In a completely assured and decisive performance Lismore kicked the white flannelled butts of the UCC students amidst the buttercups and daisys of The Farm in Cork last Sunday. The Senior1 League game can often prove a difficult obstacle for any visiting outfit but the Lismore band wagon rolled in the city venue and came away with all the spoils.

Having won the toss, UCC opted to field and put Lismore into bat. In dull and partially drizzly conditions Dave Ind and Sunil Mongia made their way to the crease and swiftly blasted away a series of boundaries in quick fire style to unsettle the UCC bowlers. After the fall of Ind, Garth Littlejohn settled himself into proceedings and tormented the students en route to a superb total of 92 runs. Mongia departed for 24 runs after putting on a 92 run partnership with Littlejohn. Further runs came via the other top scorers Martin Finn (8 runs), Mubbin Ashraf (15 runs), and Brian Power (15 runs) bringing the Lismore tally on to a total of 214 runs all out off 36.4 overs. Always showing a modicum of caution Lismore took a light tea and prepared themselves for some serious running in the outfield as the evening clouds mustered overhead. Mubbin Ashraf opened the bowling and delivered a excellent display conceding just 5 runs off his four overs bowled. The game however turned strongly in Lismores favour with the masterly bowling of Dave Ind. Taking three wickets in his second over of the day he destroyed the UCC attack ending up with 4 wickets for 45 runs. Meanwhile Matthew van Rensburg and Garth Littlejohn claimed two wickets apiece in the middle order and the students were clearly on the ropes. Although T. Islam and R. Charrah put on 38 runs and 20 runs respectively fro UCC, it was left to Van Rensburg to catch the final wicket from Inds bowling to wrap up a terrific victory for Lismore. The ‘high fiving’ continued not just as the players left the field of play but also on arrival back in Lismore. The win puts Lismore in good shape in Senior League 1 and here’s hoping for fine summer weather to allow the serious cricket to continue.   

The team was: Sean Willoughby, Dave Ind, Sunil Mongia, Garth Littlejohn, Martin Finn, Matthew van Rensburg, Mubbin Ashraf, Jon Russell, Paddy Byrne, Brian Power, William Rotte.

If you are interested in playing cricket for Lismore and wish to find out more about us, call the captain Sean Willoughby on 087 8167628.

Until next time, keep the willow swinging! (The Nightwatchman)

SUPER SEVENS CRICKET FESTIVAL A HUGE SUCCESS AS TITLE HEADS TO THE EMIRATES

With a magnificent cut glass vase, kindly donated by Waterford Crystal, up for grabs, competition for the trophy would be fierce, but never getting in the way of the spirit of fun than dominated the day.  The rules were simple; the four teams would play on a round-robin basis, with games played on a seven-a-side, six over basis, before the top two would contest the final   Bowlers had a maximum of one over per game, and batsmen were to retire at 25.  With a rock hard wicket, lightning outfield and boundaries reduced to 40 yards, a run feast was promised.  And a run feast it turned out to be!

The festival opened with Cypos A taking on the Crescent Cricket Club, with the Arabs prevailing, and next up was Lismore against Cypos B.  Lismore batted first and were restricted to 64 runs, but some tight bowling and fielding kept the game alive until the second last ball, when Cypos B won with 2 wickets and one ball to spare.  In the third game of the day Crescent narrowly overcame Cypos B, leaving Lismore badly needing to win against Cypos A to keep their hopes alive.  And how well they won.  After conceding 78 with the ball, the Lismore batsmen made short work of the total, winning after just 4.1 overs.  One the way Ken Sutton hit four consecutive fours, including one that knocked over the Cypos mascot, a garden gnome that has stood on the boundary of all their games since 1990 without ever being hit, until last Sunday!  Cypos B then overcame Cypos A, and then another fine Lismore display saw them surpass the Crescent total with five balls to spare.  With Lismore, Cypos B and Crescent all having won two and lost one, heads were scratched and rule-books were consulted to see who would contest the final.  The rules stated than the two sides that had scored the most runs during the day would make it through, and Lismore were squeezed out by just 5 runs when the tally was done, being left unrewarded for winning their games batting second with plenty of balls to spare. Hard feelings were not the order of a day dominated by fun and goodwill, and it was perhaps appropriate the two visiting sides, who had travelled hundreds and thousands of miles respectively, were to contest the final.  Crescent set a formidable total of 90 runs in their 6 overs, and Cypos B couldn’t match it, and so the title and the Waterford Crystal were destined to spend the year in Dubai. 

