Munster Cricket Season 2022 - Week 1 ‘The Wait is Over’

For so many reasons, it seems to most that we have been waiting for this season longer than any other. Covid, balls, registrations, new regs, new systems, new players, new clubs and new grounds, have all conspired to add edge and excitement to the grand opening.

Premier Division

Just one winner for the opening weekend…. Mr Rain by 2 to 0. CHC1vKCC1, LIM1vGAL1, both rained off.

Division 1

A damp Farmers Cross saw the visitors NCC1 (238) dominate a partially youthful CHC2 (120), with an attritional 62* for Vinobaji for the Nenagh side taking the honours.

Down at the historic Richard Beamish Grounds, CCC2 (98) had a 7 wickets win over local Curraheen rivals UCC2 (97). A 52* from the home team’s Ghaffar carrying on the 2021 Div2 batter of the year’s good form into this season at the higher division.

At Townparks, home side MID2 (213/10) overcame LBL1 C198/10) in a relatively high scoring (conditions wise) & close game. The home team won by 15 runs. 4fer’s for Midletons Wilson & Blasters, Augustine.

Finally to the Manor Fields, Adare, where the home team LIM2 (178) started their title retention hopes with a 26 run victory over KCC2 (152) despite a 57 from Kerry’s Qassim.

Division 2

Rain continued to affect the games in Div 2. MID3vUNC1, LBL2vKCC3, CCC3vCHC3, and LIM3vNCC2 all rained off. (Keep those match balls, safe lads).

Division 3

Just the one scheduled match for this division, with the new ‘old’ kids from South Tipperary, UNC2 (90/7) visiting CCC4 (89/10) in the Mardyke. An away win by 3 wickets for the Clonmel Side.

Division 4

Munster’s newest competition got off to a damp start, with the two matches on Easter Monday both affected by the damp bank holiday conditions.

The new Ballycasey Clare Oval, temporary home to Clare CC’s CLC2 (95) lost a close low scoring game to visitors LBL3 (96), Blasters winning by 3 wickets.

To close out the weekend round-up we have the visit to Farmers Cross by KCC4 (106/5) who beat the new Quin’s Sons & Dad’s CHC5 (105/10) by 5 wickets.

Summary

Even with all the rain across the province we were still luckily able to play some cricket.

A quick look forward to week 2 of 25. Across the province, 300 plus youth players will commence their respective club training. The first MCU youth competition will kick off with a U13 T20 in Cork. The weekend sees Mr Rain trying to hold onto his table lead against a strong fightback of 15 scheduled games:

Premier: MID1vLIM1, CCC1vCHC1, GAL1vKCC1

Div1: CHC2vUCC2, KCC2vLBL1, CCC2vLIM2

Div2: LIM3vCCC3, CHC3vLBL2, UNC1vNCC2, KCC3vMID3

Div3: LIM4vCHC4, CLC1vCCC4, WDC1vLIS1

Div4: CLC2vKCC4, LBL3vCHC5