Zaman 3rd XI: Adriaan van Dyk 4th XI: Rahul & Roshan Gomes

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YOUTH REPRESENTATIVE HONOURS Under 17 International & Interprovincial: Alex Stiles Under 15 Interprovincial: Patrick Guest, Alex Stiles Under 13 Interprovincial: Mark Canniffe, Seán O’Brien (Munster)

Patrick Guest (left) and Alex Stiles with the Leinster Under 15 Interprovincial Champions trophy (courtesy CricketEurope)

Arthur Deeny

Railway Union Cricket Club was saddened to hear of the death of Arthur Deeny in March. For a long number of years, Arthur was a popular member of the ‘Slammers’ Taverners X1, who often use Park Avenue for their matches. He was always friendly and witty and generously supported social events in Railway Union on many occasions. We extend our sympathy to his family and to his circle of many friends in the cricket world.

The Sunday Independent tribute to him said that he left the memory of a life lived nobly.

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Great chase in Malahide almost succeeds

IT DID NOT look good for the 1st XI when Malahide hit them to 333 for 5 in their league game at Malahide on 29th April 2017, but a remarkable chase developed. Railway tumbled to 79 for 8 and even the hardiest supporters were making their way to the train station. All of the eight victims had gone for single figures. Standing alone was 15-year-old Alex Stiles with only a handful of senior appearances behind him and a top score of 10. He was approaching his half and joined by wicket-keeper Ciarán Divney who had a previous best of 16 not out.

Then came the whirlwind. The score had raced to 269 when the ninth wicket fell, a record stand of 190 for Railway and, it is believed, for the whole of Leinster senior cricket since the league started in 1919. Alex Stiles was aloft with 151 not out, the youngest centurion in the club’s history. He faced 149 balls with 4 sixes and 15 fours. Ciarán Divney was out for 80 in 77 balls with 1 six and 13 fours. The final wicket fell at 272, defeat for Railway by 61 runs but an occasion for the annals.

There was to be more for Alex and Ciarán in the weeks to come. Alex scored another century, 108, against North Kildare at Park Avenue, the only home senior league game of the year because of the development work at Park Avenue. Alex faced 94 balls with 2 sixes and 13 fours. Railway won that North Kildare game on 15 July by a massive 280 runs, with Kevin O’Brien slamming 125 not out off 85 balls with 8 sixes and 9 fours.

Ciarán Divney had a remarkable game behind the stumps against Terenure, at Terenure, on 10th June. He took 6 catches, made one stumping and achieved a runout as Terenure fell for 141 all out. Ciarán’s feat was definitely a Railway record and, again, possibly a record for all Leinster. Railway has been fortunate to have had some great wicket-keepers in its time. First, there was international player, Frank Miller. Then, into his footsteps came the late, and greatly missed, Dessie Byrne who had six dismissals against Pembroke at Park Avenue in 1972 and they were all stumped. Three years later Dessie had 5 dismissals against Merrion at Anglesea Road with 3 catches and 2 stumpings. There was one other wicket-keeper with 6 dismissals, Brendan (Ginger) O’Brien in 1987 and his were 6 catches. Others with 5 dismissals have included Niall O’Brien in 2001 and 2002, Adrian Murphy in 2005 and James Rogan in 2006. Niall’s performances at county and international level have, of course, become the stuff of legends, including 200 catches and 37 stumpings to become Ireland’s record wicket-keeper through his 212 caps.

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Jim O’Callaghan TD Cllr. Frank Kennedy

Front Bench Spokesperson on Justice & Equality

Contact: Fianna Fáil Constituency Office: (Pembroke-South 37 South Richmond Street Dock) Portobello, Dublin 2

01 4758943 [email protected] www.jimocallaghan.com Twitter: @OcallaghanJim Facebook: Jim O’Callaghan TD

Advice Clinic: Tel: 087-3383972 Wednesday 6-7 pm St. Andrews Resource Centre E-mail: [email protected] 114-116 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 Web: www.frankjkennedy Twitter: @frankjkennedy Wednesday 7-8 pm Ringsend Irishtown Community Centre Facebook: /frankkennedy.ie Thorncastle Street, Dublin 4

Also available for meetings at Constituency Office in Portobello

Jim and Frank wish Railway Union CC every success for the 2018 season PAUL GUINEE Hygiene and Catering Supplies

Phone 087-2582935 [email protected]

Best Wishes to RAILWAY UNION CRICKET CLUB For the 2018 season

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In a season of special feats Kevin O’Brien gets a special mention. In just five league and cup games, when he was available from international and interprovincial duties, he scored three thundering centuries – 125 not out against North Kildare, as described above, 101 not out against Terenure at Terenure and 114 not out against Rush at Kenure. He had a whopping total of 361 runs for twice out, an average of 180.50, and it came in 293 balls with 19 sixes and 28 fours.

This was not the first time for a Railway batsman to score three centuries in a season but it was the first in so few and for such a high average. Australian Pat Collins hit 5 centuries in 2013, South African John Anderson had 3 in 2006 but Kenny Carroll has a special niche with 3 centuries twice, in 2006 and 2010.

We are indebted to the late Derek Scott and to Judy Cohen for the availability of these statistics which refer only to Leinster League and Senior Cup games

Alex Stiles (right) and Ciarán Divney at Malahide after their sensational .

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End of season youth awards night

THERE WAS a great turnout of players, families and friends on 1st September 2017 for the final night of the season. The coaches congratulated all of the players on another successful and enjoyable season. Players who had made the extra effort to improve their skills by working hard at practice and during matches were commended.

Award-winners included:

Under-15: Brian Barron, Louis Clarke, Rahul Gomes.

Under-13: Michael O’Reilly, Caoimhín Cronin, Sol McDonagh- Cunningham, Oisín Hughes, Des McMahon, Hugh Dolan.

Under-11: Jack Fairmaner, Alan Holland, Ben Twomey, GP McGrath, Vishal and Kushal Gopal, Oscar Stevenson

Under-9: Robert O’Brien, Johnny Woods, Laclann Honan.

Head coach Kevin O’Herlihy and club president Brendan O’Brien present Francis Manzocchi with the Ricky Ponting Cup. This cup, initiated by Pat Collins, our overseas player 2011-14, is an annual award for outstanding fielding ability.

All photos from the youth awards night, pages 19, 20 and 22 are courtesy Tom Honan Photos

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St Michael’s capture Primary Schools Super League

ST MICHAEL’S JUNIOR SCHOOL in Ballsbridge continued the successful run of schools from Dublin 4 in Leinster primary schools cricket competitions. In 2016, St Matthew’s NS were winners of the Leprechaun Cup and last year, St Michael’s College, competing for the first time in the Super League competition, secured a nine-run victory in the final against the holders, St Mary’s College, at Kenilworth Square on Monday 29th May.

Railway Union’s Mark Canniffe captained the St Michael’s team, which also included Michael O’Reilly and Aiden O’Carroll. Congratulations to all three players.

Cricket Leinster development officer, Brian O’Rourke, reported that the 2017 Super League was again a huge success with eight schools participating and plans were already in place to add several more schools into the competition for 2018. The competition ran parallel to the Leprechaun Cup, a ‘development’ competition involving 42 primary schools, a competition that remains the flagship of the ’s development programme.

Barry McCarthy, senior Irish international pace bowler, is a past pupil of St Michael’s. Let’s hope there are other future internationals among the 2017 winning team.

Blue Insurance kindly sponsored the 2017 Leinster primary schools competitions.

Mark Canniffe, captain of the St Michaels team, and member of Railway Union, receives the Leinster Super League Cup from Brían O’Rourke, Cricket Leinster development officer (photo courtesy Rodney Smythe)

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Super League final 2017, at Kenilworth Square St Michael’s College v St Mary’s College St Michael’s College: 92 (24.3 overs), Mark Canniffe 45, Harry Barniville 3-5, Adam Finlay 2-11, Daniel McNulty 2-27 St Mary’s College: 83 for 9 (25 overs), Thomas Paterson 18, Harry Barniville 10, Cillian De Burca 3-20, Gavin O’Donnell 1-5 St Michael’s College won by 9 runs

Railway Union boys St Michael’s to victory (photos courtesy Rodney Smythe)

Eoghan Grehan in The Netherlands with ‘Leps’

Eoghan Grehan (front row, extreme right) went to The Netherlands with the ‘Leps’ in 2017 to continue a long tradition of Park Avenue cricketers representing Leprechauns CC on tour (photo courtesy Dick Forrest)

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150 not out! Congratulations to our sporting colleagues and neighbours in Pembroke

2018 MARKS the remarkable 150-year anniversary of that was founded in 1868 under the patronage of the Earl of Pembroke. The Club has been ever present at Sydney Parade since that year, which is a truly remarkable and proud record. Along with Phoenix, Dublin University and Leinster CC, Pembroke are one the oldest clubs in Leinster and Ireland. They had the distinction of being the initial winners of both the Leinster League and Leinster Senior Cup. From amongst its members it has provided many distinguished administrators and players at international and interprovincial level. and Barry McCarthy are current internationals of distinction while has been a trailblazer for women’s cricket in Ireland.

Over the years, many fine sportsmen have played with distinction in both clubs, particularly with Pembroke cricketers playing hockey in Railway Union during the winter. At present, a number of boys from Pembroke CC enjoy hockey in Railway during winter months, giving them an opportunity to play and enjoy multiple sports and make new friendships.

We wish Pembroke continued success and longevity and look forward to many more years of friendship and keen rivalry when our two clubs meet.

Railway boys meet Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s

Seán O’Brien, Rory Honan and Hugh Dolan travelled to Lord’s to see Ireland play and there they happened to meet Jonny Bairstow!

