A hard-fought century to Paul Stirling, a sparkling 97 from Lorcan Tucker and an entertaining 67 from Andy McBrine saw Ireland fightback from a precarious 65-5 to end Day 2 leading Essex by 17 runs.

Matthew Pollard produced a Man-of-the-Match performance as Balbriggan created history by winning the Alan Murray T20 Cup, beating nearby rivals The Hills by 54 runs in the showdown at Sydney Parade.

Brigade edged out Donemana in the game of the day, while Graeme McCarter and Marcus Poskitt scored hundreds in one-wicket wins for St Johnston and Coleraine. There were also wins for Fox Lodge, Killyclooney and Strabane.

There was a first with a Super Over required to separate CSNI and Woodvale, while Derriaghy caused the shock of the day beating North Down. There were also five wicket hauls for Ben Kane, Shane Dadswell, Pat Botha and Neil Gill.

GEORGE DOCKRELL and Tom Mayes gave the Ireland selectors a nudge ahead of next week’s Test match at Lord’s with solid performances on the first day of a warm-up game against Essex at Chelmsford.

It’s been a memorable month for Mark Donegan on and off the field.

It was a tough day at the office for the Ireland team but not all of the visiting players as they began their match preparation for next week’s Lord’s Test at Chelmsford.

Ireland has confirmed it has granted Nathan Hauritz, National Spin Bowling Coach, compassionate leave for personal family reasons.

THE King was in Armagh yesterday and although he didn’t make it to The Mall, cricket royalty will be playing at the picturesque venue tomorrow when the Section One club host Waringstown in the second round of the  Challenge Cup.

It's the fixture that always leaps out when the season’s schedule is published and this year it’s the only time that Brigade and Donemana will meet in the NW Premiership.

Shane Getkate stepped up in his role as stand-in captain of North West Warriors to take them to a three wickets victory and inflict a first defeat of the season on Northern Knights.

With Essex having a lot of county cricket and a number of injuries, it has also been agreed that the four players not selected in the Ireland team will play for Essex.

Three of the four sides are coached by former Irish internationals, with Jeremy Bray, Kevin O’Brien and Andre Botha all part of the ‘class of 2007’ that heralded Ireland’s arrival on the world stage in the West Indies.

Ireland has confirmed Paul Stirling will join the Ireland squad on Saturday and play Days Two and Three of the match against Essex that precedes the Test Match against England Men that starts next Thursday.

Ireland have named a full strength squad for the final World Cup qualifying tournament that begins in Zimbabwe next month with dual international Peter ‘PJ’ Moor included in the 15 to provide both experience and local knowledge.

The North West Warriors joined the Northern Knights at the top of the Interpo 50-overs Cup table after winning an exciting last-over tussle at Bready.

MCC ran out convincing winners at College Park thanks to 99 from Oliver Martyn-Hempell, plus a fine all-round display by Gavin Hoey who followed up his 66 with four wickets.

It’s been a superb start to the season for Burndennett top-order batsman Mark Pollock, who was yet again amongst the runs in their Irish National Cup win over Laois.

They hope to have clinched a short-term deal for Sri Lankan all-rounder Geeth Kumara, who was instrumental in securing a historic first Senior Cup triumph for Fox Lodge last year, as they stunned favourites Newbuildings.

The draw for the second round of the Irish Senior Cup has been released, with holders CIYMS facinga tough away trip to Leinster, while six-times winners Waringstown have been drawn at home to Clontarf in two of the ties of the round.

Holders North County have been drawn home to three times winners Rush in the second round of the National Cup.

Gary Wilson admits Ireland will have to play their best cricket throughout the World Cup qualifying tournament next month if they are to join eight automatic qualifiers for the finals in India in October.

Ireland will open their World Cup qualifying campaign against Oman in Bulawayo on Monday June 19.

North West Warriors failed to take advantage of a weakened Leinster Lightning side and went down by three wickets in their inter-provincial Cup match at Bready yesterday.

Stephen Doheny and Fionn Hand have been left out of the Ireland squad that will play in the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe next month. Barry McCarthy, PJ Moor and Ben White are named in the 15.

There will be four Dublin sides in the Irish Universities outdoor tournament following Dublin University's 108-run win over UCC at The Mardyke.

The Northern Knights have named a squad of 12 to play the North West Warriors in the Interprovincial 50-overs Cup at Bready on Thursday.

Scotland will face great rivals Ireland and 1996 World Cup winners Sri Lanka in Group B of the ICC Men’s World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in June.

The schedule for the World Cup Qualifier has been released, following the confirmation of the 10 teams that will feature at the event hosted in Zimbabwe from 18 June – 9 July 2023.

