Mark Adair and Orla Prendergast were the big winners at the 13th Irish Cricket Awards held in Dublin, as they were respectively named Men’s and Women’s International Player of the Year for 2024.
Adair, 28, had an outstanding year, playing all three formats and showing a remarkably consistent run of form over recent years, which included being named in the ICC Men’s T20I Team of the Year in 2023.
Adair took 44 wickets across all the formats, with a best-bowling return of 5 for 39.
Prendergast, 22, won this Award for the second straight year. In 2024, Orla not only starred with bat and ball, but also stood-in briefly at Ireland captain for the first time.
In 30 appearances she collected 30 wickets and scored 904 runs.
Pembroke picked up the Club of the Year accolade, while Scott Macbeth was a double winner as he lifted the Club and Emerging Talent award.
Lara Maritz who was the winner in the club player category, while Clontarf's Christina Coulter Reilly was the Emerging Talent winner.
Alan Neill was the official of the year, while the groundskeeping accolade went to the team at Stormont.
Sarfraz Ramay was named Volunteer of the Year, while the Activator prize went to Stuart Conroy.
There was a Bready double as Mark Olphert won Coach of the Year, while Abi Pollock won the President's Spotlight award.
Orla Prendergast won the interpro Super Series award, with Ruhan Pretorius picking up the men's equivalent.
Lawrence Moore was deservedly given the John Wright award for his outstanding contribution to Irish cricket, while EDR Shearer, Clare Shillington and Trent Johnston were inducted into the Cricket Writers Hall of Fame.
Donald (EDR) Shearer played 32 times for Ireland between 1932-1952, scoring 1300 runs at an average of 23.21. He scored two centuries, 102 v Sir Julien Cahn’s XI in Nottinghamshire in 1937, and 101 not out v MCC at Lord’s in 1951. He played for City of Derry, NICC and North Down, and was President of the Irish Cricket Union in 1966.
Between 1997 and 2018, Shillington played for Ireland 180 times, which was a record on her retirement. In all she scored 3,328 runs at an average of 22.04, scoring 12 fifties and two centuries. Her centuries came in an ODI against Netherlands in 2012, and a stunning 114 not out off 79 balls against Japan in a T20 the following year. She also picked up 20 wickets at 20.6 and captained the side 15 times. At club level, she played for Railway Union, Malahide, YMCA and Pembroke.
Johnston played 199 times for Ireland 2004-2013, captaining the side 60 times, including at Ireland’s first ICC World Cup in 2007. He scored 2610 runs at average of 21.75, scoring 11 fifties. In all matches he took 273 wickets at 23.62, with his best bowling of 6-23 coming against Namibia in 2006. He played for Carlisle, Leinster, Clontarf, Railway Union, YMCA and later coached Leinster Lightning and Ireland Women.
Full Award winners list
Club of the Year: Pembroke Cricket Club
Club Player of the Year – Men: Scott Macbeth (Brigade CC)
Club Player of the Year – Women: Lara Maritz (Holywood CC / Balbriggan CC)
Emerging Talent Award – Men: Scott Macbeth (Brigade CC)
Emerging Talent Award – Women: Christina Coulter Reilly (Clontarf CC)
Official of the Year – in honour of Paul Reynolds: Alan Neill
Groundskeeping Team of the Year: Stormont Groundskeeping Team
Lord’s Taverners Ireland Volunteer of the Year: Sarfraz Ramay
Activator of the Year: Stuart Conroy
Coach of the Year: Mark Olphert
Cricket Ireland President’s Spotlight Award: Abi Pollock
Super Series Player of the Year: Orla Prendergast
Inter-Provincial Series Player of the Year: Ruhan Pretorius
Outstanding Contribution and Service to Irish Cricket – in honour of John Wright: Lawrence Moore
Women’s International Player of the Year: Orla Prendergast
Men’s International Player of the Year: Mark Adair