Photo: Courtesy Tom Honan Photos

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Niall O’Brien meets up in Melbourne, Australia with Shannon Young, Railway Union overseas player 2001

A Railway dynasty, the Grehans. First there was the late Peter, Snr, then his sons Brian and Peter, Jnr, then Brian’s son Simon and Simon’s son Eoghan and then Peter, Jnr’s grandsons Philippe and Peter le Roux. From left: Philippe, Eoghan, Simon and Peter, Jnr. Philippe, Eoghan and Simon played together for the 2nd XI v North County, at Inch, in 2017

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Rohingya refugees drive cricket revival in Carlow David P. Carroll reports

SUNDAY, 30 JULY 2017 was an important date in the annals of cricket in County Carlow as the newly re-established Carlow Cricket Club opened its new ground at Carlow College in the heart of the town. By doing so, they saw cricket return to a beautiful ground where the sport was played 150 years earlier. Prior to moving to Carlow College, Carlow Rugby Club at Oak Park had kindly facilitated the cricketers since their re-establishment.

The first recorded cricket match in Carlow goes all the way back to1823. The original cricket club was founded by the encouragement of Col. Horace Rochfort, a wealthy landlord and a prominent sportsman who was also instrumental in establishing County Carlow Football Club. History tells us that Carlow landlords had an involvement in the establishment of oldest club in 1830.

Since that time, cricket in Carlow had a rich history intertwined with the many political and social upheavals that took place over the years. In 1983, Norman McMillan and Des Foot wrote an excellent One Hundred and Fifty Years of Cricket and Sport in County Carlow - An Illustrated Social History of Conflict and Sport 1823 –1981. This booklet tells the interesting story of cricket in Carlow and in Bagenalstown.

Unfortunately, cricket lapsed in Carlow town in 1982 and it was left to Bagenalstown to carry the flag alone for County Carlow until the re- establishment of the sport in Carlow town in 2011. It is a wonderful story and much of the impetus is due to the Rohingya refugees who were resettled in Carlow town in 2009. Carlow Regional Youth Services were faced with the question of how best to provide facilities to a sizeable group of largely young Rohingya refugees who were keen on playing cricket.

The Rohingya are an ethnic group from Myanmar (Burma). Victims of ethnic cleansing, 2 million Rohingya have been living in refugee camps in Bangladesh for over twenty years. In 2009, sixty-four Rohingya programme refugees were resettled in Carlow Town, under the United Nations Refugee Programme. Readers will be fully aware, from the media, of the unimaginable suffering that the Rohingya people have endured with decades of persecution and human rights abuses.

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Many of the boys who came to Ireland had taken to playing cricket in the camps in Bangladesh. Once settled in Carlow, many of them continued playing cricket informally. This is where Jimmy Dooley, a local youth worker with Carlow Youth Services became involved. Jimmy, a qualified GAA coach saw how cricket would help with the wellbeing and integration of the new community. He became a driving force in the revival of the sport and establishment of the new club. With a mix of Irish, Eastern Europeans, Australians, Asians and the Rohingya community Carlow have been able to form two adult and two youth teams. This is a clear demonstration of the changing face of the new communities in Ireland and the richness to which this can contribute. In 2015, Carlow Cricket Club made their debut in Division 16 of the Leinster Cricket League. It was an auspicious start, with a nice coincidence playing Bagenalstown 3rd X1 in their opening match on May 3rd. The team went on to win the league in their inaugural season.

Another driving force behind the revival of Carlow Cricket Club is the secretary, Mohammed Rafique, also an active member of Carlow Integration Forum. Rafique, with his wife and their eight-month-old daughter arrived in Ireland, a country, which a few months earlier they did not even know existed, in April 2009. They were part of the group of 64 that came to Carlow town. Nine years later, Rafique can call himself an Irishman from Carlow. In 2013, all members of the Rohingya community in Carlow were naturalised and made Irish citizens. For the first time in his life, Rafique became the proud owner of a passport.

Chairperson of Carlow Cricket Club is the popular Gurpreet Singh, who is better known as Gopi and will be remembered for his time playing with Railway Union while based in Dublin. Because of a friendship that developed with Kenny Carroll during his time playing with Railway Union, Gopi was delighted to invite Kenny to the opening ceremony of the new ground at Carlow College.

Kenny was delighted to accept and somewhat overwhelmed that he was asked to cut the tape to open a new chapter in Carlow cricket.

Carlow Cricket Club is now going from strength to strength and, as stated above have two adult teams, a development team (together with Bagenalstown CC) two youth teams, plans to start ladies cricket and structured winter coaching and has a membership that embraces at least 13 nations. Such is the popularity of the sport in the town that St. Mary’s Academy, Carlow CBS played their first ever cricket match in 2017 against Kings Hospital.

We wish them continued success and offer our continued support. We also extend our good wishes and congratulations to neighbours Bagenalstown CC who this year celebrate 175 years of cricket.

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Images and more information of the new ground may be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlowCricket/ RTE South East Correspondent, Damien Tiernan’s report on Carlow Cricket Club: https://www.facebook.com/rtenews/videos/1765247990170862/ Many thanks to Jimmy, Gopi and Rafique for their assistance in writing this piece.

Kenny Carroll (third left) cuts the tape to open the new cricket ground at Carlow College. Others, from left: Senator Jennifer Murnane O’Connor; Jim Deane, lord mayor; Fr John McEvoy, vice president, Carlow College; Eddie Deegan, Carlow College; William Patton, cathaoirleach, Carlow County Council; Gopi Singh; Jamie Alcock, Carlow Regional Youth Services; Fintan Phelan, councillor; Ian Dwyer, president, County Carlow Football Club

The future of cricket in Carlow looks Mohammad Rafique, with his family bright and friends, enjoys the opening celebrations

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Cricket in Carlow - a recollection from 1962

Waterford Vikings CC, at St. Dympna’s Hospital, Carlow on 2nd September 1962. David Carroll is second from left, front row.

He recalls the match: “It was the day of the All-Ireland hurling final as I can remember patients from the hospital sitting around the ground on a beautiful autumn Sunday afternoon, discussing the big hurling match that was on. For the record, Tipperary beat Wexford and it was the first ever All-Ireland final televised by RTE. The ground was in magnificent condition. We understood that the hospital patients kept it in pristine condition. We learned that it had even hosted international hockey. I remember it was a very closely contested match with the Vikings winning by a very close margin. John Martin (seated on first right) reminded me recently that I took a stunning catch but I had completely forgotten. What I remember is that we were treated to a most fantastic tea in a dining hall in the hospital. I could never have imagined the next time that I would go to a cricket match in Carlow would take all of fifty-five years and my son would be with me, invited to assist in the opening a new ground for cricket in the town. I went back to St. Dympna’s a few years ago and was shocked to see that a magnificent sporting facility had been lost as Carlow had been extensively built upon. John Martin was my sporting hero when I was growing up in Dunmore East. He excelled at every sport that he played. A few years later, he was lining out for the Waterford senior footballers at centre-field in Croke Park”.

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Ampleforth Junior School visit

A combined Under 13s team from Railway Union, Terenure and Pembroke played a friendly against Ampleforth Junior School at Oak Hill Under 13s play Waringstown

Railway Union Under 13s played Waringstown at The Lawn, Waringstown

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Message from Philip Smith, general manager, Cricket Leinster

FROM A Cricket Leinster perspective, I would like to start by congratulating everyone at Railway Union CC for the great work which has taken place to transform your cricket square and outfield over the autumn/winter period.

Railway is a brilliant cricket club with a great tradition and heritage which has contributed so much to Cricket in Leinster over many years. I am equally well aware that the club has exciting plans for the 2018 season and I wish everyone at Railway continued success and enjoyment, both on and off the field.

In recent times, since my appointment as general manager of Cricket Leinster, I have enjoyed advice, guidance and support from many Railway stalwarts including Brendan & Camilla O’Brien, Kevin O’Brien, David Carroll, Kenny Carroll, Derek Carroll, Hadley Southall, Elaine Coburn, Simon Grehan and others - Railway Union CC is a strong contributor to the ongoing success of cricket in Leinster and that support is very much appreciated.

Wishing the club all the best for the 2018 season.

1st XI v Coleraine, Irish Senior Cup

13 May 2017: Coleraine won by 19 runs, DLS method Back, from left: Judy Cohen, scorer, Ranil Dhammika, Niall Hunt, Robin Russell, Eoghan Grehan, Saad Ullah, Mo Tariq, Rachit Gaur; front: Alex Stiles, Ciaran Divney, Hamsa Maan, Kenny Carroll (capt), Patrick Duffy (photo courtesy Lawrence Moore)

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Railway Union fixtures 2018

Details correct at time of going to press (10th April). Go to www. cricketleinster.ie for details of Development League games and Youth Fixtures. Double check all fixtures and starting times with opposition and Cricket Leinster website

April Sat 21st: 1sts v Dublin University 1, Div 2, College Park, 12.00 Sat 28th: 1sts v Malahide 1, Div 2, Malahide 1, 12.00 Sat 28th: 3rds v Malahide 3, Div 6, Malahide 2, 13.00 Sun 29th: 2nds v Laois 1, Div 4, Togher, 12.30

