Leinster title for Knockharley

CRICKET Merited final victory against Pembroke

Those involved with Knockharley Cricket Club had reasons to celebrate a significant milestone recently when the club's under-15 team won their division in the Leinster Senior League, defeating Pembroke in the final by 21 runs.

Coached by New Zealander Emmett Craik the team remained undefeated throughout their campaign, gradually overcoming one opponent after another over the course of the summer months before wrapping up the title in fine style at Knockharley's home ground.

"In all the team played around 15 games, it was a great achievement, by the players and coach Emmett Craik with Don Retty who is an all-rounder, winning the man of the match award," explained Knockharley CC's Rajesh Adi.

From India, Rajesh is one of what is a collection of people from various parts of the world who are involved with Knockharley Cricket Club - a veritable sporting League of Nations.

"We have people from many parts of the world who are members. We have Indians, people from Pakistan, we have Irish, English, South African, New Zealanders and one Australian, so, yes, we are a very multi-cultural club.

"At adult level we have less Irish but we have 40 odd Irish youngsters who play the game at under-age levels, young people from an Irish background, not mixed race Irish, but we are always looking for more to join."

Passionate about his cricket Rajesh, who works in the IT sector and lives with his family in Dunshaughlin, says he and others in the club are committed to doing all they can to promote the game in the Meath area.

The aim is to encourage students in local schools to join up and play the game that has a language all of its own, including such phrases as silly point, silly mid off, a googly, a maiden and a yorker.

"That's exactly the problem facing those of us who are in the game," he added.

"We have to create the interest and that's why we have to approach the schools now and show young people what the game offers."

Knockharely have three adult teams in the Leinster League and three under-age teams at u-13, u-15 and u-17 levels.

"We have about 80 members including the youths.The future looks bright for us but we need to get more people involved too both at youth and adult levels," added the PRO.

One of the attractions for those joining Knockharley CC is the fact that the club has a number of quality coaches including Heather Whelan who has played international cricket for Ireland and lives in Johnstown, outside Navan.

One of the club's objectives is to re-form a women's team in the club. In the late 1980s and 1990s a women's team representing Knockharley enjoyed considerable success and the club hosted representative ladies games including inter-provincial matches as well as an u-19 international between Ireland and Denmark.

Next year Knockharley CC will be 40 years old. It was founded in 1982 after it was noted by enthusiasts how local people played the game in back gardens. Originally based in Ashfield, near Kentstown, the move was later made to new grounds in Veldonstown about a mile-and-a-half away. Knockharley CC had found a new home where they have remained since.

Club teams have enjoyed many victories since and endured many defeats but the game's tradition is maintained with the recent success of the club's u-15s an indication of brighter days ahead.

The players who make up the successful Knockharley u-15 squad are: George Bellew (captain), Fionn Craik, Lorcan Craik, Laura Pollock, Yash Adi, Lucy Whelan, Alice Nickleson, Don Retty, Evan Kelly, Jacob Chemmanam, Loiuse Goodman, Aabis Mirza, Thomas Woodhouse, Conor Whelan, Hugo Hesnan, Richard Finegan, Tom Lord.