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Cricket is wicket in Athlone

Wednesday, 7 July 2010

The members of Athlone Cricket Club proudly displaying a score against North Kildare

THE BOWLER, a bit of a Pie Thrower if truth is told, runs to the Crease and unleashes the Cherry in a Finger Spin Googly, a Plumb Yorker on a Sticky Wicket. The Batsman, who attempts an Agricultural Shot gets Clean Bowled and put out for a Golden Duck.
Located in the picturesque surrounds of Doon estate, following the sign and turning right, off the main Athlone to Birr road, travelling up the narrow driveway bordered by arched overhanging trees will, on any given Sunday, shed some much needed light on the above sentence.
While not quite an epiphany, what one will find may still startle and amaze, as there, in a clearing of levelled ground, shadowed by the 17th century Doon house and dressed in their whites will be batsmen, bowlers, umpires and wicket keepers, all attached to the Athlone Cricket Club.
Nestled between the heartlands of Westmeath football and Offaly hurling, many would argue that such a sport would struggle to exist, but as honorary Club President Peter Enracht-Mooney says, "where cricket is played, they always had a good hurling team."
Owner of the grounds where Athlone Cricket Club has proudly plied its trade since 1975, Peter adds that similar to that at a national level, the cricket community in Athlone is relatively small though the players and supporters more than make up for it in terms of their passion and enthusiasm for the sport.
And as this reporter found, the local side is more than welcoming to newcomers, whether to support the club's efforts, to try their hand at 'hitting for six' or to bask in the relaxed and natural surrounds beside the newly installed Pavillion eagerly awaiting post-match teas to be served.
Athlone Cricket Club has grown steadily since its humble inception, playing on a mat in the Athlone Rugby Club. A year later Peter's father made land beside the main house available for playing, "so they moved out here and the club has been here ever since.
“He loved the sport and was a very good player playing while at school and then at inter-provincial level."
He says simply that everyone within the club "does their bit" to ensure its continuance and comments "of course in1870 it would have been a much bigger sport compared to say100 years later, we're in GAA hinterland here but it was and has been very well accepted in the town."
Local man and Club Secretary Chris Forsyth embodies the "everyone does their bit" ethos of the club, and while speaking to The Voice was busily in the process of putting the finishing touches to the club's new Score Box.
“Everything we have or get the players and members pay for it", proudly referring to the new Pavilion clubhouse installed almost three years ago, paid for from the club's own coffers. He says the club hopes to develop the grounds, installing "an artificial crease down, putting up netting around the boundary and we hope to expand the pitch out as well as of course attracting more members".
On the field of play the club has not been without its successes, winning the Midland League Cup once and also the Connaught League Cup twice.
They also had an Irish international cricketer among their ranks, the late Hugh Milling who, while his father was a manager at the Gentex factory, played his formative cricketing years during the late 70's in Doon, later playing with Trinity College before establishing a career at international level. Having died tragically, the Antrim-native's contribution is remembered by the local club who have dedicated a bench to his memory.
Today the team participates in competitive friendlies in the Connaught League, against teams from Sligo, Galway and Ballaghaderreen in Roscommon, as well as inviting and being invited to play elsewhere, having just returned from a tour in the UK.
And speaking to The Voice, Team Captain Peter Auret admits that decisions have to be made if the ambition of the club is to develop further.
A Zimbabwean native now living in Ireland, who says cricket there "would be like hurling or football over here", he has confidence in the current playing sides 's ability to take the next step up and participate with success in the more competitive Leinster league.
“Our first objective is to play friendly cricket, competitive friendly cricket but what we must now look at is whether we want to or can up that level.
“The club has developed over the years with players from different nationalities, we have players from Pakistan, the US, England and myself from Zimbabwe. Our former team Captain was from Sri Lanka and with the Irish players they've brought their skills and each of them have introduced and encouraged neighbours and friends to circket and to the club. It's a big happy family.
“Cricket in Ireland is a lot more organised than many people would give it credit for. True, at local level it is much smaller, but the community is tight. Nationally cricket has seen interest in the game pick up thanks to the Irish national cricket team showing good performances at recent Cricket World Cups and beating Pakistan. This interest can only be good for the development of the game in places like Athlone, it's another sport for the town so why not support it?" he says.
He adds that while the games can get competitive on the field of play, off it couldn't be more of a contrast where people can sit around chatting and relaxing beside the Pavilion where tea is served once the game has finished.
The sustained future of the club will also, it is hoped, garner favour from one of the unique
historical aspects residing on the Doon
estate in which the club is based.
A Sile Na gCioch, an ancient symbol embedded high in the walls of the ruins of the nearby Castle of Esker, is said to ensure that the legacy of any family residing nearby with flourish.
With that in mind, Athlone Cricket Club it is hoped will be able
to add a few more innings to its name in years to come.
For more info on the club log onto www. athlonecricketclub.ie

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