Eglinton’s return to Championship surroundings took longer than they would have liked, and in the end that sluggish opening proved costly as a strong second half was not quite enough to force them into the promotion places.

Carrickfergus made absolutely sure there would be no debate about their Premiership credentials in 2026, winning NCU Section One for the second successive season and, this time, opting to take their place in the top flight.

Rush produced one of the most dramatic finales of the Leinster season, completing a remarkable Great Escape on the final day to preserve their Premiership status when relegation had appeared almost inevitable.

Railway Union finished fifth in the Leinster Premiership and reached the quarter-finals of the Irish Senior Cup, but their 2026 campaign ultimately carried the feeling of a side capable of more had the bowling resources matched the depth of their batting.

Burndennett endured another difficult Championship campaign in 2026, eventually finishing seventh after a season in which moments of promise were too often followed by familiar frustrations.

Bangor came perilously close to doing a “Devon Loch” in the closing stages of their Section One promotion challenge, but ultimately staggered over the line in second place to secure a return to the NCU Premiership.

Armagh ended the 2026 campaign with silverware to show for their efforts after lifting the T20 Trophy, while also spending much of the season on the fringes of the promotion race before eventually finishing fourth.

Phoenix may have missed out on a place in the top-six split, but there was still silverware to celebrate as the Dublin side responded by winning the Championship and ending the season on a much more positive note.

Bonds Glen powered their way to the North West Championship title in spectacular fashion, earning promotion to the Premiership after a season in which their batting strength proved too much for most opponents.

MILIND KUMAR struck a magnificent unbeaten century as the United States chased down 331 to beat the United Arab Emirates by six wickets in a high-scoring thriller.

Ireland Under-19 Women will step up their preparations for January’s World Cup with a six-match T20 tour of Namibia later this month — although the composition of the squad is likely to generate as much discussion as the cricket itself.

Ballyspallen may have fallen short in their bid for promotion, but there was still plenty to celebrate at Bridge Park after a season highlighted by a superb triumph in the Irish National Cup.

Woodvale will want to draw a line under a thoroughly miserable 2026 campaign after a season which saw the Ballygomartin Road side tumble to ninth in the NCU Premiership.

Pembroke produced a season for the ages in 2026 as the Sydney Parade side swept all before them, winning all five trophies for which they competed and completing a remarkable campaign with two All-Ireland titles among their haul.

Malaysia will host 13 teams across two ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Asia Qualifiers this month as the road to the 2028 global event gathers pace.

North County endured a mixed league campaign in 2026, eventually finishing eighth after a season in which much of the burden fell on a handful of players.

Waringstown swept to the NCU Premiership title in convincing fashion, finishing 12 points clear at the summit after a season in which they were rarely knocked off course.

It would be fair to say that Ardmore’s 2026 campaign will not rank among the more memorable seasons in the club’s proud 147-year history.

IRELAND Under-19s will begin the next stage of their development towards the 2028 World Cup with a four-match tour of South Africa next week.

A special evening celebrating 100 years since the foundation of the Fingal Cricket League will take place this month, bringing together generations of players, officials and supporters to remember a competition that played a vital role in keeping cricket alive in the area.

Bonds Glen have added considerable experience to their squad ahead of their return to the top flight after securing the signing of all-rounder Rachit Gaur for the 2027 season.

North Down’s sixth-place Premiership finish will surely go down as one of the more disappointing outcomes of the 2026 NCU season.

Ed Joyce has set himself the task of making Ireland’s line-up more consistent in the build-up to next year’s crucial World Cup qualifiers, after he was announced as the new High Performance Batting coach.

Ed Joyce is back in Irish cricket after being appointed Cricket Ireland’s new High Performance Batting Coach, with a remit covering the senior men’s squad and the male talent pathway.

There was little joy for the local supporters at the final of the European T20 Premier League in Malahide yesterday, bar the Delany family of Rathmines and half the Adairs of Holywood.

Edinburgh Castle Rockers are the winners of the inaugural EPTL and none of the other five franchises can have any complaints.

Top performers in the inaugural season of the European T20 Premier League

There will be Irish interest in the final of the ETPL at Malahide after all, with Belfast Wolves easing to a seven wickets victory in the Eliminator against Amsterdam Flames.