May Sat 5th: 3rds v Merrion 5, Div 6, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sun 6th: 2nds v Knockharley 1, Div 4, Kentstown, 12.30 Sun 6th: 4ths v Castleknock 3, Div 14, Porterstown, Castleknock, 13.00 Mon 7th: 1sts v Balbriggan 1, Div 2, Jack Harper Memorial, 12.00 Sat 19th: Ists v Burndennett, Park Avenue, Irish National Cup 1st round, 12.30 Sat 19th: 3rds v Bagenalstown 1, Div 6, McGrath Park, Bagenalstown, 13.00 Sun 20th: 2nds v DLR County 1, Div 4, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sun 20th: 4ths v Gorey 1, Div 14, Courtown, Gorey CC, 12.00 Mon 21st: 2nds v Clontarf 2, Tillain Cup, Round 1, Castle Avenue, 18.00 Sat 26th: 1sts v Rush 1, Div 2, Park Avenue, 12.00 Sat 26th: 3rds v Wexford Wanderers 1, Div 6, Wexford RFC, Wexf’d CC, 13.00 Sun 27th: 2nds v Civil Service 1, Div 4, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sun 27th: 4ths v Knockharley 3, Div 14, Kentstown, 13.00 Tues 29th: 3rds v DLR County 2, YMCA Salver,Round 1, Shanganagh, 18.00

June Sat 2nd: 1sts v Terenure 1, Div 2, Park Avenue, 12.00 Sat 2nd: 4ths v Bagenalstown 3, Russell Court Trophy, Round 1, Gorey, 14.00 Sat 2nd: 4ths v Gorey 1, Russell Court Trophy, Round 1, Gorey, 17.30 Mon 4th: 3rds v Merrion 3, Middle Cup Prelim, Anglesea Rd, 13.00 Sat 9th: 1sts v Cork County 1, Div 2, The Mardyke, 12.00 Sat 9th: 4ths v Tyrrelstown 2, Div 14, Castleknock College, 13.00 Sun 10th: 2nds v Laois 1, Div 4, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sat 16th: 1sts v Rush 1, Alan Murray Cup, Kenure, 10.30 Sat 16th: 1sts v Phoenix 1, Alan Murray Cup, Kenure, 14.00 Sat 16th: 3rds v Malahide 3, Div 6, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sun 17th: 4ths v Laois 3, Div 14, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sat 23rd: 1sts v YMCA 1, Alan Murray Cup, Inch, North County, 14.00 Sat 23rd: 1sts v North County 1, Alan Murray Cup, Inch, North County, 17.30

35 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

Best of luck for 2018 season – Judy Cohen

Best wishes for 2018 – Maurice Whelan

Best wishes from Andy O’Neill in Japan

Cyril & Des Stirrat

Brendan and Siobhán Smyth

Best wishes for 2018 – Gordon & Anne Penney

Brendan and Camilla O’Brien

Kevin Conliffe

Wishing all teams well for the season – Hilary O’Reilly

Denzil Tipping

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Sat 23rd: 3rds v Mullingar 1, Div 6, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sun 24th: 1sts, bye into 2nd round Leinster Senior Cup, opposition TBD, 13.00 Sun 24th: 4ths v Gorey 1, Div 14, Park Avenue, 12.00 Sat 30th: 1sts v The Hills 1, Alan Murray Cup, Park Avenue, 10.30 Sat 30th: 1sts v Leinster 1, Alan Murray Cup, Park Avenue,17.30

July Sun 24th: 2nds, bye into 2nd round Senior 2 Cup, opposition TBD, 13.00 Sun 1st: 4ths v Wexford Wanderers 2, Div 14, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sat 7th: 2nds v Knockharley 1, Div 4, Home (Venue TBA), 13.00 Sat 7th: 4ths v Merrion 7, Minor Cup Round 1, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sun 8th: 2nds v Malahide 2, Div 4, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sat 14th: 2nds v Merrion 3, Div 4, Anglesea Road, 13.00 Sat 14th: 4ths v Clontarf 6, Div 14, Mount Temple School, 13.00 Sun 15th: 3rds v Merrion 5, Div 6, Bird Avenue CUS, 13.00 Sat 21st: 1sts v Malahide 1, Div 2, Park Avenue, 12.00 Sat 21st: 3rds v Terenure 2, Div 6, Terenure, 13.00 Sun 22nd: 2nds v DLR County 1, Div 4, St Columba’s College 1, 13.00 Sun 22nd: 4ths v Laois 3, Div 14, Togher, 13.00 Sat 28th: 3rds v Mullingar 1, Div 6, St Finian’s College, Mullingar, 13.00 Sun 29th: 2nds v Clontarf 3, Div 4, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sun 29th: 4ths v Wexford Wanderers 2, Div 14, Wexford RFC, 13.00

August Sat 4th: 2nds v Merrion 3, Div 4, Park Avenue, 12.30 Mon 6th: 1sts v Balbriggan 1, Div 2, Park Avenue, 12.00 Mon 6th: 3rds v Leinster 3, Div 6, Observatory Lane, 13.00 Sat 11th: 2nds v Civil Service 1, Div 4, Civil Service, 12.30 Sat 11th: 4ths v Clontarf 6, Div 14, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sun 12th: 3rds v Wexford Wanderers 1, Div 6, Park Avenue, 13.00 Sat 18th: 1sts v Terenure 1, Div 2, Terenure, 12.00 Sat 18th: 3rds v Bagenalstown 1, Div 6, Park Avenue, 12.30 Sun 19th: 2nds v Malahide 2, Div 4, Malahide 1, 12.00 Sun 19th: 4ths v Castleknock 3, Div 14, Park Avenue, 12.30 Sat 25th: 2nds v Clontarf 3, Div 4, Castle Avenue, 12.00 Sat 25th: 4ths v Tyrrelstown 2,Div 14, Park Avenue, 12.30 Sun 26th: 1sts v Cork County 1, Div 2, Park Avenue, 12.00

September Sat 1st: 3rds v Terenure 2, Div 6, Park Avenue, 12.30 Sun 2nd: 4ths v Knockharley 3, Div 14, Park Avenue, 12.30 Sat 8th: 1sts v Rush 1, Div 2, Kenure, 12.00 Sat 8th: 3rds v Leinster 3, Div 6, Park Avenue, 12.30

37 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

The Noone family

Good luck - Dermot O’Brien

Wishing the cricket club a successful season – Gillian Johnston

The Guest family

Best wishes for the 2018 season – Gareth Carroll

Best luck to all teams – Crawford Tipping

Best wishes to Railway cricket – Flanagan family

The O’Meara family

Best wishes – Eddie English

Wishing all the teams an enjoyable and successful season – Ciara, Dave, Chloe and Jessica

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39 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

Leinster Lightning fixtures May Tues 1st to Thurs 3rd: IPC, v North-West Warriors, Oak Hill, 11.00 am Fri 18th: IP20, v Munster Reds, The Mardyke, 5.00 pm Fri 25th: IP20, v Northern Knights, Shaw’s Bridge, 5.00 pm Tues 29th to Thurs 31st: IPC, v Northern Knights, North Down, 11.00 am June Mon 4th: IP50, v Northern Knights, The Hills CC, 10.45 am Fri 8th: IP20, v North-West Warriors, Bready, 5.00 pm Tues 19th: IP50, v North-West Warriors, Eglinton, 10.45 am Wed 20 to Fri 22: IPC, v North-West Warriors, Bready, 11.00 am July Sun 1st: IP50, v Northern Knights, Stormont, 10.45 am Fri 6th: IP20 Festival, v Northern Knights, Sydney Parade, 4.00 pm Sat 7th: IP20 Festival, v North-West Warriors, Sydney Parade, 4.00 pm Sun 8th: IP20 Festival, v Munster Reds, Sydney Parade, 4.00 pm September Tues 4th to Thurs 6th: IPC, v Northern Knights, Malahide, 10.30 am Sun 9th: IP50, v North-West Warriors, Leinster CC, 10.15 am

IPC Championship 3 days IP50 Cup 50 overs IP20 Trophy 20 overs

Check to confirm nearer to the dates

2nd XI Senior 2 Cup winners 1962

Railway Union 2nd XI, 1962: Winners of the Senior 2 cup final v Pembroke at Iveagh Grounds:

Back, from left: John Donnelly, Des Louth, Don Banks, Tony Amoroso, John Ryan; front: Brian Grehan, Jim Mackenzie, Peter Grehan, Jack Tanham, Des Stirrat, Kevin Brennan

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Railway Union 1st XI 1958: Runners-up Senior League

Back, from left: Dessie Byrne, Niall McConnell, Gerry Harrison, Derek Scott, Kevin Brady, Dickie Bridburg, Jack Tanham, Kevin Dempsey; front: Gerry Harvey, Edgar Pigot (vice-capt), Leonard Amoroso, Snr (president), Gary Connolly (capt), Frank Miller. Inset: Noel Fitzsimons.

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2004: Just another century

Meditating on Railway Union 1904-2004: from left: James Rogan, Conor Mullen, Gerard O’Brien, Peter Johnston and Kevin O’Brien (who keeps centuries in his pocket for whenever they are needed, nearly always!) (Photo FX Carty)

Best wishes to Railway Union Cricket Club from Rasam

18 - 19 Glasthule Road Dun Laoghaire

Tel.: 230 0600

42 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

One step forward, two steps back...

Railway Union cricketer Seán Condron bemoans the ICC World Cup policy

22nd June, 2017: Cricket Ireland was finally granted full membership of the International Cricket Council (ICC) thus allowing the Irish national team to begin playing .

It had been a long ten-year battle after initially bursting onto the scene following the successful 2007 World Cup campaign, which included the victory over Pakistan. Over the ten-year process, the side consistently used the World Cup campaigns to display what they were made of, with the 2011 victories of England and the Netherlands followed up by the 2015 victories against the UAE, Zimbabwe and the West Indies.

The awarding of full membership status by the ICC to Ireland was a huge step forward for the country and for the development of cricket around the globe. The changes implemented by the ICC to the structure of qualification for the upcoming 2019 edition of the World Cup has left a feeling that the development of the global game may well be halted.

The format of the Cricket World Cup has varied greatly since the beginning with just eight teams in 1975. The 1996 World Cup saw the first 12-team tournament, which stuck until 2007 when a 16-team format was trialed which allowed for Ireland’s famous debut in the competition before once again returning to 12 teams for the most recent two editions.

