Player of the Year Awards 2024

We had an opportunity today before our Intra-club game to present our Player of the Year Awards for 2024.

Congratulations to this year’s recipients:

• H1 Team – Player of the Year: Andy Wordley
• H2 Team – Player of the Year: Junaid Khan
• Oaks Team – Player of the Year: Brandon Langford

Well done to Andy, Junaid, and Brandon on a fantastic season. Your performances and commitment on and off the field have been an inspiration to all of us at Halverstown.

Remembering Richard Ryall: A True Halverstown Gentleman

Written by Tim Ronaldson

Halverstown Cricket Club’s Stuart Conroy Honored as Cricket Ireland’s Activator of the Year

Halverstown, Co. Kildare — March 7, 2025 — Halverstown Cricket Club is proud to announce that Stuart Conroy, the club’s dedicated secretary, has been awarded the prestigious Activator of the Year by Cricket Ireland. This accolade recognizes Stuart’s exceptional commitment to nurturing young talent through the ‘Smash It’ and ‘It’s Wicket!’ training camps, designed for children learning cricket in Ireland.

Stuart’s passion for cricket and his unwavering dedication to youth development have been instrumental in the club’s outreach initiatives. Under his guidance, Halverstown Cricket Club has actively engaged with local schools, introducing students to the sport and fostering a love for the game. These efforts have not only revived interest in cricket within the community but have also laid the foundation for the club’s upcoming junior teams.

Stuart’s hands-on approach and genuine care for each participant have made the training camps both enjoyable and impactful.

“It’s fantastic to see the smiles on the children’s faces when they leave,” said Stuart.

🏏 A Club Steeped in History and Heart

Halverstown Cricket Club, established in 1885, holds the distinction of being the oldest cricket club outside of Dublin still in operation in Ireland. The club’s rich history is complemented by its inclusive environment, welcoming members from diverse backgrounds. This multicultural ethos has enriched the club’s community spirit and has been a cornerstone of its enduring success.

🌱 Growing the Next Generation

The ‘Smash It’ and ‘It’s Wicket!’ programs have been pivotal in introducing cricket to a new generation, emphasizing skill development, teamwork, and fun. Stuart’s leadership in these initiatives has not only equipped young players with the fundamentals of the sport but has also instilled values of discipline and camaraderie.

Looking ahead, Halverstown Cricket Club is preparing to launch junior teams, starting with the U11s. This expansion will offer a structured pathway for young cricketers to grow, develop, and represent Halverstown in competitive formats.

Stuart’s recognition as Activator of the Year is a testament to his hard work and the collective efforts of Halverstown Cricket Club to promote cricket at the grassroots level.

📌 About Halverstown Cricket Club

Founded in 1885, Halverstown Cricket Club is nestled near Kilcullen, Co. Kildare, and is the oldest cricket club outside of Dublin still active in Ireland. The club prides itself on its rich history, inclusive culture, and dedication to promoting cricket within the community. With a focus on both competitive play and social engagement, Halverstown continues to be a beacon for cricket enthusiasts of all ages and backgrounds.

🏏 2024 H2 Season Review – by Des Drumm

Inch by inch, we improve our position year on year, even if it was in Division 20 in 2024 rather than Division 19 the previous year. The juggling of teams in the lower divisions was a disaster—ending up with 6 teams and giving us just 10 games. The games were skewed heavily to early and late season, which was not helpful. Still, we finished 3rd, above halfway—though everyone knows how annoyed I was that Merrion 7 finished above us. We should have beaten them to claim runners-up.

In further rejigging, we now end up in Division 19 again for 2025… but no medals!

We used 34 players in 2024, 3 more than 2023.

🏏 Batting: Our Achilles Heel

With a minimum of 3 innings for inclusion:

A glance at the chart illustrates our weakness in batting. Last year, our top 9 batsmen were in double figures; this year just 4. Our heavy reliance on Junaid and Chaitan is obvious.
– Junaid’s 101 not out vs Terenure 5 (out of 128 for 2) was a highlight.
– Chaitan only played 4 games but made a huge impact.
– Mushin’s contribution was appreciated.
– Only David was over a 10-run average, though Matt was close.
– Avtar hit a half-century, but one innings doesn’t get you on the chart!

Our top 10 average score was 163, just +3% on last year, but top-scoring batsmen 3 to 10 scored 40% less than 2023.

🎯 Bowling: Always Competitive

As usual, our bowling performances were very satisfactory. Matt passed me out this season to claim top spot, though he did bowl almost twice as many overs! He had an excellent season with the ball, thoroughly deserving No.1.

Junaid showed that he can bowl as well as bat (note his maidens), and had we had Sam for a few more games, he might have challenged them both.
– Junaid took 6 for 11 against Merrion (and we still lost!)
– Matt had a fifer vs Terenure.
– The low number of overs bowled generally shows how we struggled to have a settled team.

📊 Average Runs Per Wicket

This stat can favour those who bowl least! However, Junaid tops it comfortably despite bowling a good amount of overs.

After that, there are our less regular bowlers before we get to some of the heavy lifters. As well as number of overs bowled, you need to look at economy rates also for the full picture.

Matt’s figures are again worth noting.

💸 Economy Rate

Though higher than last year (influenced by big defeats to Longford, unsurprisingly), our economy rates were fair.

