There was sad news over the weekend following the death of Noel Giltinan.

Wins in the First team League for Adamstown, The Hills and North Kildare.

There were wins in the NCU Challenge Cup for Lurgan, Bangor, Cregagh, and Derriaghy.

There were wins in the NCU Premier League for North Down, Instonians, Waringstown. Lisburn and Muckamore as the batters piled on the runs.

There were wins in the Leinster Premiership for Pembroke, North County, Clontarf, Balbriggan, Merrion and Malahide.

Sully Gould may not even have been playing in Instonians’ opening defence of their title on Saturday, if Rob McKinley had been available, but the Englishman has guaranteed himself a slot in the starting line-up for the foreseeable future after hitting his maiden senior century

Twelve male and eight female players have been offered Cricket Scotland contracts for the 2026-2027 cycle.

Cricket Scotland has announced details of the route for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup trophy tour in Scotland, taking place between Thursday 7 and Saturday 9 May.

The women’s Super Series kicks off on 10 May with a double-header in the Super T20 Trophy – the Dragons and Typhoons will travel to Stormont with play starting in the early match at 10.45am.

As well as the aforementioned men’s decider between Donemana and Brigade, there’s also the women’s final that will precede it at the Rectory, with Tyrone rivals Bready and Fox Lodge facing off at 12pm.

Bready will be looking to put Saturday’s loss behind them as they travel to St Johnston this weekend. Skipper Ryan Clarke wasn’t too downbeat as he reflected on their performance.

Donemana will finally get their campaign up and running this weekend as they travel to Strabane, as well as playing old rivals Brigade in the T20 Charity final. Skipper Gary McClintock is looking forward to getting his newly strengthened squad onto the turf.

The win was inspired by former Ireland Wolves batsman Aaron Gillespie, who was the first centurion of the new season, hitting nine sixes in a 90-ball unbeaten 120 as the Red Caps chased down a target of 229.

For at least half the 10 clubs, with no aspirations of winning the league, it is a “free-hit” with no relegation this year as the top two teams in Section One will win promotion (if they want!) to form a 12-team Premier League from 2027.

Munster-born Bryan O’Donnell has been formally appointed as the President of Cricket Ireland for the 2026-27 term – a role which his father held 63 years ago.

TREVOR BRITTON is the man entrusted with the task of making Glendermott’s centenary a year to remember for the famous club embedded in the Waterside community of Londonderry.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Sarah Keane has revealed “terrible” ticket sales for this summer’s Women’s internationals and also that there are “big problems” with the company’s infrastructure, “which we will go to the government about”..

Wins for Cork County and Limerick in the Munster Premier Division.

Cricket Ireland reported a total income of €17.45m for the year ending December 31, 2025, an increase of just over 1m on 2024.

There will be a further announcement about the tournament early next month with the Players’ Draft taking place at the end of the month. He also said the two Irish franchises (Belfast and Dublin) will make contributions to grassroots level.

Terenure, Knockharley and Adamstown all recorded victories in the Leinster First team League.

There was a full programme down the leagues with Brigade newbies William Finlay and Trent McKeegan making an impression in their 170-run win at Drummond.

Cork County produced the result of the day and then some with an eight-wicket demolition of Phoenix. There were wins too for Merrion, Pembroke, North County, Clontarf and Leinster.

One of the growth and success stories of not just Leinster, but Irish cricket in recent years is Adamstown Cricket Club, who have grown from small roots to be one of the biggest clubs in Ireland. 

Donacloney Mill had a steady season in 2025, recording eight league wins to finish in a very respectable sixth place in Section One.

Knockharley have progressed through the ranks in recent years making great strides on and off the field to reach the First Team League and while this season may be about stability, they have long-term plans to feast at the top table of Leinster and Irish cricket.

Former Warwickshire Women & Birmingham Bears Women’s 1st XI Head Coach, Dominic Ostler, has joined the Ireland Women’s coaching staff as a batting consultant for a busy summer of cricket ahead for the team.

Zara Craig has been in sparkling form this season for Loughborough UCCE in England.

The North-West Warriors have added a trio of Irish internationals to their ranks with Munster's cancellation seeing Gareth Delany and Liam McCarthy moving, while Lisburn's Ben Calitz joins from the Knights, with Sam Topping moving back to Belfast.

Neil Rock was the notable absence in the Northern Knights 19-man squad announced ahead of the start of the interpro season at the start of June.

Leinster Lighting will once again be favourites to complete an interpro double in the new old-look series featuring three teams.

There was a little piece of history at Lord's this week as the Tector brothers all played in the same MCC side.

Gaby Lewis continued where she left off last season for Lancashire by making it back-to-back centuries for the Ireland captain in a whopping 149-run win over Durham.

Dave Sihra on the importance of World Cup qualification for media interest and coverage.