Following the completion of the 2015 World Cup, it was announced that the tournament was being cut down to just 10 countries. These would be made up of the top eight ranked sides as per the official rankings, with the other two coming from a qualification process. Despite being widely criticised for their move, the ICC have stuck to their guns and we have recently had the qualification process.

With Ireland highlighting to the world over the last decade and Afghanistan more recently it is possible to rise to the dizzy heights of a test playing nation off the back of a successful World Cup. It seems ludicrous that the international

43 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

governing body who are meant to be encouraging the development of the game around the world are placing further barriers to smaller associate nations to try and replicate what both countries have done.

As the highly competitive qualification tournament was drawing to a conclusion in March, Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Scotland had impressed and it was possible for any one of them to go through. Sadly, none of them made it, the honours going narrowly to the West Indies and Afghanistan. You would like to think that the ICC is looking at the quality of the countries in the tournament and may well just decide to change the World Cup’s format again…... but you never quite know.

Another landmark: Railway 4th XI’s first visit to Gorey at Gorey’s ground in Courtown, Co Wexford. Gorey won by 3 wickets.

44 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

Alex Stiles in Australia

I LANDED in Perth airport, Western Australia on 8th January and the second week I was here, I started playing for the Gosnells Cricket Club. One of the coaches was an ex- test captain for Australia, Kim Hughes, and I learnt a lot from him. It took me about a week or so to get used to the conditions with the hard-bouncy wickets and of course the intense heat.

As I got into it, I started to time the ball very well and managed to get a few runs. The club had four coaches who all played a good standard of cricket in their time. We had one coach specifically for spin. I really learnt about the mental side of the game and how your ‘game plan’ should be, particularly in the middle overs against spin.

I have seen a lot of young talent over here and I realise how hard you have to work to succeed. A prime example would be a 15-year-old at the club, Brodee Foster, who plays U17 and U19 representative cricket for Western Australia. I also have managed to work hard on my fielding and game awareness. I played with an ex-England U19 player Ben Green who currently plays for Somerset 2nds and managed to bat a bit with him. It has been good to be around a great bunch of lads who play here.

I have thoroughly enjoyed it and have learnt so much about the game particularly how competitive it is with so many good young players in the leagues. The club want me to come back here within the next couple of years for senior men’s cricket and to try and qualify to play state cricket.

Following my time in Perth, I moved across Australia to New South Wales, south of Sydney and played a bit at Pambula Cricket Club. I have had a great time training in the nets as well as heaps of surfing and bonding well with the locals off the field.

I shall return in April and am looking forward to the season ahead in Railway Union and Cricket Leinster.

Alex Stiles, Railway Union & Oatlands College

This account of Alex’s time in Australia was first posted by Cricket Leinster on March 14th and is reprinted here with kind permission.

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46 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

“Hard work, there is no substitute” – Ireland’s new coach Gerard Siggins interviews

IRELAND’S final game in the Intercontinental Cup was a low-key encounter. Over the three days it took to quell Scotland, the number of spectators in the Dubai International Cricket Stadium never rose past the old count-on-one- hand system of measurement.

That was a pity, as those who were there saw Ireland rally from a tricky position after day one to overwhelm their oldest rivals with a day to spare. Switching vantage points around the stadium to ensure sunshine or shade helped break up the long days, but one man never budged from his seat for the 20-odd hours of play.

Perched right out at the edge of Ireland’s team area, as close as possible to the sightscreen, sat a wiry, 57-year-old South African. Never missing a ball, Graham Ford studied the action and the 11 men in Irish shirts, and with very good reason.

47 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

For, just ten weeks later, Ireland were due to battle for a place at the 2019 World Cup in England. And having qualified for the last three events, and killed giants at each, there was an expectation among supporters that the new coach would haul an under-performing side over the line.

“Coming in with such a short space of time between now and the qualifiers is very difficult but on the other side of it I’m fortunate to be taking over from a high-quality coach who’s put a lot of good things in place.”

Ford has huge respect for the man he’s replacing, John Bracewell. The Kiwi’s misfortune was to inherit an ageing team on the way down in white ball cricket – a slide only arrested in his final series when the twentysomethings – , Barry McCarthy and – stepped up to overcome the Afghans.

But, supporters and Cricket Ireland had lost faith in Bracewell long before the promotion to Test cricket. The press conference to mark the new status was notable for the absence of the New Zealander’s name, and the word was out that his time was drawing to a close.

One day later, announced that its head coach, Graham Ford, had resigned after a disappointing Champions Trophy. “Ford epitomises the character of cricket as a true gentleman, and we are indeed sorry to see him go,” said SLC chief Thilanga Sumathipala.

Back home in South Africa, Ford got a call.

“Adrian Birrell said, ‘the Ireland job is going to be coming up.’” Birrell was Ireland coach from 2002-07 and led the side to its first World Cup.

“I asked him a few questions about Ireland and he told me I’d be very well suited. And, of course, now having test match status was exciting. Adi told me about the quality of the people and the players. Deep down he’s still a massive Irish cricket fan.

“I did a little bit of research and asking around to find out more and everything excited me. Having been to Ireland with Sri Lanka in 2016 that also gave me an interesting insight.”

Cricket Ireland first tried to convince Australian Jason Gillespie to take the job but the experienced Ford was always next on their list. Born in Natal, Ford played seven games for the province’s B team over eight seasons before taking over as head coach. His teams won one-day and first-class trophies and he became assistant to with the national side.

48 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

After the 1999 World Cup he took over South Africa and won eight of his 11 series but back-to-back defeats to Australia cost him his job in 2002. Since then he has coached at Kent (and Niall O’Brien), Surrey () as well as Sri Lanka, twice.

“I’ve always had an interest in Irish cricket, firstly because when I went to Kent Niall was involved, and secondly, because Adrian Birrell is a great friend of mine. He did so well to help these guys and he must take some credit for what they’ve achieved, in terms of putting Irish cricket on the map.”

Ford’s earlier experience of Irish cricket contrasted with how he found the game on his arrival, although he is under no illusions about the problems.

“A lot has happened in terms of professionalism and putting processes in place. Without and the opportunity that brings, as they close that door it’s going to be really challenging – for the next group and the next generation to come through stronger than this.

“Obviously Irish cricket wants to keep going forwards and these blokes have all done exceptionally well, but some of them are getting to the back third of their career and how much longer we’ve got them for, and how much longer their bodies stand up to the rigours of test match cricket.

“Some of these senior guys who’ve done wonderful things are going to be crucial, passing on knowledge and mentoring the younger guys.

“The next group is going to be crucial and without county cricket that’s going to be challenging, so Wolves and domestic cricket is important. Cricket Ireland are impressive but there’s a lot of work to be done and we’ve got to improve in a lot of areas.”

Ford spent a week in Dublin before joining the squad in the UAE. He visited Malahide, where he will live and his team will play their first Test, and learned of some of the governing body’s plans, notably for improving training facilities.

“Everywhere I’ve worked before there’s always been a main headquarters with first-class facilities you can pretty much go in and use at any time, whereas here it needs a bit more planning and facilities aren’t always available.

“Ireland has such a tiny population, and although cricket is a developing game it’s not a mainstream game – so how the hell have they done what they done. It’s very exciting but it is challenging with the smaller numbers. It’s about making the most of what you’ve got.

49 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

“The three things that stand out for me during this game is that there is a lot of good work being done by the players; the character to fight back; and what I thought was really special was the catching.

“Maybe it’s part of the Irish upbringing – every time I’ve been to Ireland I’ve seen people out and about being active and that can only help the fielding.”

Ford inherited a flawed side, but one with half a dozen players of the quality and character to cope with Test cricket. He, and his No.2 Rob Cassell, will have to bring on the rest.

“I think the impressive thing – and we’ve seen it in this match – is the character the boys have always shown. After being bowled out for 250 and the opposition 50-0, I’ve seen many a side drop their heads and let Individually tailored things drift whereas our guys came clothing for business. out in the second morning and turned For a brochure or complimentary things on with real intensity. presentation please call: 1890 928 679 “I’m never one to single out individuals [email protected] and it is a team game, but there are www.tailoredimage.com some guys who are showing they’ve Head Office: 8A The Linen Green, got what it takes. We, as a coaching Moygashel staff, and the players, all realise there Co Tyrone BT71 7HB is a hell of a lot of hard work to be T: 048 87726876 E: [email protected] done and maybe there will be a phase W: www.tailoredimage.com when we bring through some of the Dublin Office: young guys and the results won’t 19 Valentia Road, be as spectacular as they’ve been in Drumcondra, the past. But, ultimately, we’ll get to Dublin 9 T: 1890 457 039 where we want to get.’ E: [email protected] W: www.tailoredimage.com “More than a uniform”

50 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

Those who’ve previously worked with Ford say he’s an uncomplicated coach, one who works with a player to make him as good as he can be. He himself sums up his philosophy in two four-letter words.

“Hard work. There’s no substitute. There’s so many emerging nations where every cricketer is getting coaching and advice and putting in hard work so if we want to be better than them only one thing guarantees that – working harder than them.”

He’s likes the Irish approach to life. “I don’t mind the odd game of golf, I play a lot of tennis, I used to do a lot of jogging so I’m looking forward to running on the coastline near where I’m going to be living in Malahide.”

The last non-cricketing event he went to was a Sevens Rugby tournament, a sport he refereed many years ago. “The laws have changed so much, but years ago I was a pretty big rugby fan. I’ve spent a lot of time away from South Africa, it’s now time to start supporting Irish rugby.”

After half a lifetime on the road and coaching all over the world, Ford is really buzzing about coming here.

