Cricket made its debut at the annual South Dublin County Council Primary School Sports Blitz held on Friday, March 23rd at Clondalkin Leisure Centre. It is held every year to raise awareness of the European Week Against Racism. Fairness, equality and sportsmanship are the values that the day promotes and re inforces among the schoolchildren of the SDCC area.
All areas of the county including Tallaght, Neilstown, Greenhills and Adamstown were represented by the 10 participating schools, each representing a different nation. The SDCC Cricket Development Team had spent the previous two weeks delivering introductory cricket coaching sessions in each of the schools in order to make sure all schools were well prepared for the eagerly awaited event. St Peter Apostle NS, Neilstown representing the Czech Republic on the day came out winners after a fun and competitive day’s cricket. They were presented with the Mayor’s Cup by SDCC Mayor Caitriona Jones. St Peters BNS, Greenhills representing Estonia were also impressive and credit must go to SDCC Coach Matt Lunson for preparing the children for the event.
Cricket player of the day was Matthew Reynolds of St Peter Apostle, Neilstown who showed great fielding and wicket keeping skills which would have impressed Niall O’Brien. While the leading run scorer was Cian McHugh of Talbot SNS, Bawnogue who scored 24 from just 4 balls in one of his explosive knocks.
Kenny Carroll, Nicky Kenny, Amy Kenealy and King’s Hospital Transition Year student Ntinga Mpiko made sure the tournament ran smoothly as they coached, umpired and scored for the duration of the event. This blitz was the first day’s cricket of the year in the SDCC area with much more cricket activity to look forward to. It was the first time many of the schools had played the game and the pupils and teachers enjoyed it immensely with many receiving further coaching visits from the SDCC cricket development team in the coming months.