EVEN after 15 years of Irishmen playing in the English leagues, the televised Twenty20 Blast games at Lord’s last Saturday were a bit of an eye opener.

Not only were there two Dubliners involved at the toss – Eoin Morgan and Ed Joyce as captains of Middlesex and Sussex respectively – but Middlesex fielded no less than three Irish-born players.

Both of these are records, and brought a spotlight to bear on the sheer number of Irish youngsters who have earned their living – even if just for a short time – in the English game.

Some have made long careers – such as the daddy of them all, Ed Joyce, who first flew over back in the last century – other dipping in an out such as Kevin O’Brien. The Railway Union man’s profile as have-bat-will-travel T20 star means he has now turned out for five of the English counties.

Counting just those Irishmen who learned the game here, there have been 30 players who played English county or first-class cricket over the last 15 years, more than half playing at the very top level.

Middlesex, in north London, has been the warmest house for the Irish with Joyce, Morgan, Paul Stirling, Andy Balbirnie and Boyd Rankin all starting there, (plus, briefly on trial, Kevin O’Brien and George Dockrell).

And that doesn’t count the London-Irish Tim Murtagh, Andrew Poynter and his brother Stuart.


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THE start of the Interpro series last year without Munster seems to have acted as a spur to the southern province. A proud combatant in the Guinness Cup from 1966 right up to 2000 – when they caused the occasional shock – Munster slipped out of view in the 2000s as the sport grew rapidly in the other regions.

But now MCU chairman Peter Dineen has put together a Development Plan which outlines a vision for the game.

Among its aims are to increase the number of junior players from 200 to 1000 and to boost the number of coaches in the province by 2017.

It aims to strengthen the current clubs and develop an infrastructure that will lead to Munster taking its place in the Interpros.

“We are passionate about returning our Senior Interprovincial Team to the second tier of Cricket in Ireland”, says Dineen. “From 2015, we plan to play the MCC in a three-match series and by the start of the 2016 season a full Munster side will play in the Cricket Ireland IP20 Championship.”

With Cork County making waves – beating Donemana and Merrion 2nds over the last two weekends – the MCU has started the ball rolling off the field.

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The fourth annual “battle of the boys in blue” – the Garda cricket club v the Dublin Fire Brigade CC – will take place on June 7th in Civil Service.

The event, in aid of St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown, starts at 12.0 and the festivities will include a BBQ, raffle, and plenty for the kids including a visit from a fire engine. Last year’s event raised 3,000 and it’s hoped to top that this year.

More details from @cricket4cancer.

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The New Zealand ‘A’ team are touring England and Scotland shortly, but two of the side might regret they're not coming to Dublin. Anton Devcich, who has played ODIs for the Kiwis, was a pro with Leinster in 2007. Scott Kuggeleijn never played here but his dad, Chris, was a fine pro for Pembroke in 1983 and 1984.

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Performance of the week: a spectacular game in the Pilkington Plate saw Leinster Women rack up an impressive 260-4 against Merrion, with Amy Kenealy making a fine 112 and Anna Kerrison 70. But Isobel Joyce’s 85 (and 4-33) won it on D/L.

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THE first issue of the Slog Sweep, Ireland’s first cricket podcast, came out last week and made an impressive debut. It’s free, and available on iTunes and the CricketEurope website.

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Thursday:

RSA Women’s Division 1: Malahide v Pembroke, North Kildare v YMCA, Clontarf v Merrion, Leinster v The Hills

Saturday:

RSA Div1: YMCA v Terenure, Merrion v Railway, The Hills v Clontarf, North Co v Pembroke; Div2: Dublin Univ v Rush, Malahide v Merrion, Balbriggan v Leinster II, Pembroke II v Cork Co.

Sunday:

Div2: Dublin Univ v Merrion II, Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup Round 1 replays: Instonians v Railway, Ardmore v North Co, Phoenix v Brigade, Strabane v Lurgan, St Johnston v CSNI, Leinster v Fox Lodge, Terenure v Waringstown