“I’ve been fortunate to go to quite a few countries through cricket but since the first time I’ve come I’ve been struck by its beauty. I’d like to see as much of the country and get a feel for it, and to get a feel for what appears to be an intriguing history. My wife’s very interested in the history and she’s reading up a lot on it now – I just get the lectures,” he grins.

And with a firm handshake he was off downstairs where the team marked their first win in nine months by singing ‘Ireland’s Call’.

Irish sporting anthems – that might need some reading up by Mrs Ford, and another one of her lectures.

This is an abridged version of an article first published in the Sunday Independent on 17th December 2017. It is reproduced here by kind permission of the author.

51 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

52 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

Irish Universities Indoor Championships

TWELVE TEAMS took part in the three-day competition, held at Ulster University, Jordanstown, 26-28 January 2018:

Dublin City University, Dublin Institute of Technology, Institute of Technology Sligo, National University of Ireland Galway, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University College Cork, Dublin Business School, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, ICD Business School, Institute of Technology, Carlow, National College of Ireland, and hosts Ulster University. NUI Galway defeated Ulster University in the final.

Kevin O’Herlihy, Railway Union CC Senior coach (back, second right), coached the RCSI team which reached the semi-final.

Ciarán Divney, Railway Union CC 1st XI captain (right) was player-coach to the National College of Ireland team which also reached the semi-finals. (Photos courtesy Ian Johnston/ CricketEurope)

53 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

“A sense of truth and honesty pervades all of the writing”

A review by Brian Grehan

THE FIRST THINGS you notice about the writing in Francis Xavier Carty’s memoir is the meticulous attention to detail, the vast data bank of dates and events, and the excellence of the prose.

This discovery should come as no surprise, given his father was an author of two books, and editor of The Irish Press, and Sunday Press, and his brother Ciarán is a journalist too, not to mention Francis’ long involvement in the world of words, being initially a reporter, then later running the public relations faculty in DIT for 20 years. In 2006, after seven years study, Francis was awarded a PhD degree in public relations, the first ever in Ireland.

In chronological order the book charts his life, family, friends, and interests, womb to tomb as he puts it. These are described in prose that is crisp and precise, and a joy to read. There is a social history element going back to the Carty shop at 2 North Main Street, Wexford (established 1896 by his grandfather). His father (also Francis) had a fascinating life, being involved in the War of Independence in Wexford town and the Civil War, rising to rank of Commandant-General. The family later moved to Dublin.

All chapters are written on a stand-alone basis which works very well. The ones about his parents have a special affection and tenderness. His mother was artistic, playing the piano, which Francis also did. The ones involving animals, cats in particular, have a wry humour and are endearing. A sense of truth and honesty pervades all of the writing.

The part of his life that he dealt with in his earlier work, Why I said No to God, features in a minor way. There are also the darker moments when life’s

54 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018 meaning is questioned, and when the loneliness of the long-distance hotel room becomes a problem.

We in Railway Union Cricket Club must be eternally grateful that Francis had an abiding love of cricket and came down the lane to our club many years back. The Cricket Annual we get every year is a testament to his hard work and professionalism. So is this book, go out and buy it, you’ll enjoy it mightily.

Bruises, Baws and Bastards – Glimpses into a Long Life Passing, by Francis Xavier Carty is published by Able Press. Price €18. If you cannot get it from your bookseller you can order direct, contact Francis X. at 01 2692803, [email protected] Brian Grehan’s new book, Tales of the Barrow, will be published later this year. Contact Brian: 087 6993799; [email protected]

David P. Carroll (left) with Kevin Conliffe at the launch of Bruises, Baws and Bastards in Blackrock College (photo Fabrice Robin)

55 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

Best wishes to the Railway Union Cricket Club from New Age Storage Systems

Unit 36, Rosemount Business Park, Dublin 11, ref John Phelan 01 8128616 email [email protected] website www.newageservices.ie

Club weekend in Cork and Limerick early 1960s

At the Mardyke, back, from left: Niall McConnell, Jack Phelan, Brian Grehan, Kevin Brennan, Frank Cheatle, Leo Behan, Gerry Culliton, Des Donnelly, Des Stirrat; front: Des Louth, Jack Phelan, Ernie Banks (president), Derek Scott, Brendan (Ginger) O’Brien, Gary Connolly. (Photo courtesy Kevin Brennan and Gerry Lonergan)

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Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

From eyesore to icon - the Poolbeg chimneys

NIALL HUNT’S original and interpretive image depicts the originally controversial Poolbeg chimneys in Dublin Bay which have now become a protected landmark structure. Kurt Kullmann describes them well: “The current sewage works are on the Poolbeg Peninsula on reclaimed land near the famous landmark of the ‘Twin Barber Poles’, locally also known as ‘The Stacks’, the chimneys of the oil-burning power station which in 1971 replaced the old coal-fired power station of 1903. This coal-fired power station was the country’s earliest major power production facility and the world’s first three-phase generating station. Now, more than 100 years later the power station has been modernised and uses natural gas as fuel. The two chimneys are no longer necessary.”

Kurt Kullmann (2017): Four Sisters – The History of Ringsend, Irishtown, Sandymount and Merrion; The History Press, Dublin, page 93

58 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

Five wickets in five balls …

Gary Connolly remembers his team-mate and friend, EDGAR PIGOT

EDGAR, who died suddenly in Dublin on 5th June 2017, was truly a Railway legend. A skilled spin bowler, he compiled a total of 494 wickets over 19 seasons, taking 50 wickets in 1958 and five wickets in an innings 39 times, with a best of 8 for 22 against Clontarf at Castle Avenue in 1958.

Edgar was a product of Blackrock College, Leaving Cert year 1949, and played on the school’s First XI. Cricket was in his blood as his father, DR Pigot (Snr) was an opening batsman for Phoenix CC with 20 senior caps for Ireland between 1922 and 1939. He had three sons David (Jnr), Peter and Edgar, all of whom are now deceased. David (Jnr) was an accomplished batsman with 44 senior caps between 1966 and 1976. Peter was a noted international bridge player. So, there was a pedigree there.

Edgar was a useful batsman in his earlier days at ‘Rock. He joined Railway in the late forties and made his way gradually from 3rd XI to 1st XI at a time when Kyrie Tanham was club captain. Edgar joined Niall McConnell on the firsts and this pair accounted for about 80 per cent of wickets taken by Railway in the late fifties and early sixties.

Railway, captained by Derek Scott, won the Leinster Senior League for the first time in 1960 and it was fitting that Edgar was captain when they won it again in 1962.

The climax of Edgar’s career was achieved in 1965 in a two-day evening match at Park Avenue. Phoenix were the opponents and the game was swinging in their favour with 35 runs required and 7 wickets standing. The Phoenix captain, Donald Pratt, 49 not out, was not facing when Edgar started a new over. Then, Edgar got five wickets in five balls. There was a bye from the last ball of the over and in the next over Niall McConnell took the final two wickets. Pratt, still 49 not out, had to endure the sight of five wickets in succession falling to the guile of JE Pigot and then two more to Niall, altogether seven wickets in eight balls, supported with excellent catching by eager fielders.

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Edgar’s feat was unparalleled in Irish cricket and it was recorded in the famous annual Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack which notes outstanding achievements in international and club cricket.

A footnote to this memory was that it was never published in the Irish newspapers because they were on strike.

Edgar worked in banking and rose through the ranks to become an AIB branch manager. He was a diligent and effective manager and a popular figure with his colleagues. He also had the full and loving support of his wife Angela (Angie) for more than 50 years, to whom we extend our sympathy and to his children Sonya, Laura and Stephen, his grandchildren Seán, Joe and Carl and his extended family and many friends.

Under 18s, 1959: Champions of Leinster

Back, from left: Frank Cheatle, Jack Phelan, Jim Mackenzie, Brian Grehan, Brian Donnelly, Tony Amoroso; front: Des Donnelly, Joey O’Meara, Kevin Brennan (capt), Leo Behan, Brendan (Ginger) O’Brien; on ground, Frank Whelan (photo courtesy Kevin Brennan/Gerry Lonergan)

60 Railway Union Cricket annual 2018

Statistics and Highlights 2017

BATTING AVERAGES 1ST XI – All games Russell Court Hotel League 2, Senior Cup, Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup, Alan Murray Cup Minimum: 5 completed innings, average 10.00

Name M I NO HS Runs 100 50 6s 4s Aver Ct/St ROs KJ O’Brien 10 10 4 125* 468 3 1 22 37 78.00 4 2 KED Carroll 20 20 1 98 571 0 4 15 56 30.05 12 3 A Stiles 17 17 1 151* 454 2 0 7 43 28.38 4 R Gaur 18 18 0 97 493 0 4 2 57 27.39 5 R Dhammika 18 18 3 47 409 0 0 7 33 27.27 8 D Singh 16 13 1 49 243 0 0 12 26 20.25 5 3 A Hafiz 14 14 0 56 239 0 1 4 25 17.07 1 R Russell 16 15 3 42* 191 0 0 8 17 15.92 4 S Ullah 13 11 3 27* 126 0 0 5 6 15.75 4 C Divney 17 11 2 80 127 0 1 1 17 14.11 17wk/2 1 M Tariq 16 15 1 33 170 0 0 4 16 12.14 7 Hamsa Maan 7 7 0 23 71 0 0 2 6 10.14 3

Also batted: T Kritzinger 15 runs/Average 15.00 (1 ct,wk, 1 st); V Ravi Sankar 23/11.50 (1 ct,wk); F Ul-Haq 21/7.00 (2 ct, 1 ct,wk); H Sultan 11/5.50; A Jackson 14/4.67 (1 ct); E Grehan 12/3.00 (4 ct, 1 ro); S Khan 11/2.75 (1 ct); N Hunt 11/2.75 (7 ct); Ali Elahi 1/1.00; E Barron 1.00 (2 ct); P Duffy 2/0.67 (1 ct); Hanan Maan 1/0.50; E Connolly 6/ ---; R Nicoll 1/ ---; P Guest two games, did not bat; K Shah one game, did not bat.

