Cricket Leinster flagship Primary schools competition the ‘Blue Insurance Leprechaun Cup’ was launched for 2018 by General Manager Philip Smith and Cricket Development Manager Brían O’Rourke with exciting news of yet another increase in participating teams within a Leinster youth competition for 2018.

The Leprechaun Cup, a proud partnership between Cricket Leinster, The Leprechaun’s Cricket Club and title sponsors Blue Insurance (an award-winning Car and Home insurance provider) continues to be the Union’s flagship for cricket development in Leinster. The goal remains as it did in 2007, to engage as many schoolchildren as possible in hardball cricket during their primary school years and to give them an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of their Test playing Irish heroes come May.

Running parallel with the Blue Insurance Leprechaun Cup in 2018 is the Super League, the 4th Class Cup and also the Fingal Cup for girls, demonstrating the continued commitment of Cricket Leinster to youth development, with the pathway of opportunities progress from initial school ‘taster’ sessions to hardball competitions.

An exciting Leprechaun Cup in 2017 concluded at Malahide in June with Oliver Plunkett’s NS ending Howth Road NS fairly tail, first ever outing in the event with a dominant 10 wicket win. They will not only be defending their title, but 43 other schools will set out in pursuit of the Blue Insurance Trophy to be concluded towards the end of June.

Added to the competition this year are new schools from both Co Wicklow and Co Kildare that is very encouraging for the overall Leinster development programme.

Ciaran Mulligan, Managing Director of Blue Insurance, spoke about his delight at partnering with Cricket Leinster for the Leprechaun Cup - 'Blue Insurance is pleased to be supporting the growth and development of cricket at grass-roots level. We are delighted that our sponsorship will assist in encouraging more primary school children to take up the sport as cricket looks to become a mainstream sport here in Ireland'.

Philip Smith, General Manager for Cricket Leinster commented- 'From a Cricket Leinster perspective, we are delighted to have Blue Insurance on-board as the sponsor for our key Primary Schools competition - this sponsorship will directly contribute to the growth in playing numbers and participation throughout the province'.

Brían O’Rourke, Cricket Leinster’s Cricket Developement Manager had a simple message for all of the participants “I wish all this year’s teams, coaches and teachers the very best of luck, and above all hope you all enjoy the experience of this year’s Blue Insurance Leprechaun’s Cup”

Previous winners:

• 2007 – St Brigid’s NS Castleknock
• 2008 – Rush NS
• 2009 – Balrothery NS
• 2010 – Balrothery NS
• 2011 – Balrothery NS
• 2012 – Star of the Sea Sandymount
• 2013 – St John Bosco’s Navan Road
• 2014 – St Catherine’s Rush
• 2015 – Oliver Plunkett’s Malahide
• 2016 – St Mathew’s Irishtown
• 2017 – Oliver Plunkett’s Malahide

Participating schools in Blue Insurance 2018 Leprechaun Cup:

Balbriggan ET, Ballyroan Boy's NS, Castaheany ET, Castleknock NS, Darndale NS, Delgany NS, Divine Mercy NS (Balgaddy), Donabate ET, Drimnagh Castle, Holy Family NS (Swords), Howth Road NS, Kill o' the Grange, Killashee NS (Naas), Powerscourt NS (Enniskerry), Ranelagh MDS, Rathfarnham Parish, Rathmichael (Shankill), Realt Na Mara (Skerries), Sancta Maria CBS (Synge St), Scoil Colm (Crumlin), Scoil Mhuire (Hartstown), Scoil Mobhí (Glasníon), Springdale NS (Raheny), St. Andrew’s NS (Malahide), St. Brendan’s NS (Loughshinny), St. Brigid’s NS (Castleknock), St. Catherine’s NS (Rush), St. Francis' NS (Priorswood), St. John Bosco’s NS (Navan Road), St. Joseph's NS (Clondalkin), St. Joseph's NS (Terenure), St. Killian's NS (Kingwood), St Laurence’s (Greystones), St. Luke’s NS (Tyrrelstown), St. Matthew's NS (Irishtown), St. Mochta’s NS (Clonsilla), St. Patrick’s NS (Diswellstown), St. Patrick’s NS (Skerries), St. Patrick's BNS (Hollypark), St Patrick’s NS (Greystones), St. Philip's NS (Mountview), Swords ET, Taney NS (Dundrum) & Tyrellstown ET.

Photos courtesy of Rodney Smythe.