I have had the pleasure of captaining Bagenalstown 2s in Division 13 this season. It has been a hard slog, and I have been on a steep learning curve. The division has been very competitive, and it was finally won by Ashbourne at the weekend, after a game that we would almost certainly have lost was called off because of bad light (you can tell we had the luxury of official umpires). Ashbourne were delighted, post game, and they fully deserve to be, as the NR confirmed them as champions.
It meant a great deal to them, and is, I believe, the first trophy that they have won.
My team had a very difficult start to the season - for a variety of reasons - and until the last fortnight or so, we have been in a relegation dogfight, and I have felt each defeat personally. I have lost sleep over some of the games we have lost, and I have had trouble even reaching sleep trying to plan the next game.
And I know that this is just low level, amateur sport. I know that in the grand scheme of things that it doesn't really matter that much. But, let me tell you, despite all that, this playing cricket in the cheap seats of the LCU is serious stuff. Every game has been a battle, and I have bled for my team this season, literally. We give everything in the pursuit of victories, and any player who doesn't want to give his all isn't a player I am interested in playing with.
Our Thirds team have come fourth in Division 16 this year. Last year, they were holding up the entire LCU, having lost all fourteen of their games. They won the opening game of this season, and the sheer joy at such progress resonated throughout the club. It really, really meant something, and watching the team kick on and win plenty more games has been wonderful, especially as the team has so many young players in it, players who have worked hard to improve themselves and their team.
Lately, I have seen a pattern on the LCU website. As articles have been posted, there have been plenty of comments made about the lower divisions:
“All cricket below a certain level should be white ball 20/20.
The serious stuff has to get longer maybe Division 5 or 6 and above.”
“Most clubs in the lower leagues only have cup glory to aim for.”
“I dont envisage extra teams , rather clubs taking existing players to make up a development team and dropping a league team to facilitate the new arrangement. “
What have we done to be treated with such disdain? Why are the hundreds of players who give up their a whole summer of weekends dismissed so readily? These lower divisions are vital to the health of the Union. They allow players in the twilights of their careers to keep playing. They providing development for young players. They provide income to clubs and the LCU. The fact that we see new teams entering, year on year is something that we should all be proud of.
And I can assure you, that even down in Division 16, the quality of the cricket is decent and improving season on season.
Why playing shorter matches was suggested is beyond me, and to dismiss anything below D6 as less than serious is hugely disrespectful to every single player who plies their trade there.
We were fortunate to win the Minor Cup this year - it was a day I will never forget - but to suggest that it was all we had to play for is nonsense. A cup run is a bonus - the league is the bread and butter and what we work so hard for.
And if all clubs were to drop a team (in order to facilitate a Development League), then everything that each team in the bottom 2 or 3 divisions had battled for this season would be meaningless.
I would say to anyone who perceives the lower divisions with disinterest and disdain - we'll see you here one day - if you want to keep playing - and trust me, you'll be delighted that we are here. Glory on the pitch is still felt keenly. Their are still legends to be written, and memories to be made. When we are old men and thinking fondly of a certain catch or a certain innings, it won't matter if it was down in the lower reaches.
These lower divisions are the lifeblood of Irish amateur cricket. Please give us the respect we have earned.