BEST 151*: A Stiles v Malahide, at Malahide, League 125*: KJ O’Brien v North Kildare, at Park Avenue, League 114*: KJ O’Brien v Rush, at Kenure, League 108: A Stiles v North Kildare, at Park Avenue, League 101*: KJ O’Brien v Merrion, at Terenure, League 98: KED Carroll v North Kildare, at The Maws, League 97: R Gaur v Rush, at Oak Hill*, League 93*: KED Carroll v Balbriggan, at Balbriggan (Jack Harper), AMT20 80: C Divney v Malahide, at Malahide, League 78: KED Carroll v Pembroke, at Balbriggan (Jack Harper), AMT20 78: R Gaur v Merrion, at Oak Hill*, League 65: R Gaur v Terenure, at College Park*, League 64: KED Carroll v Clontarf, at Castle Avenue, AMT20 57: R Gaur v North Kildare, at Park Avenue, League 56: A Hafiz v Rush, at Oak Hill*, League 51: KJ O’Brien, at Balbriggan, at Balbriggan (Jack Harper), AMT20

(*Home games at Oak Hill, Terenure and Balbriggan because of development work at Park Avenue. Only one league game was possible at Park Avenue)

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HIGHEST PARTNERSHIPS Wkt Score Batsmen Opposition Venue 1st 83 KED Carroll (32) & R Gaur (97) Rush, League Home 2nd 159 R Gaur (57) & A Stiles (108) North Kildare, League Home 3rd 64 R Gaur (78) & R Russell (21) Merrion, League Home 4th 81 R Gaur (65) & KJ O’Brien (101*) Terenure, League Home 5th 106* KJ O’Brien (125*) & R Russell (42*) North Kildare, League Home 6th 45 KED Carroll (98) & Hamsa Maan (23) North Kildare, League Away 7th 69* KJ O’Brien (101*) & M Tariq (30*) Terenure, League Home 8th 37 M Tariq (22) & S Ullah (23*) Merrion, League Home 9th 190 A Stiles (151*) & C Divney (80) Malahide, League Away 10th 27* KJ O’Brien (114*) & S Khan (0*) Rush, League Away

BOWLING AVERAGES 1st XI All Games Russell Court Hotel League 2, Senior Cup. Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup, Near FM minimum 3 wickets Name O M Runs Wkts Best 5 Econ Strike Average for rate Rate M Tariq 65 4 259 16 3-15 0 3.98 24.38 16.19 D Singh 63.3 3 330 19 3-37 0 5.20 20.05 17.37 R Dhammika 111.3 15 447 24 3-16 0 4.01 27.88 18.63 R Gaur 104.4 4 484 20 3-20 0 4.62 31.40 24.20 KJ O’Brien 41.5 5 195 8 2-22 0 4.66 31.38 24.38 S Ullah 71 9 270 10 3-14 0 3.80 42.60 27.00 KED Carroll 37 0 189 7 3-30 0 5.11 31.71 27.00 Hamsa Maan 40.2 2 233 7 3-35 0 5.78 34.57 33.29 A Jackson 17 0 103 3 2-20 0 6.06 34.00 34.33 S Khan 37.1 0 218 6 3-37 0 5.87 37.17 36.33 E Grehan 57.1 5 303 7 2-23 0 5.30 49.00 43.29 R Russell 53 3 317 7 3-29 0 5.98 45.43 45.29 Also bowled: E Barron 2-24; P Guest 2-44; N Hunt 0-94; H Sultan 0-11; E Connolly 0-11.

BEST BOWLING 4-11: R Dhammika v Dublin University, at College Park, League 3-14: S Ullah v Pembroke, at Sydney Parade, Senior Cup 3-15: M Tariq v Leinster, at Observatory Lane, Senior Cup 3-16: R Dhammika v Phoenix, at Castle Avenue, AMT20 3-20: R Gaur, v Leinster, at Observatory Lane, Senior Cup 3-29: R Gaur v Balbriggan, at Balbriggan* (Jack Harper), League 3-29: R Russell v The Hills, at The Vineyard, Senior Cup 3-30: KED Carroll v Rush, at Oak Hill*, League 3-35: Hamsa Maan v North Kildare, at The Maws, League 3-37: D Singh v Rush, at Oak Hill*, League 3-37: Shariq Khan, v Merrion, at Inch, AMT20 3-58: KED Carroll v Malahide, at Malahide, League 3-72: D Singh v Rush, at Kenure, League

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1st XI Russell Court Hotel League 2

All games, Played 23, Won 9, Lost 13, No Result 1 Captain: KED Carroll Irish Senior Cup: Lost to Coleraine by 19 runs DLS method, first round Leinster Senior Cup: Beat Leinster and Pembroke, lost to The Hills in semi-final Russell Court Hotel League 2: 5th out of 8 AM T20: Played 6, Won 2, Lost 4

LCU Team of the year (2017) included Ranil Dhammika and Dhram Singh, all- rounders, batting at 6 and 7.

League 2 Played Won Tied NR Lost Bonus Points Pts 1 Merrion 1 13 13 0 0 0 54 334 2 Dublin Univ 1 7 4 0 1 2 30 206 3 Malahide 1 13 7 0 0 6 42 202 4 Balbriggan 1 13 6 0 1 6 27 155 5 Railway Un’n 1 13 5 0 1 7 29 145 6 Rush 1 13 5 0 0 8 36 131* 7 Terenure 1 13 4 0 1 8 30 118 8 N’th Kildare 1 13 3 0 0 10 17 77 *After deduction of 5 penalty points

LEINSTER CRICKET UNION SENIOR CAREER AVERAGES (excludes Irish Senior Cup games and Alan Murray T20) League Game v Dublin University was abandoned because of rain and re-fixed. The second attempt was also abandoned because of rain. Details from the second game only are included here. Points were divided eight each.

Batting Years M Ins NO Most Runs Aver. 100,50 Ct/st E Barron 2015-17 23 21 5 46 198 13.20 - 9 KED Carroll 96-2017 271 252 28 140* 7354 32.83 12/40 113 E Connolly 2017 1 1 1 6* 6 - - 0 C Divney 2010-17 54 33 12 80 197 9.38 -/1 59/11 R Dhammika 2017 12 11 2 47 291 32.33 - 5 P Duffy 2016-17 5 5 - 21 53 10.60 - 2 Ali Elahi 2017 1 0 - - - - - 1 R Gaur 2014-17 47 46 3 97 954 22.19 -/5 9 E Grehan 2015-17 13 9 4 4* 17 3.40 - 3 P Guest 2017 2 0 - - - - - 0 A Hafiz 2010-17 37 36 - 56 568 15.78 -/2 5 N Hunt 2015-17 13 8 6 7* 27 13.50 - 5 A Jackson 2015-17 14 10 5 10 44 8.80 - 0

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Shariq Khan 2017 6 6 3 5 8 2.67 - 1 T Kritzinger 2017 1 1 - 15 15 15.00 - 1/1 Hamsa Maan 2016-17 16 15 - 24 147 9.80 - 3 Hanan Maan 2017 2 2 - 1 1 0.50 - 1 R Nicoll 2017 2 1 1 0* 0 - - 0 KJ O’Brien 2000-17 134 109 17 154 2722 29.59 7/11 45 R Russell 2016-17 20 19 1 42* 155 8.61 - 5 V Ravi Sanker 2017 1 1 - 10 10 10.00 - 1 Kashif Shah 2016-17 2 1 - 0 0 0.00 - 0 D Singh 2012-17 56 41 7 44 496 14.59 - 6 A Stiles 2016-17 17 16 1 151* 427 28.47 2/- 4 H Sultan 2017 2 2 - 6 11 5.50 - 0 M Tariq 2001-17 252 225 26 94 4647 23.35 -/25 77 F Ul-Haq 2014-17 11 10 - 29 73 7.30 - 8 S Ullah 2007-17 130 111 23 57* 1298 14.75 -/3 26

Bowling O M R W Best 5 Econ Strike Aver for Rate Rate E Barron 64 3 308 12 2-19 - 4.81 32.00 25.67 K Carroll 932.1 62 3988 192 6-34 6 4.28 29.13 20.77 E Connolly 1 0 11 0 0-11 - 11.00 - - R Dhammika 82.3 12 294 20 4-11 - 3.56 24.75 14.70 R Gaur 280.1 13 1174 48 4-10 - 4.19 35.02 24.46 E Grehan 61.1 6 269 13 3-26 - 4.39 28.23 20.70 P Guest 9 0 44 2 1-19 - 4.89 27.00 22.00 N Hunt 34.4 0 228 6 3-45 - 6.58 34.67 38.00 A Jackson 41 0 228 3 1-9 - 5.56 80.33 76.00 Sariq Khan 19.1 0 72 1 1-63 - 3.76 115.00 72.00 Hamsa Maan 90.2 3 494 17 3.35 - 5.47 31.89 29.06 KJ O’Brien 1112.2 177 3860 170 5-16 1 3.47 39.26 22.71 R Russell 50 2 304 5 3-29 - 6.08 60.00 60.80 D Singh 203.4 14 961 41 4-20 - 4.72 29.80 23.44 H Sultan 5 2 11 0 0-11 2.20 - - M Tariq 1585.5 153 6614 254 5-14 5 4.17 37.46 26.04 F Ul-Haq 4 0 0 25 0-25 - 6.25 - - S Ullah 826.3 115 3409 115 4-30 - 4.12 43.12 29.64