I’ve taken a tough line—only shown those conceding under 5 per over, since that’s the equivalent of giving up 200 in a 40-over match. That’s already high enough!

Only 8 players were under 5 RPO, and there’s a 1-run-per-over gap between 8th and 9th, so this was a natural cutoff.

🔁 All-Round Performance

This season, I realised how Cricket Leinster works this out: they add a column R × W (Runs × Wickets) to explain it. Simple!

It’s an interesting chart—other than the obvious names of Junaid, Matt, and Chaitan, there are some surprise entries. Again, note our reliance on a few outstanding performers.

🧤 Catches & Stumpings

We are good in the field! Our field catching rate has improved again with 2.9 catches per game (not including keeper catches).

• Chaitan and Ahsan were top with 4 catches apiece
• Brian, Arun B, David, Matt, Kevin Hodson, Junaid, and myself had 2 each
• A number of others had 1 catch: Brandon, Pushn, etc.
• Hubert, in one game behind the stumps, took 3 dismissals – 2 catches and a stumping.

📌 Lessons for 2025

The progress we made with our batting last season dissipated, which is a concern. Our bowling is good and we are always in with a chance because of that. We are often critical of ourselves in the field but there is steady progress being made.

Thanks to Cecil who has been Vice Captain to me for more years than he or I care to remember. His advice has always been valued. I have enjoyed my time as captain and wish Jim all the very best of luck as the new Captain of H2.

Thanks for the support and trust you have all given me and I hope that Jim enjoys the same.

— Des Drumm, 12/3/25

Halverstown Teams Promoted Ahead of 2025 Cricket Leinster Season

Cricket Leinster has confirmed the League Structures for the 2025 season, and there’s fantastic news for Halverstown Cricket Club: both senior teams have been promoted following a strong 2024 campaign.

Details regarding Cup competitions are yet to be announced, but this promotion reflects the club’s continued momentum and consistent performances across both teams.

Division 12 – 2025 Lineup

• North Kildare 4
• County Cavan 1
• Halverstown 1
• Malahide 5
• Merrion 5
• Naas 1
• Phoenix 5
• Tyrrelstown 3

Division 19 – 2025 Lineup

• Castleknock 4
• Clondalkin 3
• Halverstown 2
• Merrion 7
• North County 6
• North Kildare 6
• Naas 6

The club congratulates all players, captains, and support staff who made this possible. Here’s to a successful 2025 season!

Indoor Nets for Halverstown is starting in February. We have moved to a new venue in Pipers Hill College in Naas. Places are filling up very fast for both Youths and Adults so book soon to avoid disappointment. The details on the times and costs are below.

Notice of 2024 Annual General Meeting

Stuart Conroy – Secretary, Halverstown Cricket Club

Register Your Child for Halverstown CC Junior Cricket – 2025 Season

Is your child interested in playing cricket in 2025? If so, we’d love to hear from you! Halverstown Cricket Club is preparing for an exciting new season and we’re welcoming junior players across all age groups.

Stuart Conroy – Secretary, Halverstown Cricket Club

Halverstown 2 Marches to Adamstown Cup Semi-Final

Before we dive into the juicy details of the Adamstown Cup Semi-final, let’s rewind and relive the drama of the group stages that got us there.

Match 1: Halverstown 2 vs Tyrrelstown 5

Halverstown 2 returned to T20 cricket with a nail-biter against Tyrrelstown 5. Despite the weather turning gloomy, Sean and Chaitanya’s 57-run opening partnership set a solid foundation. Rain slowed our innings, but Junaid’s unbeaten 43 led us to a respectable 129/5.

Our bowlers shone. Matthew kept things tight, Ahsan struck early, and after another rain delay, a clutch catch by Pushn swung momentum our way. With 8 runs needed in the final over, debutant Arun delivered a stunning hat-trick to clinch a dramatic win. Sharp fielding and a bit of controversial umpiring only added to the thrill.

Match 2: Halverstown 2 vs Merrion 7

We lost the toss, and the Merrion 7 captain—cheeky smile and all—asked us to bat first. Challenge accepted! We posted 148/7, thanks to Junaid’s explosive 59, backed up by Sean (22), Avanish (15), and Jim (15).

With the ball, we were disciplined. Merrion 7 fell short at 120/8, giving us a solid 28-run victory. Ajesh led with 3 wickets, Avanish picked up 2, and Matthew, Ahsan, and Avtar each chipped in with 1 apiece.

Double Header: Halverstown 2 vs Leinster 6 & Carlow 3

Game 1: vs Leinster 6

Leinster 6 batted first and scored 106/8. Our bowlers were on point—Avtar bagged 3 wickets, Ahsan and Avanish took 2 each, and Des removed their top scorer.

Chasing wasn’t quite our forte that day. We stumbled to 99 all out, falling short by 7 runs. Avtar (30), Tojo (20), and Shekhar (10) were the only real contributors. Call it a warm-up act.

Game 2: vs Carlow 3

Redemption mode: activated. Avanish cracked a brilliant fifty, Sean added a steady 41, and Chaitanya and Muhsin tore it up with quickfire 43 and 24, both at strike rates over 186. We put up a massive 189.

Carlow couldn’t keep up, finishing on 152/5. We won by 36 runs. Avanish took 2 wickets, while Junaid, Chaitanya, and Des took one apiece. Des captained the side in my absence (due to injury) and led like a maestro, sealing our place in the semi-finals.