North County CC – 2018 Review
For a long time during the summer of 2018, North County were one of three teams in with a realistic chance of winning the Premier League. However, defeat to fellow challengers Clontarf in an evening re-fix saw that challenge ended.
Good sides react well to setbacks and skipper Niall McGovern has no hesitation in picking out the North County highlight of the season just three days later.
“The high point for us was definitely our Leinster Senior Cup semi-final win over Merrion,” he says. “We’d just let ourselves drop out of contention for the league, so our season came down to this.
“To then go on and win the match the way we did, with Eddie (Richardson) smashing 18 off the last over as the street lights lit up Inch Road, was very special.”
Those 18 runs took County to a 5-wicket DLS victory and through to the Final which HBV Studios and Cricket Leinster live-streamed, along with four other appearances on Game of the Day.
During one of those Game of the Day fixtures against Pembroke at Inch, overseas professional Malcolm Nofal hit his season high score of 160. McGovern described it as “a joy to watch from the other end and showed the class of the man” who was Player’s Player of the Year.
In the match report Nofal was described as “striking 13 boundaries and bludgeoning 8 maximums all-round the ground, Nofal was in supreme form.”
McGovern recognises the value of playing at home. “Home advantage cannot be underestimated in cricket and the difference between playing in Fingal and Sandymount can be akin to playing on a different continent, at times.”
Nofal didn’t just make runs though, he also took 35 wickets at an average of 14 including a 5-16 and spent lots of time supporting the players of North County.
One youngster at the club who made a breakthrough late in the season is Owen Graham who McGovern identified as one to watch out for. “He played the last two matches for us and took a combined 7 wickets. His spell against Leinster, in particular, was superb and he singlehandedly brought us back into the game which we ultimately won.”
Heading into winter 2019, McGovern appreciates and commends the work of Cricket Leinster. “There’s no denying they have a very difficult, thankless task and must be commended for the job they do.
The County skipper also commended the introduction of the Game of the Day in 2018. “I really hope to see it stay. From a personal perspective it has given friends and family who normally don’t care for cricket an interest in the game. The bite sized video is perfect for them to consume and try and learn a bit about the game. It is also great to look back on as players to analyse certain aspects of the game.
North County CC – 2018
Premier League – 3rd
Irish Senior Cup – 1st Round
Leinster Senior Cup – Runners-up
Alan Murray T20 Cup – Quarter-finalist