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2nd XI Division 4 All games, Played 16, Won 7, Lost 9 Captain: Furqan Ul Haq League 4: 4th out of 8 Senior 2 Cup: Lost first round to Pembroke 2 Tillain Cup: Lost first round to Civil Service 1

Best batting: 103: S Ullah v Laois 1, at Togher, League 69: Fakhar Zaman v Civil Service 1, at Wesley College, League 65*: U Siraj v Dundrum 1, at Park Avenue, League 63: H Sultan v Merrion 3, at Wesley College, League 55: Fakhar Zaman v Merrion 3, at Wesley College, League 53: Fakhar Zaman v Phoenix 3, at Park Avenue, League 52: M Farooq v Knockharley 1, at Kentstown, League 51: Imtiaz Nazir v Civil Service 1, at Civil Service, League

Most runs: Fakhar Zaman 348, Average 26.77; F Ul Haq 342, Average 26.31

Partnerships: 104, 3rd wkt, U Siraj (48) & F Ul Haq (43), v Phoenix, at Park Avenue, League 103, 1st wkt, Fakhar Zaman (53) & C Kenny (29), v Phoenix 3, at Park Avenue, League 85, 3rd wkt, Fakhar Zaman (32) & F Ul Haq (48), v North Co. 2, at Wesley Coll., League 75, 5th wkt, U Siraj (65*) & Fakhar Zaman (36), v Dundrum 1, at Park Avenue, League 74*, 2nd wkt, A Hafiz (29*) & Fakhar Zaman (25*), v Phoenix 3, at Phoenix, League 72, 7th wkt, C Kenny (47) & M Farooq (52), v Knockharley 1, at Kentstown, League

Best bowling: 5-24: H Sultan v Phoenix 3, at Phoenix, League 4-19: Fakhar Zaman, v Merrion 3, at Wesley College, League 4-21: F Ul Haq v Knockharley 1, at Park Avenue, League 4-35: Fakhar Zaman v Civil Service 1, at Wesley College, League 4-39: B Makwana v Dundrum 1, at Park Avenue, League 4-43: Fakhar Zaman v Dundrum 1, at Park Avenue, League

Most wickets: Fakhar Zaman 25, Av. 13.88; E Grehan 16, Av. 19.18

Division 4 (2011-2017) Leading all-time run scorer: Furqan ul Haq – 1861 runs @29.54 Most matches: 67, Furqan ul Haq Highest team score: 396- 5, Railway Union 2 v North Kildare 1, The Maws, 4 August 2012 LCU Team of the year (2017) included Furqan ul Haq, wicket-keeper, batting at No.4; also in team of the year 2013 and 2016.

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League Division 4 Team Play W w/o Tied NR L B. Pts Pen % Pts Pts 1 Merrion 3 14 9 0 0 3 2 39 219 79.64 2 North Co. 2 14 9 0 0 1 4 49 229 70.46 3 Dundrum 1 14 6 0 0 3 5 21 141 51.27 4 Railway Un.2 14 7 0 0 0 7 32 172 49.14 5 Laois 1 14 6 0 0 2 6 24 144 48.00 6 K’kharley 1 14 5 0 0 2 6 27 142 5 47.33 7 Civil S’vice 1 14 5 0 0 1 8 33 133 40.92 8 Phoenix 3 14 1 0 0 2 11 20 40 13.33

3rd XI Division 6 All games, Played 19, Won 11, Lost 6, No result 2 Captain: Upender Reddy YMCA Salver: Lost to Balbriggan 2 in Final Middle Cup: Lost to Clontarf 3 in First Round League 6: 4th out of 8

Best batting: 114: Imtiaz Nazir v Terenure 2, at Wesley College, League 111*: GF O’Brien v Terenure 2, at Wesley College, League 108*: Imtiaz Nazir v Adamstown 1, at Park Avenue, YMCA Salver 92*: A van Dyk v Mullingar 1, at Oak Hill, League 65*: G Sihra v Rush 2, at Kenure, League 61: G Sihra v Malahide 3, at Malahide, League 57: S Grehan v Sandyford 1, at Park Avenue, League 54: A van Dyk v Merrion 5, at Park Avenue, League 53: Muhammad Raza v Malahide 3, at Park Avenue, League 52: C Kenny v Malahide 3, at Park Avenue, League

Most Runs: GF O’Brien 336, Av. 28.00; S Grehan 304, Av. 19.00

Partnerships: 190: 3rd wkt, GF O’Brien (111*) & I Nazir (114) v Terenure 2, at Wesley Coll., League 91: 3rd wkt, C Kenny (36) & GF O’Brien (28) v Terenure 2, at Terenure, League 88: 5th wkt, C Kenny (52) & M Raza (53) v Malahide 3, at Malahide, League 82: 1st wkt, S Grehan (25 & GF O’Brien (43) v Merrion 5, at Park Avenue, League 78: 4th wkt, K Khan (47) & I Nazir (108*) v Adamstown 1, at Park Avenue, YMCA Salver

Best bowling: 5-53: N Yadav v Sandyford 1, at Park Avenue, League 4-8: H Southall v Adamstown 1, at Park Avenue, YMCA Salver 4-19: N Yadav v Leinster 3, at Observatory Lane, YMCA Salver 4-32: H Southall v YMCA 3, at Claremont Road, YMCA Salver 4-32: Fakhar Zaman v Balbriggan 2, at Civil Service, YMCA Salver Final 4-48: GF O’Brien v Rush 2, at Kenure, League 4-71: Ali Elahi v Castleknock 1, at Porterstown, League

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Railway Union 1st XI 1965

Back, from left: Graeme Guthrie, Brian Grehan, Anthony Amoroso, John Donnelly, Edgar Pigot, Dessie Byrne, Ernie Banks (president); front: Frank Cheatle, Brendan (Ginger) O’Brien, Gary Connolly (capt), Niall McConnell, Jack Phelan. (Absent: Joey O’Meara)

Memories of 70 years ago

1948: Eddie Tew (left) and Des Stirrat, youngsters just breaking into the 1st XI, in front of the old pavilion which was near the present entrance to the hockey pitch.

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Most wickets: Nagesh Yadav 31, Av. 14.71; Muhammad Raza 24, Av. 17.83

Division 6 (2011-2017) Most runs in a season: Khizar Khan (RU) 479 runs (2013) Highest score: Imran Mohammad (RU): 160, Railway Union 4 v Longford 1, Newtownforbes (2014) Best bowling: Susheel Kumar (RU): 7-13, Railway Union 4 v Castleknock 1, Castleknock College (2014) Highest team score: 345-8, Railway Union 4 v Sandyford 1, Park Avenue (2015) LCU Team of the year (2017) included all-rounder Adriaan van Dyk (RU) batting at No. 8 (277 runs @ 46.17 and 12 wickets @ 20.25, including a hat-trick v Rush

League Division 6 Team Played W Tied NR Lost B.Pts Pts Pen % 1 Castleknock 1 14 10 0 2 2 27 222 5 74.00 2 Rush 2 14 8 0 2 4 40 200 0 66.67 3 Mullingar 1 14 7 0 3 4 28 168 0 61.09 4 Railway Un. 3 14 8 0 2 4 19 179 0 59.67 5 Malahide 3 14 5 0 2 7 41 141 0 47.00 6 Merrion 5 14 4 1 2 7 29 121.5 0 40.50 7 Terenure 2 14 3 0 4 7 17 77 0 30.80 8 Sandyford 1 14 1 1 1 11 29 46.5 15 14.31

4th XI Division 9 The 4th XI would have played in Division 9 and the 5th XI in Division 14, based on results from 2016. The RU committee decided to withdraw the 4th XI and Cricket Leinster decided, with agreement, that the 5th XI would remain in Division 14 and that players below the line from the 3rd XI in Division 6 would not be allowed to play in the 5ths because of the gap in divisions. This was fair but made it difficult for the 5ths to fulfil their fixtures. Credit to captain Graham Chisholm and the players on the 5ths, including several school boys, that they completed their games, home (despite the ground developments in Railway) and the distance to some of the away fixtures.

5th XI Division 14 All games: Played 14, Won 1, Lost 12, No result 1 Captain: Graham Chisholm League 14: 7th out of 7 Minor Cup: Lost to Greystones 3 in first round Russell Court Hotel Trophy: Lost to Wicklow County 2 in preliminary round

Best batting: 129*: T Kritzinger v Adamstown 4, at Corkagh Park, League (2 6s x 18 4s) 78: L Clarke v Gorey 1, at Wesley College (Home), League 73*: N Jagoe v Gorey 1, at Wesley College (Home), League 61: N Jagoe v Castleknock 3, at Park Avenue, League 45: P Byrne v AIB 1, at St Andrew’s College, League 40: P Byrne v Laois 3, at Togher, League

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Most runs: N Jagoe 213, Av. 23.67; P Byrne 152, Av 12.67

Partnerships 167: 5th wkt, L Clarke (78) & N Jagoe (73*) v Gorey, at Wesley College, League 130: 4th wkt, T Kritzinger (129*) & S Gopal (37) v Adamstown 4, at Corkagh Pk, League 95: 5th wkt, T Kritzinger (129*) & Rahul Gomes (37*) v Adamstown 4, at Corkagh Pk, League 60: 4th wkt, P Byrne (45) & G Chisholm (16) v AIB 1, at St Andrew’s College, League.

