Cade Carmichael was named Cricketer of the Year at the NCU Annual Dinner and Awards. The Instonians batter, who has just returned from Bangladesh after making his Test match debut was present at the Stormont Pavilion to pick up two individual awards.

As well as the award, voted by his peers, he also picked up the Larry Warke Cup for the Premier League Batsman of the year, having scored 1074 runs at an average of 48.82.

Cian Robertson and Cade Carmichael (Pic. Paul Irwin)

Club mate Cian Robertson picked up the Sonny Hool Cup for the Bowler of the Year, the Jack Bowden Cup for All-rounder of the Year went to Woodvale’s Ruhan Pretorius and David Miller from Lisburn picked up the Dai Jones Cup for Wicket-keeper of the Year.

The Cricketer of the Year, sponsored by Cartwright Sports, is voted via an online form by clubs who give their 1 2 3 for the best player in their section. They cannot vote for anyone in their own team.

The other section winners were: Section One: Alex Ogle (Donaghcloney Mill); Section Two: Vinoth Srinivasan (Cooke Collegians); Section Three: Bilal Farooq (Dunmurry); Women’s Premier League: Gracie Keenan (North Down); Section One: Niamh Lowry (Dundrum).

Other individual awards – Coach of the Year: Ami Madarekar (Armagh); Groundsperson: Michael Kennedy (Larne). Women’s Premier Batter: Jemma Gillen (CSN), Premier Bowler: Naomi Matthews (Waringstown), All-rounder: Gracie Keenan; Wicket-keeper: Rachael Thomas (CSN). Under 15 Boys: Marco Bates (Muckamore); Inaugural Under 15 Girls: Rebecca Lowe (Lisburn).

Garfield Harrison, Tom Irwin and Paul Jackson were inducted to the NCU Hall of Fame - (Pic. Paul Irwin)

Three more cricket stalwarts were inducted into the NCU Hall of Fame, Ireland internationals Garfield Harrison, who when  he retired from international cricket in 1997 with 118 appearances was a record at the time, and Paul Jackson, widely recognised as Ireland’s best wicket-keeper, plus Laurelvale’s greatest player and this year’s president in the club’s 150th anniversary year, Tom Irwin.

Tom played from 1977-2003, took 562 wickets, including 55 five-wicket hauls and also scored five centuries. He also played for Ulster Schools, Irish Schools and Ulster Country.

The NCU also recognised three people who have or are retiring this year, Shane Matthews of long-time Challenge Cup sponsors Gallaghers, Gerry Kelly, CEO of hosts NICSA and umpire Mark Hawthorne.