Ireland wicket-keeper Amy Hunter has been rewarded for an impressive ODI series against England by moving up to a career-best 11th position in the ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings.

A Munster Over-50s XI took to the field for the first time in a landmark occasion for veterans cricket in the province, producing an entertaining contest against Old Ignatians in Cork.

Ireland Over-40s will bring the curtain down on a successful season with a mouth-watering clash against England at Leinster Cricket Club, Rathmines, on Thursday.

England duly completed a clean sweep of their three-match ODI series against England in sunny Worcester and left Ireland still waiting for their first win in the World Cup qualifying.

Arlene Kelly called time on her international career in Worcester yesterday — bowing out as Ireland suffered a third successive defeat in their World Cup qualifying series against England.

Brian MacNeice is preparing to complete a very different kind of century at the Home of Cricket as he takes on 100 laps of Lord’s Cricket Ground in a single day to raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society.

It was back to the drawing board for Gaby Lewis at Derby as her Ireland side were bowled out for 165 and lost the second one-day international to England by six wickets, and with it the three-match series. 

It was women against girls at the County Ground in Derby as England swept to a second victory in their ODI series against Ireland.

Her father Peter was the driving force behind her cricketing journey, the constant source of encouragement who helped turn a talented youngster into one of Ireland’s leading internationals. His death from cardiac disease in May 2025 left an enormous void.

Ireland Under-19s produced a determined final-day batting display to secure a draw against Yorkshire Under-18s at Sheriff Hutton after being set a daunting 332 for victory.

Rebecca Stokell stroked an unbeaten half century to take Ireland to 281-5 in Leicester only to see England charge to a six-wicket victory with 11.5 overs to spare in the first of three World Cup qualifying matches.

Dave Sihra with Isobel Joyce, who reflects on the flashpoint of working during the recent controversial Afghanistan series with the human rights abuses faced by women in the country, but what next for this issue.

Munster cricket will enter one of the fastest-growing areas of the game next week when the province stages its first ever Over-50s fixture at The Mardyke.

Railway Union were crowned All-Ireland Under-17 champions after a commanding 63-run victory over North Down in the national final at the Mardyke.

Muckamore produced a commanding batting display to defeat Fox Lodge by 150 runs and lift the Ulster Plate at Woodvale.

A superb 19th over by Byron McDonough ensured favourites Pembroke won the All-Ireland T20 Cup, beating Lisburn by 14 runs in the final at The Lawn.

Merrion defeat Holywood easily to become women's T20 champions at Waringstown.

Merrion Girls powered into the All-Ireland Under-17 final with an emphatic 81-run victory over Bready and will now face hosts Holywood at Seapark later this afternoon.

Donemana Under-15s were crowned All-Ireland champions after completing a memorable day with a convincing 30-run victory over Instonians in the final at Phoenix Park.

If new head coach Gary Wilson was under any illusion as to how tough it will be for Ireland to qualify for next year’s one-day international World Cup a 4-0 drubbing by Afghanistan over the past 10 days will have brought the size of the task into sharp focus.

The widening gulf between traditional rivals Ireland and Afghanistan was laid bare at Stormont as the tourists completed a comprehensive series clean sweep with their 10th consecutive ODI victory over the Irish.

Scotland levelled the Under-15 Celtic Cup series with a five-wicket victory over Ireland at Upritchard Park, Bangor, ensuring that the honours were shared after a week of fluctuating fortunes.

Captain Hassan Shahid produced a superb century as the Emerging North West defeated Munster Heat in the inaugural Wild Atlantic Way Trophy at the Bleachgreen, Ardmore. The new 40-over competition also featured Connacht. 

Macdara Cosgrave produced a magnificent unbeaten century as Leinster Lightning Bolts gained revenge for Tuesday’s defeat with a commanding 71-run victory over the Emerging Knights at Oak Hill.

Andy Balbirnie scored his 10th one-day international century for Ireland in Belfast but the gap between the two sides was again evident as Afghanistan completed a 42-run victory to take a winning 3-0 lead in the best-of-four series.

Munster Heat inflicted a crushing eight-wicket defeat on Emerging Warriors after a dismal batting display saw the hosts bundled out for just 76.

