GERRY HARPER RIP

Gerald Harper, one of seven cricketing brothers, was born on 22 April 1949. To say that Gerry loved cricket would be an understatement, he was absolutely besotted with the game. He commenced his cricket career with Balbriggan where he played alongside Jack, his late father. Balbriggan was not the powerful cricket force that it is today, and Gerry moved to the Man-O-War to play at a higher grade. After one season, he joined The Hills Cricket Club, and he was one of the mainstays on The Hills team which was seeking senior status. When Balrothery met The Hills in the Senior 2 Final in 1982, Gerry played what he himself described as the most important innings in the history of the club because it was pivotal in demonstrating that The Hills merited Senior League status. On a stiflingly hot day, Gerry Harper scored 111 runs out of Hills’ total of 244. On a great day for the Harper family, Noel, his brother, who was captaining Balrothery scored 52 runs.

In 1989, The Hills CC played Carlisle CC in Kimmage in the Leinster Senior Cup Final, and Gerry did not have too much success with the bat, but he made two crucial interventions with the ball. In quintessential Fingal fashion, The Hills was defending a small score (138 for 9), and Gerry made two crucial interventions with the ball. He bowled Stephen Molins (LBW) when Stephen was on 26 runs and going well. He also bowled Nick Riches (LBW), when it looked that Nick might bring Carlisle home. That was typical of Gerry Harper, he was always in the game, with bat and ball. The Hills went on the win the League in that season, and Gerry was a key member of a superb squad.  Gerry Harper was the prototypical Fingal cricketer, very competitive but scrupulously fair on the field, and very hospitable and gregarious when the games were over. Fingal cricket has lost one of its great cricket people this evening. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.