GOREY CRICKET CLUB COLLEGIATE ESMONDE CUP 2022

The renovated Town Park, Gorey, was a bustling hive of activity on a May 10 morning, as first-year pupils & staff from Creagh College, Gorey CS & the town's newest college, Educate Together, briskly walked to the grounds.

The reason was to compete in The Esmonde Cricket Cup, a name synonymous with Gorey's 400-year history, The organisers of this significant event were AL FitzGerald, Chairperson of Gorey Cricket Club, and logistics operator. Stephen Hadley, Enniscorthy CC coach & umpire & Wexford's CC most famous exponent of cricket and favourite Herbie Honohan CL SE Co-ordinator.

The four Regional Colleges, Colaiste an Atha, Kilmuckridge, Creagh College, and Gorey CS & Educate Together, had six coaching sessions starting last December, such as the interest. The day had come to put their undoubted skills to the test, with a 'new' adversary thrown into the mix-pressure & expectation- no one knew how they would react when the games began.

The wailing music of the bagpipes added to the atmosphere of surreality.Both Semi-Finals were simultaneous played, Herbie, officiating the Gorey CS v Educate Together match & Stephen, the Colaiste an Atha v Creagh College, each game 50 meters apart. The groundsman prepared both grass wickets on a bumpy surface. Most noticeable was the natural fielding displayed by all teams, with some outstanding catches.

Overarm bowling gained popularity, and confidence grew as the games progressed. Various techniques were on display, some very fast bowling, others slower & at times deceptive as if it was floating or swinging. Most of the batters batted aggressively, going for the big hits that the onlooking public tends to remember.

As the game progressed and the adrenalin increased, some batters executed a perfect shot over the boundary for a six. Attempts like those are difficult to replicate, but such adulation was justified, especially when needed.

Creagh contested the 3rd/4th place play-off v Educate Together after both schools acquitted themselves excellently against formidable foes. The Final pairing of Gorey CS v Colaiste an Atha showcased strong batting, overhead bowling & excellent fielding the highlight against equally compared teams, with 54 runs the target for Colaiste an Atha, Kilmuckridge to bat to claim victory.

Windy conditions compounded the nervous dispositions of the batting team seeking to overturn the deficit. Eventually, Kilmuckridge's last pairing could sense victory, but they were down to the final over, with ten runs as their objective. GCS could sense danger as their fielders became more animated but remained focused.

Several fours & sixes brought the last over to a climax, with momentum now firmly with the batting team. A slow delivered ball bounced in front of the batter, who connected sweetly. The ball was heading for the boundary when the GCS fielder acrobatically threw himself fetching with both hands holding the ball for dear life. OUT, jubilation & despondency quickly descended on both victor & vanquished.

All four teams played to the spirit of cricket & the sportsmanship was evident. Herbie presented each School with a set of cricket bats, balls & stumps courtesy of Cricket Leinster.

The occasion enthralled Cllr Don Kenny, Joe O' Sullivan & County Mayor Garry Laffan. Bartle Esmonde complimented the pupils for their admirable performances, fondly pointing out cricket was once the most popular sport in the land and the future looks promising with so much talent.

GCS Captain & Vice-Captain, Cara Bernie & Cian McDonald respectively & the Player of the Tournament Charles Last received the Esmonde Cup & outstanding player trophy awarded. Silence descended once again, punctuated by the staccato grass mower & brisk walkers babbling. Herbie collected his sports equipment along with his retrieved broken reading glasses. Roll on 2023