With four sides in the top flight of NCU cricket one would assume that the Antrim team would be very strong. Alas, although it is not a weak team it is not strong necessarily because of the top flight connections. Carrickfergus, Lisburn, Derriaghy and Cliftonville together made up the County Antrim connections in the NCU Premier League in 2008.

Cliftonville's problems have been well documented and ultimately a lack of a ground cost them a place in the top flight. But the bottom line was they weren't good enough and by and large some of their big name players simply did not perform. The vultures are already circling the club. Johnny Terrett is off to North Down and Gareth McKee allegedly on his way to CSNI. I don't expect that to be the end of the departures either.

Derriaghy fought hard to the end and a few of their players had decent seasons but without their South Africans they are not a Section 1 team and so it has been proved. Unless they recruit over the winter I don't believe they will make a great impression on Section 2 either but it is hard to say. You never know who is going to rock up with their kit bag and so many Section 2 teams are of similar ability. But Derriaghy will not be going into Section 2 in 2009 and storming it as they did in 2006.

Uel Graham walked out of Lisburn early doors in 2008 assessing correctly that there was little chance of winning anything. However had he given it a few more weeks he would have seen that their Professional was virtually beating teams on his own, scoring over one thousand runs in thirteen innings'. In most matches, only Greg Thompson hung around in the middle long enough for him to chat to the same person at the change of ends. He scored 600 more runs than the next best batsman (Thompson) and almost 800 more than David Simpson (237). No other Lisburn player topped 150 runs in the season. As those three did the bulk of their bowling it is obvious they have problems.

Carrickfergus may have had more new faces than an X factor audition but the judges all said ‘No', so I don't think any of them were fit for boot camp. The news that Barry Cooper is off to CIYMS will be a big blow to them no matter what spin is put on it. What will be encouraging for them is the fact that the players coming through are home grown. Andrew Cowden had an excellent season impressing with both bat and ball and Michael Gilmore showed his potential with a well deserved 50 at Waringstown.

Ballymena however had an excellent year and Section 1 will be stronger this year because of them. All of their players had good years and because of the confidence they brought to the table I have selected quite a few of their players in the Antrim 2008 team.

Gareth McKee (Cliftonville)
Barry Cooper (Carrickfergus) wicket keeper
David Kennedy (Ballymena)
Paul Stirling (Cliftonville)
James Kennedy (Ballymena)
Andrew Cowden (Carrickfergus)
Ryan Eagleson (Carrickfergus) captain
Greg Thompson (Lisburn)
David Simpson (Lisburn)
Michael Glass (Ballymena)
Michael Taylor (Ballymena)

12th man
Craig Lewis (Derriaghy)


This was a tough team to pick. If you pick the best players you get the same team each year. If you pick guys who made a significant contribution in the season you can get a different team. For example Paul Stirling was picked because of his Ireland performances not because of his Cliftonville performances. Barry Cooper was selected as keeper to make room for a few others to get in the team such as the two Michaels from Ballymena: Glass, the evergreen opening bowler and Taylor, the exciting young legspinner.
Craig Lewis from Derriaghy had a decent season with bat and ball.

I expect to hear from Muckamore supporters ranting about leaving out Baguley, Gill and Dunlop. Ho, hum. It's not that I didn't want to pick them but based on 2008 the question is: who should I leave out to select them?