May News

Week 6 Preview

Another weekend without cricket for Armagh means more fixtures to catch up on at all levels, with the first team missing another two match weekend. To add insult to injury, there might not even be a scheduled league fixture this Saturday, as Gareth McCarter explained: “We are due to travel to Donacloney this Saturday in what would have been our opening league fixture, but my understanding is that their Junior Cup game last weekend started before being washed out so they have to go back each night this week until the result is confirmed, which is a bit unfortunate for them to be travelling to Ballymena. It really means that we aren’t 100% sure where we stand as for playing this Saturday given weather forecasts and the like. Neither Donacloney or Portadown are available for Sunday cricket, so we might be looking at midweek games against them, possibly over two nights. Saying that, they are both local sides so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. We will take any type of game at the minute!” If the game can go ahead, it will start at Donacloney’s picturesque Factory Ground at 1pm.

One game that definitely will have a result this weekend is the TCH Down Democrat Senior Cup second round game at home to Lisburn, scheduled for Sunday on the Mall with a 1pm start. If the tie cannot be played as a match then the dreaded format of a bowl-out comes into the reckoning. “A bowl-out might actually represent our best chance of beating Lisburn” admitted McCarter, who will continue as captain in the Senior Cup with Kulkarni ineligible to play “but realistically we would rather get a bit of good weather and have some cricket on the Mall and see how we get on.”

The bowl-out format claimed both the Armagh 3rds and 4ths as victims at the weekend as their ties in the Minor Cup were both washed out without any prospect of play. The Third team lost 0-1 to Woodvale at the Royal School while the Fourth eleven lost by 2-0 against Derriaghy at Queensway. As no Armagh bowler managed to hit the stumps; some practice is definitely required before they play any matches!

This Friday night the 29th May sees the first of many “Taverners” matches scheduled for the Mall in the Cricket Clubs 150th Anniversary season, with a team from the City of Armagh Glenavon Supporters Club taking on an Armagh Taverners select. The match will hopefully start before 7pm and will be followed by a steak barbeque and live music in the Pavilion. Tickets are still available at £12 and all support is welcome.

Bowl Out Misery for Club Sides

Both cup matches fell foul to the weather for the second week running prompting bowl outs to be played. The 3rds lost 1-0 to Woodvale at The Royal School whilst the fourths travelled to Derriaghy to come away on the losing side 2-0. The firsts game vs Lisburn was also postponed.

Mall Under Water - Pictures here!

Armagh triumph in Challenge Cup thriller

Armagh eventually kicked off their 2009 season in superb style with a one wicket win against Muckamore after an absolutely enthralling contest between two very evenly matched sides. The Moylena side already had two league games under their belt compared with Armagh with none but the battling city side showed their steel throughout in a gutsy performance. Armagh went into the game without professional Charu Kulkarni due to his Senior Cup ineligibility, but Harry Doyle and Seamus Crowe made their first team returns after their transfers back to Armagh. Full report can be found from the reports section.

Ireland V England Tickets - Thursday 27th August

The club has secured a limited number of tickets to this game for adults (£30) and juniors (£10). Tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis, on receipt of full payment. A bus will be running from the club, price to be confirmed. However there will be a special rate for any of the Youth players who participated and collected for the sponsored walk. Contact Ryan McCarter for more info or to purchase.

Golf Day Announced

The City of Armagh Cricket Club 150th Anniversary Committee are delighted to announce an Anniversary Golf Classic to be held at Loughgall Country Park Course on Friday 12th June 2009. Sponsored by Tyrone Crystal, places for this showpiece event are filling up fast due to popular demand but some do remain at £35 per player or £140 for a four-ball group. That price not only includes your round of golf at the challenging Loughgall course, but also caters for a meal and prize giving back in the Cricket Club Pavilion afterwards with live entertainment to follow. For more information on this event or to book your place,please contact Lloyd Hamilton on 07921350819.

Week Four Preview (Or Week One In The Weathers Case)

Another wet weekend without any play leaves Armagh facing the prospect of a fixture backlog and having to play twice in a weekend more often than they might like to, starting this weekend. Saying that, playing any matches at all would be a huge relief to a squad becoming increasingly frustrated with the rain hindering any attempts so far to practice or play. Last weekend was the closest that Armagh came to a match in 2009, with the TCH Down Democrat Sponsored Senior Cup tie at Muckamore surviving into Saturday morning before it too was called off after the heavy rain that crossed the whole country. The entire first round schedule was wiped out meaning that this Sunday’s reserve date comes into play, with the game being played to a finish, possibly by bowl-out if necessary. Hopefully though the game can be decided in the normal manner, starting at mid-day.

The slightly more important business though is set for the day before when Armagh travel to Saintfield for what will hopefully be their opening league fixture. As it sees the two teams relegated last season face off against each-other, it is already being billed as a key match in the Ulster Bank Division 1 Section 2 season. Armagh coach and Captain Charudatta Kulkarni is set to make his seasonal debut before then having to sit out Sunday’s cup tie. No doubt the Indian fast bowler might be a touch rusty having not had a chance to play since his arrival in Armagh on April 22nd, but hopes to be able to blow away the cobwebs with some good practice sessions in the week. “The weather has been a bit of a nightmare because it has restricted our practices” admitted Charu, “but the team has remained focused and is looking forward to a big weekend of matches this week at Saintfield and Muckamore. Both should be good tests for us as we look to kick off 2009 on the right foot.”

