While the Tipperary hurlers have battled hard to reach the All Ireland senior hurling final next month, some young Tipperary cricketers have continued to shine on the cricket fields of Ireland.

David Murphy, from New Inn, a pupil in Rockwell College keeps going from strength to strength. Playing his club cricket with Pembroke CC in Sandymount, Dublin, 17 year-old David has consistently turned in excellent bowling performances with his club, all of which led to his call up for the Ireland U-17 and U-19 team panels. He recently featured on the Ireland U-19 team in a series of games against Holland, in the European challenge in Dublin, and followed this up with appearances against Scotland, in Edinburgh, where he was the youngest member on the panel. In mid-August David was part of the Ireland U-17 team which secured a last ball victory, against Scotland, at Eglinton, Co. Derry, to clinch the European Challenge series.

In the opening Division 1 match of this season in April, David opened the bowling attack for Pembroke against Merrion CC, with Roscrea native, Allan Eastwood. It led cricket writer Stu Daltry to remark that ‘this has to be the first Co. Tipp opening pair in Senior cricket, Eastwood having begun with Ballyeighan and Murphy with Laois.’

Aaron Cawley, from the Horse and Jockey, who started out his career with Thurles CC, but who is now a key member of the Tipperary CC team, has received call ups to the various under age teams from the Munster representative team to a Southern XI. An accurate strike bowler, Aaron has a happy knack of tying down the opposing batsmen, while taking wickets on a regular basis. He featured on the Munster U-13 team during the provincial series, which took place in July. On 12 August, Aaron was called up to the South U-14 representative team, which played the North XI, at Stormont, Belfast.

Showing good form, the Southern XI scored 205 for the loss of four wickets. Rain, unfortunately, brought a quick end to the day, with the North on forty-five runs, for the loss of six wickets. It wiped out any hope which Aaron and his team had for a well-earned victory. Aaron’s brother, Sean, also continues to impress with Tipperary CC as the team consolidates its position in the Munster League.