Morgan Topping may have fallen eight runs short of a deserved century but he ensured Northern Knights made it two wins out of two in this year’s inter-provincial Cup, with victory over defending champions Munster Reds at Stormont.

Waringstown, the most successful team in the Irish Senior Cup, made light of their opening assignment in pursuit of their seventh trophy, with a resounding victory over North West Premiership champions Newbuildings.

Dragons completed back to back wins in the Super T20 Trophy, following up their success against champions Scorchers with an exciting five wickets victory over Typhoons at Oak Hill yesterday.

Mark Adair plays his first inter-provincial of the season today when he captains what must be one of the strongest Northern Knights sides ever assembled.

Merrion, The Hills, Balbriggan, and Railway Union will contest the semi-finals of the Alan Murray T20 Cup.

The results went by the form book in Monday night's action in the Women'ss Premier League with wins for defending champions Bready, Fox Lodge and Coleraine.

Instonians and Northern Knights left-arm spinner Cian Robertson has been transferred to the North West Warriors for the curent season.

Tim Tector has been handed the captain's armband for Leinster Lightning's trip to the North West, with regular skipper George Dockrell not available.

The North West side again found the going tough in the Irish Cup as the 19-year drought shows no signs of ending anytime soon..

Three times winners Rush thump Strabane, while there are also wins for Muckamore, Civil Service, Killyclooney, Burndennett, Cregagh, Cliftonville Academy, Derriaghy, Knockharley, and North Kildare.

Munster Reds Head Coach Jeremy Bray has paid tribute to his side after the defending champions inflicted the second reverse of the campaign on Leinster Lightning at Sydney Parade.

St Johnston have been handed a walkover after County Kerry conceded their Irish National Cup tie.

MCC edged to a 14-runs (DLS) win against North West Warriors despite an unbeaten century from Scott Macbeth.

In-form Harry Tector was brought down to earth with a second failure in three days at Sydney Parade  after becoming the first Ireland player to feature in the top 10 of any ICC world rankings.

Injuries to James McCollum and Lee Nelson plus Cricket Ireland's instruction for Graham Hume to sit out the game will make it a test of Waringstown's depth.

Killyclooney lost a thriller by just two runs at home in the Senior Cup to Ardmore, and will look to bounce back from that disappointment as they host Templepatrick in the National Cup on Saturday.

The All-Ireland is always a fantastic occasion for the club through the years. We have had some good battles with clubs from other provinces and I’m sure Carrickfergus will be no different.

The Hills await Heywood’s charges on Saturday and it gives an opportunity to atone for a horror display against the same opposition last season.

Strabane caused the surprise of the first round of the Senior Cup as they beat Bready. They have been boosted by the arrival of professional Nasir Nawaz. Aaron Gillespie reflects and looks ahead to the challenge of Rush in National Cup.

The Scotland squad has been confirmed today ahead of the ICC  World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which runs from June 18 until July 9.

Ruan Cronje starred with bat and ball as Dublin City beat Fingal by 6 wickets to clinch the inaugural U23 Siggins Cup at Milverton.

Waringstown joined CIYMS at the top of the Premier League table after a 34 runs victory at The Lawn over previously unbeaten North Down.

Four wickets for Freya Sargent led Typhoons to a surprisingly easy eight-wickets win over defending champions Scorchers at Anglesea Road.

Irish internationals Leah Paul, Orla Prendergast and Arlene Kelly starred as the Dragons shocked defending champions Scorchers in a T20 match at Merrion.

Low scores were the order of the day in the first round of the Leinster Senior Cup.

Another win over Malaysia, this time in the men's T20, secures another gold. Meanwhile, Indonesia take gold in the women's sixes.

A look at the recent news of the ICC's revenue split.

In total, fourteen men’s contracts and nine women’s contracts have been issued for the current season, with varying bands recognising the needs of players and organisation.

Five T20 matches to be played on the tour, forming part of Japan's preparations for T20 World Cup qualifiers.

North Down made it two wins out of two in the Premier League with a 29 runs victory over Cliftonville Academy yesterday.

Gibraltar host men's T20Is against Malta & Portugal, French women play in Austria and Italy hosts a men's T10 tournament.

An inexperienced Cambodia team beat the tournament favourites in the 50-over final at the South East Asian Games.

Sunday saw Luke Clinton seal a dramatic win for The Hills and with it reach a superb landmark in Leinster Senior cricket.

There is lot going on down Grand Duchy way – cricket wise that is

The U23 Siggins Cup got under way on Sunday after last week's false start with wins for Fingal and Dublin City.

Cork County produced a fine display as they beat Midleton by 10 wickets at Towns Park

The Dragons batting failed to fire as they were beaten comfortable in their Super Series double-header at Wallace Park.

