COMING OF AGE STAGE

Every club goes through different stages. In the beginning a group of enthusiasts come together and the seeds of an association germinate and a club is formed.  

Fixtures, committees, rules and the rest all follow.  But there is nothing inevitable and a club may disappear before it finds its legs.  However, any club that has a degree of longevity will have passed through a kind of coming of age stage, when the roots take hold and a future beckons.

1930 is that kind of season for Malahide Cricket Club. The Club was formed in 1861 and thrived in a golden age of cricket in the 1860’s and 1870’s.  Thereafter between 1880 and 1925 there were some hiccups and gaps along the way.  Irish and world history intervened.  Ground availability was also an issue in the early 1900’s.

In 1925 Malahide CC reasserted itself.  There were positive signs in 1929. The Club reached the Semi Final of the Junior Cup and were beaten by Mullingar CC.  

Then in the following year the First XI embarked on another Junior Cup run defeating Merrion III, Monkstown II and Leinster III along the way. The semi final v Leinster III was titanic. The first match resulted in a tie: 48 v 48.  

The replay was almost as close with Malahide winning by one run: 100 v 99.  The Junior Cup Final was held in the Civil Service grounds in the Phoenix Park “in glorious weather”. The opposition was the National Bank, an institution formed by among others The Liberator, Daniel O’Connell to provide credit for hard pressed tenant farmers.  

Under the captaincy of Kevin O’Neill, who was in the early stages of a nine year run as first XI captain (1929-37), Malahide triumphed by 62 runs to win their first modern era trophy. 

The Second XI also reached the Minor League Final but were vanquished by Leinster IV.

The 1930 Malahide Fixture Card belonging to member Lewis F Hughes is a clear indication that the Club was heading somewhere.  The Card, with a compact design that stood the test of time, sets out the lists of Officers and Fixtures. Unusually, there are two Patrons, Lord Talbot de Malahide and WG Jameson (of whiskey fame). There are 14 Vice Presidents! a number of whose families are still connected to the Club including Adams, O’Shea, Wright and Howard.

At a celebratory function in the Grand Hotel, Malahide at the end of the 1930 season, Lord and Lady Talbot presented a bat and silver cup for the best averages both of which were won by Cyril Hughes [father of Podge and uncle of Alan, both Irish Internationals].

The progression continued in 1931 which saw Malahide winning the Junior League.  The Village became a force in the 1940’s winning numerous Leagues and Cups below the level of Senior 1. Eventually in 1953 Malahide CC joined the Senior 1 ranks and have remained so to this day.

Thanks to the Sunday Independent for their kind permission in reproducing scores from both the 17/08/30 and 07/09/1930 editions.

Brian Gilmore
2025