Asian players to the fore in Leinster Under 17 squad

In a further good news boost for Irish, and in particular Leinster cricket, five players from Asian backgrounds have been named in the Leinster Under 17 squad announced earlier this week.

At a time when English cricket has been coming in for severe criticism for their failure to reach out to the Asian community in Britain, Leinster cricket seems to have hit upon a formula for bringing players and families originally from the subcontinent into the fold.

There's no doubt the extensive coaching programme which has been undertaken in the Leinster region over the past five years is beginining to reap dividends, with the success of the Leprechaun Cup and Super Leagues also  primary factors.

The fact that country clubs such as Bagenalstown, Laois and Knockharley are also represented means that the Leinster cricketing gospel is being spread far and wide and not constrained to the so called big city clubs.

Former Irish international Kenny Carroll, now the Development Officer for South Dublin County Council, and a coach with the Leinster Under 17's said: "It's been the product of a lot of hard work by many coaches throughout the Leinster region, and I'm glad their efforts are bringing in results. It is especially pleasing to see three boys from Adamstown CC involved in this training squad. All these boys have progressed from the Leprechaun Cup and are now involved with secondary schools Colaiste Phadraig in Lucan and Adamstown Community College.

"More good news for cricket in the area is the involvement of 'Tallaght Schools' in this years LCU schools competitions who will use Adamstown's new ground at Corkagh Park as their home venue."

The Under 17 squad, who have been split into ‘Northside’ and ‘Southside’ for training purposes will take part in six coaching sessions between now and Easter to give the youngsters an opportunity to further develop their skills and to try to gain selection onto the full Leinster Under 17’s squad.

As well as interprovincial games against the NW (May 19), and the NCU (May 26), fixtures have also been arranged against prestigious Australian schools St Patrick’s, Sydney (June 24) and St Peter’s College, Adelaide (July 5).

A further addition to the playing programme this year will be two South Leinster versus North Leinster fixtures due to take place on July 24th and 26th at Kilgobbet Park in Cabinteely.

The squads in full are as follows:

Northside:

  • Kashif Ali (North County)
  • Ross Staunton (North County)
  • Brian Smyth (North County)
  • Thomas Anders (Phoenix)
  • Eoin Cleere (Phoenix)
  • Adam Chester (Phoenix)
  • Adam Craig (Clontarf)
  • Chaco Burke (Rush)
  • James King (Rush)
  • Chris Lynch Miller (Rush)
  • Nathan Rooney (Balbriggan)
  • Harry Shivmangal (Knockharley)
  • Daire O’Neill (North Kildare)
  • Thomas Arnold (The Hills)

Southside:

  • Aaron Bailey (YMCA)
  • Padraic Flanagan (YMCA)
  • Jack Tector (YMCA)
  • Jack Balbirnie (Pembroke)
  • Lorcan Tucker (Pembroke)
  • Chris Wallace (Pembroke)
  • Sonny Cott (Pembroke)
  • David Murphy (Laois)
  • Tom Stanton (Merrion)
  • Daniel Paul (Merrion)
  • Nick Peters (Merrion)
  • Shane O’Neill (Bagenlstown)
  • Mikey Hoey (Terenure)
  • Michael Hogan (Terenure)
  • Alan O’Hara (Civil Service)
  • Hammas Habib (Adamstown)
  • Hannan Mann (Adamstown)
  • Ali Elahi (Adamstown)
  • Gareth Delany (Leinster)
  • Ross Nicol (Railway Union)