Best bowling: 4-21: Rahul Gomes v Adamstown 4, at RCSI, League 4-22: N Jagoe v Gorey 1, at Courtown, League 3-24: A Ravi v Greystones 3, at Druids’ Glen, Minor Cup 3-29: N Jagoe v Clontarf 6, at Castle Avenue, League 3-41: S Condron v Wicklow County 2, at Presentation Bray, Russell Court Trophy

Most wickets: N Jagoe 14, Av. 17.36; S Mucharia 13, Av. 20.92

LCU Team of the year (2017) included Paul Byrne (RU), wicket-keeper batting at No.4

League Division 14 Team P W w/o n/r L Bon Pen Pts % pts pts 1 AIB 1 12 11 0 1 0 36 0 256 93.09 2 Adamstown 4 12 8 2 0 2 18 10 208 71.72 3 Gorey 1 12 3 1 1 7 35 0 115 42.59 4 Clontarf 6 12 5 0 0 7 34 10 124 41.33 5 Laois 3 12 5 0 0 7 19 5 114 38.00 6 Castleknock 3 12 3 1 1 7 15 60 35 12.96 7 Railway Un. 5 12 1 0 1 10 23 15 28 10.18

PLAYERS FOR SENIOR INTERPROVINCIALS, ALL GAMES

Kevin O’Brien played 11 games for Leinster Lightning and Niall O’Brien 3 games for North West Warriors in the series of 4 three-day, 4 one-day and 6 T20 interprovincial games. The three-day games were ranked first-class. Leinster Lightning were winners in all formats, but the weather again disrupted several games.

M I NO HS Runs Av Wkts Best Runs Aver ct K O’Brien 11 11 1 75 295 29.50 12 2-14 240 20.00 0 N O’Brien 3 5 0 87 118 23.60 - - - - 11

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Aggregate averages for Railway Union players 2013-17 K O’Brien 29 31 8 111* 999 43.43 27 3-24 603 22.33 11 N O’Brien 3 5 0 87 118 23.60 - - - - 11 P Collins 13 18 1 66 334 19.65 3 2-10 62 20.67 7 K Carroll 10 10 - 121 316 31.60 0 0-15 15 - 2

Final tables: 3-day, 2 innings P W T D L Bonus Pts Leinster Lightning 4 2 0 2 0 28 68 Northern Knights 4 0 0 3 1 24 33 North West Warriors 4 0 0 3 1 22 31

1-day 50 over P W T NR L Bonus Pts Leinster Lightning 4 3 0 1 0 2 16 North West Warriors 4 1 0 1 2 0 6 Northern Knights 4 0 0 2 2 0 4

T20 P W T NR L Bonus Pts Leinster Lightning 6 5 0 0 1 3 23 North West Warriors 6 3 0 1 2 0 16 Northern Knights 6 3 0 0 3 1 13 Munster Reds 6 0 0 1 5 0 2

Senior international caps (men) (to 23 March 2018) LA Bookman 14, KED Carroll 11, KC Dempsey 1, MJ Fourie 20, DT Johnston 198, FJ Miller 16, GL Molins 25, JAM Molins 76, BA O’Brien 52, KJ O’Brien 307, NJ O’Brien 212, JA O’Meara 2, RK Whelan 3.

Averages for current Railway Union international players (to 23 March 2018) Kevin O’Brien Most capped player for Ireland (307); most catches in field (143) Batting: 307 matches, 296 innings, 50 not outs, 7027 runs, 171 not out highest, 4 centuries, 32 fifties, 641 fours, 185 sixes, 8380 balls faced, 83.85 strike rate, 28.57 average Bowling: 1502 overs, 146 maidens, 7414 runs against, 269 wickets, 5-39 best, 1 five wickets in an innings, 4.94 economy rate, 33.50 strike rate, 27.32 average. In the field: 143 catches, 18 run outs.

Niall O’Brien Most wicket-keeping dismissals for Ireland (200 caught, 37 stumped) Batting: 212 matches, 216 innings, 28 not outs, 6057 runs, 176 highest, 8 centuries, 33 fifties, 544 fours, 58 sixes, 8597 balls faced, 69.15 strike rate, 32.22 average. Bowling: 1.3 overs, 12 runs against, 1 wicket, 1-12 best, 8.00 economy rate, 9.00 strike rate, 12.00 average. In the field: 222 catches (incl. 200 as wicket-keeper), 37 stumpings and 34 run outs

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Senior international caps (women) LD Molins 7, CM O’Leary 38, C O’Neill 42, NH Squire 37, HE Whelan 54, JA Whelan 51. Above figures, men and women, include international caps while playing for other clubs.

Senior 1 trophies and captains 1960 League, D Scott; 1962 League, JE Pigot; 1967 Cup, BA O’Brien; 1994 Belvedere Bond League B, BA O’Brien; 2002 Lewis Traub League and WMK League B, GF O’Brien; 2004 Alan Murray T20 Cup, A Murphy; 2006 Irish Senior Cup, Dublin Grass Machinery 45-over League, LHW Alan Murray T20 Cup and Whitneymoore League B, KED Carroll; 2008 Whitneymoore League B, DT Johnston; 2009 Dublin Grass Machinery 45-over League, DT Johnston; 2010 LHW Leinster Senior Cup, DT Johnston; 2011 League 1, T Fisher.

LCU SENIOR LEAGUES AND CUP Most appearances BA O’Brien 705; DF Byrne 493; NF McConnell 459; JA O’Meara 411; GS Guthrie 297; DO Tipping 288; JR Green 277; KED Carroll 271; M Tariq 252; M Whelan 238; GW Connolly 237; JE Pigot 229; AL Noone 225; D O’Brien 224; FO Whelan 223; BA Grehan 221; JV Tanham 221; C Mullen 217; GF O’Brien 217; CH Tipping 208; S Grehan 201

Leading run scorers BA O’Brien 21765; JA O’Meara 7769; KED Carroll 7354; DF Byrne 6814; DO Tipping 5630; M Tariq 4647; D O’Brien 4229; C Mullen 3990; GS Guthrie 3595; CH Tipping 3022

Most centuries (highest in brackets): BA O’Brien 15 (117*); KED Carroll 12 (140*); KJ O’Brien 7 (154) ; P Collins 6 (120*); J Anderson 4 (139); DT Johnston 4 (168*); A Murphy 4 (127*); NJ O’Brien 3 (114*); S Milton 2 (152); A Stiles 2 (151*) and one each by G Carroll (104), T Copeland (116*).; KC Dempsey (106); T Fisher (106); N Fitzsimons (184); JR Green (100*); D Kapoor (109*); JAM Molins (171*); C Mullen (131); GF McDonnell (130); JA O’Meara (113); KP Tanham (112); DO Tipping 1 (121). Most in a season: P Collins 5, KED Carroll 3 (twice), J Anderson, KJ O’Brien.

Most fifties (not including centuries): BA O’Brien 145 (including 15 nineties); KED Carroll 40; JA O’Meara 35; M Tariq 25; DO Tipping 23; C Mullen 21; DF Byrne 21

Highest scores: 184 N Fitzsimons, v Merrion, Park Avenue 1961 (Cup. About 190 mins) 171* JAM Molins, v N. County, The Nevitt, 1999 (200m, 175b, 6 x 6, 21 x 4) 168* DT Johnston, v CYM, Park Avenue 2008 (163m, 123b, 11 x 6, 8 x 4) 154 KJ O’Brien, v CYM, Terenure 2006 (9 x 6, 13 x 4) 152 S Milton, v CYM, Park Avenue 1999 (181 mins, 24 x 4) 151* A Stiles, v Malahide, Malahide, 2017 (League. 149b, 4 x 6, 15 x 4

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Leading wicket-takers: NF McConnell 1033; JE Pigot 494; JA O’Meara 379; J Keogh 365; A Corcoran 359; AL Noone 328; JR Green 301; D Tanham 293; KP Tanham 286; M Whelan 281; M Tariq 254; E Hool 230; S Grehan 220; LA Bookman 194; KED Carroll 192; TJ Endersen 190; RK Whelan 177; KJ O’Brien 170, GP Harvey 160; JB Colgan 159; B Donnelly 159; GF O’Brien 150

Best bowling: 9-15 E Hool, v RHMS, Park Avenue 1919 9-55 A Corcoran, v North County, The Nevitt 1991 9-58 KP Tanham, v Leinster, Park Avenue 1950 9-88 NF McConnell, v YMCA, Park Avenue 1966

Wicket-keeping – most dismissals: DF Byrne 478 (224ct, 254 st); FJ Miller 158 (73ct, 85st); BA O’Brien 118 (83ct, 35st); P Byrne 91 (69ct, 22st); J Rogan 89 (76ct, 13st); S Milton 84 (47ct, 37st, + 9 ct in field); NJ O’Brien 76 (53ct, 23st + 6 ct in field); C Divney 70 (59ct, 11 st); S Farthing 52 (38ct, 14st)

Most catches: BA O’Brien 326 (inc. 83 as w-k); JA O’Meara 157; NF McConnell 141; KED Carroll 113; JR Green 103; GW Connolly 91; M Whelan 89; C Mullen 87; CH Tipping 83; GS Guthrie 79; GF O’Brien 79; M Tariq 77; DO Tipping 76; A Corcoran 72; D O’Brien 71 (inc. 1 as w-k); T Fisher 69 (inc 28 as w-k); FO Whelan 66; B Grehan 62; JE Pigot 62; A Murphy 61; J Mackenzie 57; GP Harvey 56; J Keogh 52; P Delany 50

Sources for historical details include: Derek Scott, Gerry Byrne, John Boomer, Paul Reynolds, Eddie Lewis, Judy Cohen, FX Carty, CricketLeinster, CricketEurope, CricketIreland, Northern Cricket Union

72 Showing all major sporting events on our 20+ large TVs and Projector Screens both Indoor and Outdoor. Also supporting the 1st ever 5-day IrelandIreland TestTest vv PakistanPakistan atat Malahide,Malahide, startingstarting MayMay 11th11th andand thethe twotwo IrelandIreland vv IndiaIndia one-dayone-day internationalsinternationals onon JuneJune 27th27th andand JuneJune 29th29th Railway Union Cricket Annual 2018

11th Edition

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