Photo Credit: Sportsfile
This Saturday, Wexford Wanderers Cricket Club will make a bit of history when they host a match in the Arachas National Cup – the all-Ireland club cricket cup competition – for the first time, with Antrim-based Muckamore Cricket Club as their opponent.
Wexford Wanderers Cricket Club has been in existence since 1976 (Kilraine Cricket Club merged with them a few years later). They play their games at the home of Wexford Wanderers RFC – Park Lane, Wexford Town – on the banks of the Slaney Estuary, which has one of the most stunning views in Ireland on a sunny day.
Attila Stahlut, Club Chair and 2nd Team captain, said:
“The Wanderers is a club with a proud history – we’ve certainly come a long way since we were all out for just five runs in their first game we played in 1976!
“We made our Arachas National Cup debut last year, losing a final-ball thriller away to Limerick in the opening round. So we’re definitely looking to go at least one step further in 2023 and show everyone that we can pull our weight with the big boys. We are keen to display our never-give-up spirit that Wexford Wanderers Cricket Club is renowned for.”
Stahlut was keen to highlight the efforts of the club in the local community:
“Through the fantastic efforts of two of our long-standing club stalwarts, Herbie Honohan and Peter Hudson, most schools across county Wexford continue to receive cricket each year as part of their sports programmes. In a predominantly GAA county, it is a great achievement to have so many children in the county being given the opportunity to learn the game of cricket from a young age.”
Over the last few years the club has tasted success – their 1st team were Leinster Division 6 champions in 2018, and their 2nds won the then 40-over Minor Cup. The 2nds were also runners-up in the Ed Sports Russell Court Trophy in 2021, while all three of their league teams were promoted from their individual leagues last season.
In terms of the profile of the club, Stahlut said:
“In 2021 the club fielded two teams consisting of 11 different nationalities over a single weekend – it really showed how multi-national the club is and that is something the club is extremely proud of.
“We are growing all the time, and have really seen fast growth in member numbers over the past few seasons. We now have three competitive adult teams in Cricket Leinster, playing in Division 4, Division 13 and Division 18. There’s also a Taverners team along with youth teams that play friendly matches in the South-East. We have about 50-60 adult members, along with an extra 20-30 youths on top of that.
“Tomorrow is set to be a wonderful day of cricket at the Wexford Wanderers ground, so hopefully locals will come down and enjoy the occasion.”
The match gets underway at 1.30pm (local time) with a scorecard available here.
IRISH SENIOR CUP
The Irish Senior Cup began in 1982 and is a 50-over competition for top-ranked clubs in their respective provincial unions. CIYMS are the current holders of the famous Bob Kerr trophy, following their victory over Lisburn in last year’s final.
The draw has been conducted and the fixtures for the first round has been determined as follows (home team listed first):
Irish Senior Cup – 1st Round
• Malahide v Instonians
• YMCA V Coleraine
• Railway Union v Bready
• Pembroke v Brigade
• Woodvale v Balbriggan
• CSNI v Leinster
• North Down v Eglinton
• Fox Lodge v The Hills
• Donemana v Carrickfergus
• Newbuildings v Waringstown
• Cork Harlequins v Merrion
• Ardmore v Cork County
The four semi-finalists from 2022 – Clontarf, Phoenix, Lisburn and CIYMS – all receive a bye into round two.
Irish Senior Cup Schedule
• Round 1: 20 May 2023 (reserve date 28 May)
• Round 2: 4 June 2023 (reserve date 11 June)
• Quarter-Finals: 18 June 2023 (reserve date 25 June)
• Semi-Finals: 9 July 2023 (reserve date 30 July)
• Final: 12 August 2023 (reserve date 2 September)
NATIONAL CUP
The National Cup, which began in 2012, is a 40-over competition featuring the next tier of clubs across the five provincial unions. North County won the trophy in 2022 after a thrilling final against Terenure.
The draw has been conducted and the fixtures for the first round has been determined as follows (home team listed first):
National Cup – 1st Round
• Wexford Wanderers v Muckamore
• Rush v Strabane
• North Kildare v Bonds Glen
• Ballymena v Knockharley
• Cregagh v Letterkenny
• Derriaghy v Ballyhaunis
• Burndennett v Laois
• Killyclooney v Templepatrick
• Ballyspallen receive a bye
• Glendermott v Athlone
• Midleton v Civil Service
• UCC v Cliftonville
• County Kerry v St Johnston
• County Galway v Limerick
North County and Terenure receive a bye into round two as 2022 finalists.
National Cup Schedule
• Round 1: 20 May 2023 (reserve date 28 May)
• Round 2: 4 June 2023 (reserve date 11 June)
• Quarter-Finals: 18 June 2023 (reserve date 25 June)
• Semi-Finals: 9 July 2023 (reserve date 30 July)
• Final: 13 August 2023 (reserve date 3 September)
The fixtures and dates of the men’s and women’s All-Ireland T20 Cup competitions will be announced shortly.
Best of luck to all teams involved!
