Killyclooney will look back on 2026 as a season of real promise, but also one of missed opportunity, after a strong promotion challenge faded during the closing stages of the Championship campaign.

Cork Harlequins endured a tough 2026 season in the First Team League, finishing bottom of the six-team competition after struggling to find the consistency required to climb away from the foot of the table.

Cregagh endured a difficult 2026 campaign, finishing ninth in NCU Section One after a season in which they were rarely able to field anything resembling a settled side.

The North West Cricket Union staged its annual awards presentations in historic surroundings as the ceremony was held for the first time in Derry’s iconic Guildhall.

Cooke Collegians endured a deeply disappointing 2026 season, finishing bottom of NCU Section One and suffering relegation after a campaign in which they were rarely able to build any sustained momentum.

Adamstown finished fourth in the Leinster First Team League in 2026, completing a solid if unspectacular campaign in a competition that continues to struggle for affection among the senior clubs operating below the Premiership.

Glendermott’s centenary season ultimately became one of near misses, with the Rectory side going close on three fronts without managing to turn a promising campaign into the silverware they craved.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

The University of Galway second XI recorded a whopping 371-run win over Athlone at The Lydican on Sunday.

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

Ireland will embark on an extensive programme of winter cricket in southern Africa over the next two months as preparations intensify for the crucial 2027 World Cup Qualifier.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.