Armagh will hopefully have a full squad to choose from for the Saturday fixture, which starts at 1pm at the picturesque Saintfield Desemene.

Games Off

The firsts cup game to be staged at Muckamore has been postponed due to bad weather over night. It was called off early this morning (Saturday). The third eleven game (sunday) to be staged at the International ground Stormont has also fallen foul to the weather.

Club President George Chats With Newsletter Man Richard Bullick

Recently George met with Richard Bullick from The Newsletter about his past cricketing career. The article appeared in The Newsletter on Thursday but anyone who missed the piece, it can always be downloaded here!

Armagh 150th off to soggy start

The heavy rain around Northern Ireland has made cricket a difficult prospect in the early weeks of the NCU season but so far it has been causing particular frustration at the Mall where Armagh were desperate to get their landmark 150th Anniversary season off to a good start after their relegation to the third tier of the Ulster Bank NCU Leagues. However, even though the fixture list had been potentially accommodating with two home fixtures first up, the weather was not so kind with both matches being postponed leaving a fixture backlog before a ball has even been struck in anger. The postponements have been a particular headache for Armagh overseas player and captain Charu Kulkarni who will as a result of the Senior Cup regulations not be able to play for his team until the Saintfield fixture on May 16th. “We don’t tend to get as much rain as this back in India and it has been affecting our plans and preparations so far” admitted Kulkarni. “While the indoor facility at the school is decent for practice, I was eager to have the team outside in match conditions but we just haven’t been able to manage so far with the incessant rains. Even though the regulations do not permit me to play in the Senior Cup this Saturday, I will be with the boys every step of the way and my vice-captain Gareth McCarter will be able to lead Armagh to a good performance.” Saturday’s away fixture at Muckamore is sure to be a tough test for Armagh; the match begins at 12 noon, followed by a “Night at the Races” in the Pavilion.

The Mayday Bank Holiday should have played host to the colourful and action-packed “KUKRI Invitational Sixes” on the Mall but unfortunately the heavy rain meant that pitch preparations could not take place and that the event could not proceed. Understandably tournament organisers Simon Cardwell and Gareth McCarter were hugely disappointed that their hard work would not even have the outcome of an entertaining day’s cricket on the Mall. The former told www.armaghcricketclub.com that “We had managed to get another 7 NCU clubs to enter and the prospect of some fast and exciting cricket in a format never seen in Armagh was potentially brilliant but unfortunately the weather would have made conditions much too dangerous for any play. It is difficult to see where we could get a window in a busy season to reschedule the event but we will do our best. In the meantime, we would like to thank the clubs for their enthusiasms and of course thank our sponsors, KUKRI and Tyrone Crystal for their generous support”

Week Two Preview

Unfortunately but predictably the monsoon season arrived in Armagh just in time for the start of the cricket season meaning that the 1st XI season opener at home to Drumaness was washed out early on Friday morning. This was frustrating for the city side because a strong team and been selected and captain Charudatta Kulkarni was eager for the 2009 season to get off to a strong start. Nevertheless, preparations will now look towards this weekend and another scheduled home fixture against Portadown CC, another side who had a successful 2008 when they were promoted as runners up from Section 4 of the NCU and certainly should not be under-estimated by anyone. Good weather is needed if the Mall is going to be playable, and the game on Saturday is scheduled to begin at 1pm.

Sixes Day

Another event that will rely on good weather is the hotly anticipated KUKRI Invitational Sixes tournament on the Mall on Bank Holiday Monday. 8 teams from around the Northern Cricket Union will do battle in an exciting 5-over a side format with a cash prize and dazzling Tyrone Crystal momento on offer for the eventual winners. Tournament organiser Simon Cardwell said that “everyone at the club is crossing fingers that we get some better weather in the lead up to the KUKRI Invitational Sixes tournament because there promises to be some superb cricket in store with the all-action six a side format.” Armagh host the event with visiting teams from Laurelvale, Lurgan, Clogher, Millpark, Muckamore, Saintfield and Academy. The play should start at 11am and carry on throughout the day, with refreshments available around the ground.

Ladies Set To Run Marathon

Also on Bank Holiday Monday there will be exertions of a different format taking place in the capital city as the Armagh Ladies Cricket team take on the challenge of the Belfast Marathon. 5 of the team are taking part in the relay fun run around the gruelling 26.2 mile course and have been training and fundraising hard to make the event worthwhile. On Saturday night past the girls held a hugely successful “Decades Night Disco” in the Pavilion and also will be holding a General Knowledge quiz in the Pavilion this Thursday night at 8pm. Andrea Hamilton will be Everyone is welcome to attend and the cover charge of £3, as well as all of the sponsorship money will be going towards the Armagh CC 150th Anniversary Charity donation to the Wooden Spoon. It is a fantastic cause and the girls have been training really hard so would appreciate your support. Andrea is also running in the marathon, along with Suzanne, Natalie and Naomi Wilson and Andrea Houston. We will have a report on how they got on after the marathon takes place.