The Colaiste Phádraig junior cricket team tasted victory last Thursday, April 19th with their first home match played at Corkagh Park. Thanks to the ongoing support of Adamstown Cricket Club and South Dublin County Council, both the Junior and Senior school cricket teams are this year playing their home matches at Corkagh Park in Clondalkin.
Team captain Hamza Mann was the Man of the Match as the Lucan school defeated St Joseph's Rush in this Leinster Junior League division 1 match. He scored a chanceless 53 in the first innings including two massive sixes which would would grace any adult game. He then backed this up by returning bowling figures of 4 for 10, almost pulling off the magical 50 runs and 5 wicket combination. Along with Kashif Shah who also had impressive bowling figures of 4 for 17, the St Joseph's team were all out for 57 in reply to the Colaiste Phádraig score of 114.
Schoolteacher and team manager Billy Rafter commented on the performance: ‘The lads have trained hard over the winter with the help of our newly qualified coach Usman Shahid. It was great to eventually get the season proper going. We’ve been knocking on the door the last few years and we hope with a Junior and Senior team entered in the Leinster Leagues we can bring some silverware back to Lucan this season’.
Next up for Colaiste Phádraig this week will be the Senior team as they take on cricket heavyweights CUS.