Ireland will once again be sending a development squad to the 2023 European Cricket Championships in Spain this October as part of the pan-European competition.

CIYMS look to be the team to beat in this year’s Premier League after easing past defending champions Lisburn in Saturday’s early season showdown at Wallace Park.

Lisburn and CIYMS will head into the first big clash of the NCU season tomorrow with a victory under their belts after getting off the mark last night in emphatic style.

Simi Singh will make his North County debut this weekend as they play Malahide and The Hills in the T20 Cup.

CIVIL Service North joined CIYMS at the top of the Premier League table when they won the second completed match of the season last night, beating Derriaghy by six wickets.

Ireland Over 40’s will take on England in an inaugural clash between the two veteran sides ahead of the Lord’s Test.

Nepal beat UAE in a damp final of the ACC Premier Cup and will play India & Pakistan in the Asia Cup.

Zimbabwean Mary-Anne Musonda led Scorchers to a five-wicket win in the opening match of the Super Series at Malahide.

Lisburn will make a third attempt to begin their defence of the Premier League on Thursday against Instonians at Shaw’s Bridge after Saturday’s latest postponement at Cliftonville Academy.

Ireland's bowling struggles in Asian conditions.

CIYMS flexed their muscles on the Northern Cricket Union’s second attempt to get the season under way as Jason van Merwe failed by one run to score the first century.

Orla Prendergast had a debut to remember scoring a match winning century as Western Storm beat Thunder in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy.

There will be an international flavour to the Super Series with six overseas players named in the three squads for the tournament that starts at Malahide on Monday.

Former South African international Claire Terblanche has been appointed the new Scorchers head coach for the 2023 Super Series.

Glenn Querl has signed a three-year contract extension to continue on as Ireland Women’s Performance and Pathway Coach.

Cricket Ireland has confirmed it has agreed to a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Orla Prendergast to allow her to play for English side Western Storm

Fresh challenges as a new season dawns, a fixture for Ireland Wolves, sweet charity, and you say it best when you say nothing at all.

YMCA all-rounder Ehtesham Ahmed and Malahide's James Newland are part of the MCC squad that is embarking on a tour of Belize.

Jack Carson has given Irish fans a reminder of what they have been missing with a five-star showing for Sussex in their ongoing County Championship match with Yorkshire.

The well-deserved selection of Kim Garth in the Australian women's squad for the forthcoming series in England brings to mind the part played in Australian men's side by cricketers of Irish origins since the first ever Test in 1877. What, I wondered would be the best team that could be chosen from them over the last 145 years. 

In at the deep end, golfing matters, squad rotation and sing when you're winning. Thoughts from Ireland's tour of Bangladesh.

Jordan Neill ensured Ireland Under 19s clinched a 3-1 series win over the Northern Titans Academy as they battled to an 11-run win in the final game of their short South African tour.

Ireland Under 19’s regained the series lead with a comfortable six wickets win against the Northern Titans Academy in Pretoria.

Harry Dyer scored an excellent half century but it was in vain as Ricus Kramm took eight wickets to set up a six wicket win for the Northern Titans Academy.

Caring too much and is there a case for more rather than less in terms of matches and workload.

Ireland’s Under 19s started their tour of South Africa on a winning note with a 113-run win over the Northern Titans Academy at Tuks Oval.

Looking at what cricket world cups should (but won't) learn from their baseball counterpart; Major League Cricket and the EuroSlam.

Former Irish international Deryck Vincent recalls some of his favourite grounds to watch and play cricket.

Ireland and O'Neills have ended their kit supply deal.

In a further blow to the domestic schedule, there are huge cuts planned for the 2023 youth interprovincial series.

Ireland U19s are heading to South Africa for an eight-day tour where they will play four matches against the Titans Academy in Pretoria.

Munster picked up two Cricket Ireland awards with Cork Harlequins winning the Club of the Year and Limerick's Declan Nearly winning Club Official of the Year.

Ireland Women's fielding at the T20 World Cup, the lack of Wolves fixtures, and Eoin Morgan's retirement.

Who has the best record and who will win in 2023?

The draw has been made for the tenth edition of the Irish National Cup, with plenty of exciting ties to look forward to.

The draw has been made for the first round of the Irish Senior Cup and as always has produced some mouth watering clashes.

Looking at the ICC's Olympic proposal, the opening stages of the Women's Under-19 World Cup, and how Thailand's women have again been treated unfairly.

THE death has taken place of former Munster and Waterford all-rounder Peter Thomas, aged 78. The ex-professional footballer died after a long illness.

Josh Little strikes the jackpot, Ross Adair gets his opportunity, girl power at Board Level, while it's a big month for Ireland U19 women in South Africa.