The much-anticipated annual Munster Cricket Awards were held yesterday at the majestic Charleville Park Hotel in north Cork to celebrate the achievements of the clubs within the Union. Organisers were confident of a good turnout as tickets were in high demand, and when it came time to start proceedings, 150 club members and family members filled the room.
MCU Chairperson Richard Brewster welcomed the large crowd to Charleville and thanked them for their desire to attend the most significant day on the MCU calendar, noting those who made long journeys in order to make the event.
MC for the day was MCU Operations Manager Len Browne. After his opening remarks, he gave an overview of the accomplishments of the 2024 season, detailing the performances of the clubs and players that demonstrates that cricket in Munster is in a strong position to continue to develop and grow into the future.
“As we embark on today’s Awards, let us take a moment to appreciate cricket’s transformative power. Cricket is a sport that transcends boundaries, uniting people from all walks of life under a shared passion. It teaches us the values of sportsmanship, teamwork, and resilience, lessons that resonate far beyond the cricket field, while always imbuing the Spirit that is Cricket.
Today, we honour those who have embodied these values, raised the bar of excellence, and inspired others to pursue their cricketing dreams. We celebrate their triumphs, sacrifices, and unwavering dedication to the game.
As we unveil the awards and recognize the outstanding contributions of our cricketers, let us also remember the unsung heroes: the coaches, administrators, and volunteers who tirelessly support our cricketing community. Their dedication is the bedrock upon which Munster cricket thrives.
So, let us acknowledge to the Munster Cricket Union, the spirit of cricket, and the remarkable individuals who make it all possible. May the passion for cricket continue to ignite our hearts and inspire us to achieve even greater heights.”
MCU President Jack Filen made the official presentations and shared his thoughts from the stage.
The 2024 season was notable for many reasons. Right at the forefront of these was the launch of the MCU Women and Girls competition- something that had been long in the planning, and it was fantastic to see it come to fruition and to have our Women and Girls take the field in competitive fixtures. It turned out to be very competitive league, with standards improving game-on-game. Special mention must be made to the 3 clubs that comprised the inaugural competition- Limerick CC, Co Galway CC and Cork County CC, and to the efforts of Joe O’Mahony to see the league come into being. The MCU is hopeful that more and more clubs will be able to field female teams in the very near future.
With 60 team and individual awards presented, there are simply too many to describe here. We will highlight a few at random, but do refer to the definitive list of all recipients embedded as a PDF file below.
The Munster Senior Cup is the blue riband trophy of the Union, and always delivers a high-quality match between the top top teams of the Premier Division. 2024 was no exception, with old rivals Cork Harlequins and Cork County needing two attempts to get a result after the original fixture fell victim to inclement weather. In a match for the ages, the Mardyke side proved just a little too strong for their cross-town rivals, and duly claimed the plaudits.
Limerick CC hosted the Munster Junior Cup in Adare, hosting Cork Harlequins CC. Limerick put on an exceptional performance to lift the cup with a 10 wicket victory.
In the Munster Minor Cup, Cork County CC prevailed over a gallant Clare CC in a rain-affected match at Farmers Cross. Cork County 3rd XI went on to claim an historic treble, winning the Minor Cup, Division 2A title and the Division 2 T20 Cup and being named as the MCU Team of the Year.
In the MCU Women and Girls inaugural season, Limerick CC claimed the Blanche Rutland Supercup with very strong performances after a slow start to their season, testament to the great strides the Limerick side have made this season. Galway CC won the first ever Women’s League in great style.
The MCU Division 3A title was claimed by United Cricket Clonmel’s 1st XI, and Lismore CC were popular winners of the MCU Division 3A T20 Shield.
Limerick CC’s outstanding Under 13 squad secured the Munster Under 13 T20 league and Superleague. In addition, they represented the province with distinction in the All Irelands, progressing to the Quarter Final stage.
Some individual award winners from the season:
| Premier League Batter of the Season | Sumanta Powale | Cork Harlequins CC |
| Premier League Bowler of the Season | Jayesh Juneja | Co Galway CC |
| Division 2B Batter of the Season | Jatin Jaitley | Cork Harlequins CC |
| Division 2B Bowler of the Season | Rashid Tayyab Khalily | Waterford & Districts CC |
| Premier T20 Batter of the Season | Mark Adrianatos | Cork County CC |
| Premier T20 Bowler of the Season | Amit Singh Dangi | Cork Harlequins CC |
| Women’s Batter of the Season | Sara Kamel | Cork County CC |
| Women’s Bowler of the Season | Jaagriti Thakur | Co Galway CC |
| Emerging Female Player of the Year | Sasindi Guruge | Co Galway CC |
| U13 Female Player of the Year | Alex Costello | Cork County CC |
| U16 Female Player of the Year | Ciara Spalding | Cork County CC |
| U13 Male Player of the Year | Yousaf Ramay | Limerick CC |
| U15 Male Player of the Year | Ayan Ullah | Limerick CC |
| U17 Male Player of the Year | Dineth Sumanasinghe | Cork Harlequins CC |
| Munster Heat Player of the Year | Brandon Kruger | |
| Munster Reds Player of the Year | Liam McCarthy | |
| Umpire of the Year | James Spencer |
Munster Cricket Club or Team of 2024: Cork County CC 3rd XI
The Munster Spirit Of Cricket Award for 2024: Joseph O’Mahony
“This award goes to someone who had dedicated so much time and effort to all he does within his club as a player, administrator, groundsman while also being someone whose contribution to cricket in Munster in multiple capacities that his contribution and contribution is immeasurable, his work with the Women and girls committee to make sure their fledgling league and cup was the catalyst for his nomination for this award and I cannot think of a better person to receive the MCU Spirit of Cricket award 2024 other than Joe O’Mahony.”
The President of Munster Cricket Award for 2024: Mortimer Kelleher
“Mort is a true legend of Munster Cricket, having dedicated decades to the sport as both a player and administrator. His tireless efforts to preserve the historic Beamish Cricket Grounds, the ‘Spiritual Home of Munster Cricket’, have been invaluable. A true gentleman and passionate supporter of the game, Mort is a well-deserved recipient of this award. Congratulations, Mort!”
Many congratulations to all our winners, and to every player in every club across the MCU who make our great sport better. Huge thanks to the coaches, volunteers and parents who work tirelessly to make the magic happen. And thank you to everyone who attended our biggest ever awards!
View all winners here:
