Promotion Secured with a Game to Spare!

Traditionally, we don’t tend to do things the easy way in Brannockstown. While our promotion rivals played back-to-back games knowing they needed not only big wins with maximum bonus points, but also a favour from Greystones, we kept our focus on the job at hand.

They got off to a perfect start, demolishing Merrion by 124 runs. The following day, they put up 242-9 against Malahide—but Malahide’s rearguard action saw them reach 191-9, denying the crucial points our rivals needed.

This meant that we only needed two losing bonus points against Greystones to secure promotion to Division 12. Thanks to a solid bowling performance—3 wickets from Vishnu and 2 from Neville—we restricted Greystones to 183-8.

The chase wasn’t easy. Ghanim contributed 34 and Gunter hit an excellent 62, but we ultimately fell short by 14 runs. Still, the silver lining was sweet—5 losing bonus points were more than enough to secure promotion.

Final Fixture: Leinster Return to Brannockstown

Our last match of the season comes this weekend, a postponed game originally scheduled for earlier in the summer at Observatory Lane. To avoid further delay, we agreed to host again—even though we already hosted Leinster this season.

And what a match that was. Leinster shattered records in Brannockstown that day:

• The opening partnership of 180 became the highest ever at Brannockstown, surpassing the previous record of 177 set in 2017 by Richard and Rehan.
• Their final score of 285 was the second-highest total ever recorded on our ground.

Halverstown gave it everything in reply. Clive Wardrop smashed 82 off 61 balls, including 9 boundaries and 3 sixes. Our total of 241-6 was a valiant effort, but not quite enough to chase down Leinster’s monster score.

What to Expect This Weekend

All the pressure is off—Leinster arrive as league winners, and Halverstown have secured promotion. But don’t expect either side to go soft. Leinster will want to finish the season unbeaten, and Halverstown will be keen to sign off with a flourish at home.

Match Details

• Date: Sunday
• Venue: Brannockstown
• Start Time: 1:00 PM
• Forecast: Overcast with some showers, but full play expected

Come down and support the lads as we wrap up a brilliant campaign with pride and purpose!

Bouncebackability in Brannockstown!

Halverstown look to bounce back after a 4-wicket defeat to Pembroke last Saturday.

Neville Case, Halverstown’s very own version of James Anderson, delivered a standout performance — taking 3 wickets in 6 overs with trademark control and then following it up with a spectacular 43 not out with the bat.

Next Up: Leinster

Leinster come into the game high on confidence after a strong start to their league campaign, beating Malahide by 6 wickets in their only game so far.

The last meeting between the clubs came in August last year, when Leinster secured a dominant 111-run win. The match was defined by an incredible double century from Abdul Sattar. In reply, Tim Ronaldson hit a superb 97, combining with Umer Naru for a 149-run partnership — a clear highlight in an otherwise tough day.

When Leinster last visited Brannockstown, they claimed a 29-run win. That game turned on a remarkable 7th wicket stand of 113 runs between Ikhtiat Sanzai and Asad Javed, pushing Leinster to a total of 230.

Halverstown never lay down easily — six players reached double figures in the chase — but no one quite managed to build a match-winning innings.

Match Details

• Fixture: Halverstown vs Leinster
• Venue: Brannockstown
• Date: Saturday
• Start Time: 1:00 PM
• Forecast: 15°C, Cloudy with some showers

Let’s hope for a spirited performance and a return to winning ways!

Opening Day in Brannockstown!

This weekend will see Halverstown kick off their 2019 League season with a home game against Pembroke.

The clubs last met back in August 2017 at Sydney Parade when Halverstown bowled Pembroke out for 122 after Moon’s 5-wicket haul. He followed it up with a composed 53, helping Halverstown secure a 4-wicket victory.

No strangers to opening day duties, Pembroke were also our first visitors to Brannockstown back in 2017. That day, Neville Case put on an exhibition, tearing through the Pembroke lineup and taking 5 wickets as they were dismissed for just 87. Halverstown then batted steadily to a 6-wicket win, with Rehan Ali hitting the winning runs.

Match Info

• Venue: Brannockstown
• Start Time: 1:00 PM
• Weather: Set fair, with temperatures around 14°C

Here’s to another exciting chapter in our friendly rivalry with Pembroke—see you at the ground!

Division 13 is Starting to Bubble

It’s starting to get serious in the race for the Division 13 Title, with Leinster, Gorey and ourselves all fighting it out. This weekend, Gorey travel to Leinster, while we head to Pembroke.

As things stand, Leinster are in the box seat and remain unbeaten in league action this season. However, a slip-up in one or both of their matches against fellow contenders could blow the title race wide open.

All Eyes on Pembroke

Our clashes with Pembroke over the past few seasons have been tight—and occasionally feisty. Earlier this season, Pembroke edged us out with a 4-wicket win. But this Sunday could be a different story.

With Pembroke’s 1st team competing in the Irish Senior Cup Final on Saturday, there may be a few sore heads come Sunday morning at Sydney Parade. We’re hoping to catch them slightly off their game and return to Brannockstown with the points in the bag.

That said, we genuinely wish Pembroke the very best of luck as they aim to lift the Irish Senior Cup on Saturday in Milverton.

Looking Ahead

Sunday’s forecast: Sunny skies and temperatures between 16–18°C. Perfect conditions for some cracking Division 13 cricket!

Halverstown Breaks the Duck with Win Over Gorey

After 3 games into the season we finally broke our duck with a win over Gorey. A fantastic opening stand of 87 from Barry Ashmore and Richard Greene gave us the platform to build an innings of 185-7. Richard Greene top scored with 58, and Clive Wardrop continued his good vein of form scoring 48.

In reply, Gorey’s Ross Norman gave a dogged innings of 62 Not Out, but it was the incredible bowling figures of 8-2-9-1 from John Threadgold that was the standout. A special mention should go to Umer Naru, whose death bowling put a stop to Gorey getting to their total.

Upcoming Weekend Fixtures: Russell Court Trophy & League Clash

So onto this weekend, and it’s Russell Court Trophy action on Saturday as we take on Ashbourne and Merrion in a Round Robin group in Brannockstown.

Then on Sunday, we make the trip to Balrothery to play North County in the League. It’s been two years since we played in the T20 Russell Court Trophy, where we knocked out Adamstown in the Opening Round, which included the highlight of 100 Not Out from Rehan Ali. We then crashed out in the Quarter Final to AIB.

Merrion beat us in the Whelan Cup at this stage last year by 8 wickets. It’s been 3 years since Ashbourne last paid a visit to Brannockstown. That was when we were both playing in Division 13, when Ashbourne won by 48 runs. In the return fixture that season, we managed to beat Ashbourne by 6 wickets where the highlight was Mahmoon Rashid hitting the ball onto the roof of the clubhouse for an enormous 6.

Sunday League Match – A Familiar Challenge

On Sunday we return to the site of one of our most enjoyable wins from last season against North County, in a match that ended in virtual darkness. Chasing a big score of 208 from County, a brilliant 97 Not Out from Umer Naru and a 56 from David Brown saw us home.

Match Timings

• Saturday (Brannockstown): 10:30am vs Ashbourne, 5:30pm vs Merrion
• Sunday (Balrothery): 1:00pm vs North County