There was an interesting article by Brian Gilmore on the Malahide Club Website on 18th February about Herbie Darlington who died last year at the age of 102. He played for many years on Malahide’s 1st XI alongside many famous names from the club and Leinster cricket [see below].
He was very much part of the history of Malahide and played in their first match in the Senior League in 1953. In this match, against Leinster in Rathmines, he opened the batting and scored 45 out of a total of 132/7. Malahide went on to win by one run. He also took part in the 1955 Senior Cup Final when Malahide this time lost to Leinster in a match that lasted four days in Park Avenue. In this match he made 13 opening the batting with R J Gilmore. Leinster went on to win in this game by over 100 runs. Match report and scorecard.
A few more details from Derek Scott’s Archives.
His Senior Career [1953 - 1961] Statistics are as follows:
Played 118, Innings 111, NO 2, HS, 49, Runs 1407, Ave 12.87.
He was by all accounts an excellent fielder and took 32 catches including 4 in one match against Old Belvedere in 1958.
His best season was in 1959 when he scored 215 runs at an average of 15.35. He never got a 50, although he got into the 40s in seven of his nine seasons playing.
Malahide CC First Team 1949
Back L/R: Cyril J Hughes, Rory Gilmore, T Golden, Herbie Darlington, Joe O'Neill, AB Robertson, Louis Hughes (non playing)
Front L/R: Harry Booker, Ivan Cashell, John Neville (captain), Joe Fitzsimons, Des Cashell