Dates: 19th–21st April
The much-anticipated start to the MCU 2025 season got underway over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend, but the weather had other plans. Glorious sunshine in the lead-up gave way to heavy bands of rain that swept across the Province, wiping out almost the entire weekend’s schedule.
Saturday and Sunday were complete washouts, and only three matches managed to dodge the showers. Credit to groundkeepers, players, and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make any play possible in tough conditions.
Let’s take a look at the matches that went ahead:
🏆 Division 2B
United Cricket Clonmel 1st XI vs Lismore CC 1st XI
📍 Lisronagh Castle Grounds, Clonmel
United Clonmel – 181
Lismore CC – 113
🔹 United Clonmel won by 78 runs
United Cricket Clonmel kicked off their season with a dominant 78-run win over Lismore CC in a match played under threatening skies at the stunning Lisronagh Castle Grounds.
A strong team performance with the bat saw Clonmel post a solid total. Key contributions came from:
- Ahmed Qamar – 51
- Babar Ali – 29
In response, Lismore struggled to build momentum. Despite a fighting knock of 36 from Bineesh, they were dismissed for 113, thanks to disciplined bowling from:
- Ahmed Qamar – 3-14 (a fine all-round performance)
- Sharan Narke – 2-4
A sharp fielding effort backed up the bowlers well. This was a well-rounded display by Clonmel, who will carry plenty of confidence into the next round.
🏆 Division 3B
Midleton CC 4th XI vs Co. Kerry CC 5th XI
📍 Townparks, Midleton
Co. Kerry CC 5th XI – 34 all out (14 overs)
Midleton CC 4th XI – 40/1 (7 overs)
🔹 Midleton CC won by 9 wickets
Co. Kerry made the trip to Midleton but were quickly on the back foot. Their innings never got going, as they were skittled out for just 34. Midleton’s bowlers were on fire:
- Sriram Yarram – 3-5
- Lakshmi Saikumar Kasibatla – 3-6
- A. Kalota – 2-4
- Noah Wilson – 1-6
In reply, Midleton coasted to victory in 7 overs, losing just one wicket. A convincing start for the home side.
🏆 Division 3B
Cork County 4th XI vs Cork Harlequins 5th XI
📍 The Mardyke, Cork
Cork Harlequins CC 5th XI – 118
Cork County 4th XI – 121/5
🔹 Cork County won by 5 wickets
In an all-Cork derby, Harlequins got off to a solid start, reaching 74/3 before a collapse saw them bowled out for 118.
Cork County’s bowling was the highlight of the innings:
- Elham – 4-9
- Musab – 4-14
In the chase, Haridas (49) and Atish (27) were the key contributors as County reached the target with five wickets to spare. No full scorecard was available at the time of writing, but the hosts will be pleased with their early-season form.
☔ Summary
A frustrating start overall, but encouraging performances from the teams that did get on the field. Here’s hoping for better weather in the weeks ahead so we can enjoy a full slate of fixtures and a thrilling season across all divisions!