CRICKET Ireland has decided to go ahead with hosting a five-match series with Afghanistan despite its CEO talking of her ‘moral discomfort’ and ‘abhorrence’ at how that country oppresses women and girls.

CRICKET Ireland have finally announced their 2026 home fixtures with only a marginally larger list than last year’s much-criticised programme.

In a major slap in the face for Dublin-based supporters, Cricket Ireland has announced a pitiful summer schedule of just eight men’s international matches — spread over 11 days — all to be played in Belfast and Co Tyrone.

The Women's Super Series will this year feature only two teams – the Dragons and the Typhoons, with the Scorchers deemed surplus to requirements.

As revealed last November, Munster have been culled from the senior interprovincial ranks.

Ireland Women have a busy summer in store with a guaranteed 15 fixtures including at least five in their World Cup group.

IRELAND have confirmed a maiden first Test against New Zealand will be held in Belfast from May 27th to 30th.

Paul Stirling has stepped down as captain of the Ireland T20 side to give his successor — either Lorcan Tucker or Harry Tector — the longest possible time to prepare for the next World Cup in 2028.

PAUL Stirling has stepped down as captain of Ireland’s T20 side after the side’s failed World Cup campaign last month. Stirling will continue to be available as a player and will still captain the one-day international squad.

Afghanistan are due to play five matches in Ireland this summer - but should we be hosting representatives of a regime that has just legalised wife-beating? The idea that Sarah Keane will have to welcome officials from that regime and watch a side representing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan standing beneath their flag on Irish soil is repugnant.

Holders Galway have been handed a home draw against the North-West's newest side Letterkenny in the opening round of the National Cup.

Former Irish international Jeremy Bray has been confirmed as the new Munster Cricket Pathway Manager.

Australian Josh Hartill is on his way to Cork County for the 2026 campaign.

Castle Sports World successfully hosted the inaugural AdRi’s Royal Castle Cup 2026 T10 Red Hard Tennis ball tournament.

Gaby Lewis will renew her rivalry with opposite number Kathryn Bryce at Old Trafford on the second day of the T20 World Cup this summer when Ireland take on Scotland in their opening Group 2 match.

Ireland have been drawn in the same group as hosts England, Scotland, West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand for the World Cup that gets underway in June.

So, with a heavily stacked in–tray, the Irish Mail on Sunday identifies seven areas the chief executive must address to get Irish cricket back on track.

County Galway are looking to build on their success of 2025 by the signing of West Indian all-rounder Jason Smith.

A comprehensive victory for Pakistan means that Ireland qualify for the next T20 World Cup.

Priyanaz Chatterji says Scotland are preparing for a ‘home away from home’ World Cup having booked their place at this summer’s showpiece.

The first ever century by an associate player at the T20 World Cup doesn't prevent New Zealand from securing their Super 8 place.

England survive a late scare against Italy but hold on to secure their place in the second round.

The 2026 Under 19 World Cup drew to a close on Friday with India beating England in a high scoring game, dominated by Vaibhav Suryavanshi making 175. How did Ireland's cricketers perform? We look at the stats.

Arlene Kelly claimed the Player of the Match award in Kathmandu on Sunday as the Girls in Green trounced minnows Thailand by 62 runs to confirm their participation at the T20 World Cup which will be staged in England this summer.

Ireland Women sealed their berth at the T20 World Cup with a comprehensive victory by 62 runs against Thailand.

Ireland U19s ended their World Cup on Friday with a crushing 191-run defeat by Afghanistan at the Harare Sports Club.

Reuben Wilson took three wickets in Windhoek as Ireland gave the West Indies a scare before losing their first Super Sixes match at the U19 World Cup.

Adam Leckey took three wickets and followed up with a solid 44 to claim the Player of the Match award in Windhoek as Ireland squeezed past Japan by four wickets to secure a place in the Super Sixes of the U19 World Cup.

Dave Sihra talks with Kevin O'Brien about Italy's upcoming series against Ireland and the T20 World Cup.

Reuben Wilson and his skipper Olly Riley gave supporters a glimpse of the future in Windhoek but their efforts were in vain as Sri Lanka inflicted a second defeat on Ireland at the U19 World Cup, by 106 runs.

Rob O’Brien flew the flag for Dublin’s premier cricketing clan in Windhoek yesterday with a battling 79 as Ireland U19s opened their World Cup campaign against Australia with a eight-wicket defeat.

Handle with care. Dave Sihra takes a look at the prospects for the Ireland U19s at the World Cup that gets under way this week in Namibia and South Africa,

With (hopefully) World Cups upcoming for the men and women, not to mention a monumental change with the arrival of a new Cricket Ireland CEO, this year has the capacity to be one of the most important in recent memory. Even if we say that every January.