Club captain Seán Willoughby made the presentations, thanking all the participants for the spirit in which the day’s cricket had been played, and commenting on how teams could be drawn from three countries on two continents and produce such a tight competition. A huge cheer went up to thank Philip & Tina Mahon for feeding the players, and all-comers, during the day. Their hospitality was outstanding in providing top notch nosh of every variety, for which everybody was grateful. Player of the competition was Crescent’s captain Talaat Butt, who had to retire in all four of his side’s games, personally totalling over 100 runs for the day without being dismissed.  Ken Sutton won the  Champagne Moment of Cricket, for hitting the Cypos gnome for the first time in 18 years.  On receiving the trophy, Talaat Butt of the Crescent Cricket Club gave heartfelt thanks to Seán Willoughby and all at Lismore who had organised a magnificent weekend of cricket, that all who played in or witnessed will remember for many, many years to come.

The Lismore squad on the day was Seán Willoughby, David Campion, Mark Ardern, Brian Power, Hasnain Raza, Mubbin Ashraf, Martin Finn, Sunil Monga, Ken Sutton, Gus Wilkinson and Killian McLoughlin.

Senior Training takes place on Wednesday evenings between 8pm and 9pm at the Blackwater Community School and all former cricketers and new comers will be made very welcome. We look forward to seeing you there. Should you have any queries please contact the captain Sean Willoughby on 087 8167628.

Junior training takes place on Monday at 7pm at the cricket grounds at the Castlefarm and then on Saturday at 9.30, Steve Pendle takes the Junior side through their paces also at the Castlefarm. Should you have any queries please contact Steve on 087 2146636.

Until next time, keep the willow swinging! (The Nightwatchman)

AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the club took place recently in the Red House. It was standing room only as the upper rooms were heaving to capacity for the yearly ‘back slapping and bickering’ affair. As always, it went off without a hitch and was suitably and subtly chaired by club stalwart Michael Hickey. Honorary Secretary David Campion delivered a sparkling address to widespread applause as he relived the highs and lows of the 2007 campaign, with the clubs finest hour being the retention of the Munster Minor Cup. Campion also outlined the playing plans for 2008 which include a tour to England in June, the Super Sevens Cricket Festival in August, and friendlies against Dunmore East, Mount Juliet, Waterford Institute of Technology and the Southern Law Society. These fixtures will of course be interspersed with an unprecedented tilt at a third Munster Minor Cup title in a row, Senior and Junior Cups and Junior and Minor Leagues. The clubs Under 11 outfit, who also enjoyed success throughout the year, will feature in a series of matches led by new coach Steve Pendle.

Treasurer Brian Power then offered a clinical balance sheet to the assembled members showing the club to be in good standing. He then outlined the subscription fees for the season, which are now due. Various equipment, catering and material issues were also discussed with a healthy involvement from those present. The election of officers for the year ahead followed and are: Dermot Edwards (President), Michael Hickey (Chairman), John Campion (Vice Chairman), David Campion (Honorary Secretary), Brian Power (Treasurer), Ken Madden (PRO & Press Officer), Ian Magee (Assistant Press Officer), Steve Pendle (Youth Officer), Mark Ardern (MCU Delegate). The playing captains are: Sean Willoughby (1st Team Captain), David Ind (1st Team Vice Captain), Sunil Monga (2nd Team Captain), Oliver Ind (2nd Team Vice Captain).    

In international news, the Irish opening bowler David Langford Smith has announced his retirement from the international game. Citing business and family reasons Langford Smith said that ‘playing for the Irish team has been the greatest sporting experience I could have ever wished for’. We wish him well and thank him for his exceptional contribution to Irish cricket. This news followed on from Captain Trent Johnstons decision to take a ‘break’ from the national team due to ongoing injuries. We hope to see this inspirational figure back in the green shirt in the not too distant future.

Indoor training continues at 8pm on Wednesday evenings at the Blackwater Community School Sports Hall, and new members and followers are always welcome.  With the new season just around the corner, the Lismore Cricket teams have returned to indoor pre season training, and will again look to make a fast start when the first ball is bowled. It will without doubt be another action packed and eventful year with the club aiming to secure an unprecedented ‘three in a row’ in the Munster Minor Cup, as well as attempting to win a league title. And all of this mixed in with a series of friendlies, a proposed tour to the UK and the Super Sevens Cricket Festival. The early ‘word’ from the training ground suggests that there will be strong competition again for the first eleven with a fine blend of bowlers (fast, medium, slow and swing) and batsmen staking their claims. Training takes place on Wednesday evenings between 8pm and 9pm at the Blackwater Community School and all former cricketers and new comers will be made very welcome. We look forward to seeing you there. Should you have any queries please contact the captain Sean Willoughby on 087 8167628.

If you are interested in playing cricket for Lismore and wish to find out more about us, call the captain Sean Willoughby on 087 8167628.