Half-centuries from CSNI pair Ryan Hunter and Jordan Neill helped Emerging Knights to a 31-run victory over champions Leinster Lightning Bolts at Oak Hill.

Ireland Under-15s made the perfect start to their Celtic Cup series against old rivals Scotland with a thumping 168-run victory at Upritchard Park in Bangor.

Gavin Hoey may have finished on the losing side, but the Pembroke leg-spinner emerged from Ireland’s second defeat to Afghanistan with his reputation considerably enhanced after an outstanding individual performance with both bat and ball.

Typhoons won the SS50 trophy in convincing fashion with an 83 runs victory over Dragons in the title decider at Bready.

Part Two of an interview with John Mooney on his time coaching with Afghanistan, the death of Shapoor Zadran, and coaching at the Indian Premier League with the Delhi Capitals.

The records tumbled at Oak Hill as Typhoons beat Dragons by 35 runs to set up a title decider for the SS50 Cup at Bready on Monday.

Leinster Lightning Bolts produced a devastating all-round performance as they crushed Munster Heat by 258 runs at the Mardyke.

Cricket clubs across Northern Ireland could knock their financial worries for six with a £1,000 cash prize this summer thanks to a campaign by KP Snacks (NI) to support its long-standing partnership with The Hundred.

Part One of an interview with the former Afghanistan fielding coach on his time with the side, his time playing against them for Ireland and his current path which has brought him to the IPL and beyond. 

Cara Murray was the stand-out performer with six wickets, although skipper Amy Hunter was the class act with 80 off 71 balls as Dragons chased down their victory target of  225 with nine overs to spare.

Ireland Under-19 Women held their nerve to defeat Scotland by six runs in a thrilling Celtic Cup decider, sealing the five-match series 3-2.

North West Warriors Women held their nerve to claim a dramatic one-wicket victory over the NCU in a low-scoring Future Series contest.

There was sad news earlier this week with the death of Godfrey Graham, who won his only cap as a teenager in 1954. By way of tribute we republish his biography compiled in 2010 by Edward Liddle.

Leinster Women secured the Future Series trophy with two matches still remaining after completing an emphatic seven-wicket victory over the North West Warriors.

Leinster Lightning confirmed their dominance in the inter-provincial Cup with another devastating batting performance and crushing victory over North West Warriors in the final at Sydney Parade.

Annabel Squires produced a record-breaking century before Aisling Lawlor claimed five wickets as Leinster Women defeated the NCU by 128 runs.

Ireland have named their Over-40s squad for next week’s Triple Crown tournament at Bishop’s Stortford in England.

The Clontarf and Pembroke game will remember and honour Peter this Saturday. He will be loving people having a laugh and adding their own stories and memories of a life in cricket, not just in Sydney Parade but wherever it is that a bat and ball are in contest.

Leinster Under-19 Women completed a seven-wicket victory over the North West after Aisling Lawlor produced a superb unbeaten 92 in a successful pursuit of 198.

The North West and Northern Cricket Union Under-14 sides shared the honours with one victory apiece in an entertaining interprovincial double-header at The Rectory.

The NCU completed an impressive Under-19 girls double with a crushing 167-run victory over Leinster.

NCU Women Under-19s completed a comprehensive 93-run victory over their North West counterparts after producing a strong all-round performance in Donegal at St Johnston.

Down Memory Lane. A look back by Deryck Vincent at an Ireland U-23 tour of Scotland in 1986 - a barely believable 40 years ago with an Irish side full of future internationals and many famous names.

NCU Under-16 Girls completed a superb interprovincial campaign in emphatic fashion, sealing the title with a dominant 10-wicket victory over Cricket Leinster.

Cork County CC are running a raffle to fund much-needed roof repairs at The Mardyke.

Fintan McAllister's Leinster Under-19 side were crowned Interprovincial champions after a dramatic final day that saw them snatch the title from the NCU.

It was a madcap three days for Irish cricket but what actually happened off the Newtownards Road last Friday and Sunday.

Harlequins, Limerick, Galway and Kerry reach Munster Senior Cup last four.

Two wins in two days for MCC over hosts Munster Heat as they followed up Saturday’s success with a 38-run victory in Cork

MCC got their Southern Ireland week tour off to a perfect start with a commanding 136-run victory over Munster Heat at The Mardyke after a dominant all-round display.