Thompson proud as CSNI’s patience finally pays off

For Stuart Thompson, the overriding emotion was pride. 

Pride in the performance, pride in the young players who have grown into key members of his side and, above all, satisfaction that years of hard work at Stormont have finally been rewarded with silverware.

CSNI’s captain was able to savour lifting the NCU Challenge Cup after his side produced an emphatic 108-run victory over Premiership champions Instonians, ending a decade-long wait to regain the trophy.

“It feels great,” said Thompson. “It’s been a long time coming and we’ve worked really hard for it. I thought the performance today, genuinely, we deserved it. The boys stuck at it so well and I’m really proud of them. It’s been an excellent season so far, but we’ve still got one more trophy to try and win.”

That final comment was a reminder that CSNI’s season is not finished yet, with Pembroke waiting in next weekend’s Irish Senior Cup final.

For now, however, Thompson was happy to reflect on an afternoon when almost everything went according to plan.

CSNI eventually posted 258 for nine after being asked to bat, although there was a stage when something considerably bigger looked possible.

James West and Marc Ellison put on 91 for the first wicket before West and Ashwin Hebbar took the score to 160 for one. From such a position, the failure to reach 300 might have been viewed as a disappointment. Thompson saw it differently.

“We were probably in a false position at 160 for one,” he explained. “I thought the pitch did plenty throughout. It was a great cricket wicket and 260 or 270 is a tough chase at Stormont. To not get 300 from 160 for one was disappointing, but to come out and get 260 in the second innings at Stormont against our bowling attack, they would have had to play really, really well.

“I would have shook hands for 260 after losing the toss.”

Indeed, Thompson admitted beforehand that he had been unsure what he would have done had the coin fallen in his favour. Cup finals can alter the usual calculations. Runs on the board bring their own pressure and, once CSNI had reached 258, the captain knew Instonians would be required to produce an excellent chase.

For a while it appeared they might.

Instonians attacked from the outset and surged to 93 for one, with Sully Gould’s 34 from just 17 balls providing serious momentum. Others might have become concerned as the required rate continued to tumble. Thompson insists there was no panic.

“They play like that,” he said. “They’re a very aggressive team and they have the talent to match it as well. We knew the scoring rate was always going to be high, but we also knew we would create chances. They have dangerous players who can take the game away from you, so you just have to stay in the game and keep creating opportunities. We knew we needed ten wickets — well, we needed 11 after I dropped mine!” he joked.

It was the sort of self-deprecating aside that could be afforded once the job had been completed. What followed Instonians’ flying start was a dramatic CSNI takeover.

The Shaws Bridge side collapsed from 93 for one to 150 all out, with Adam Leckey taking four for 33 and Jordan Neill three for 25.

For Thompson, the identity of those delivering on the biggest stage was particularly satisfying. Player of the Match West top-scored with 70 before contributing with the ball, while Leckey, Harry Dyer, Finn Lutton and the other emerging players again demonstrated why there has been such optimism surrounding this CSNI generation.

Thompson, though, was far from surprised.

“The talent has always been there,” he said. “What has changed is the maturity levels and how they go about their cricket. That has come on so much in the last 12 or 18 months. They’re starting to turn in performances week in, week out now and that’s probably what you’re looking for in a younger player.

“The talent is always there, but can you add consistency to your game? They’re doing that now. Harry Dyer is doing it as well and it’s been excellent to watch. It’s great as a skipper when you have those tools.”

Therein lies perhaps the most significant aspect of CSNI’s latest cup triumph. This was not simply a good side producing a good performance on finals day. It was confirmation that a long-term policy of backing young players is beginning to bear fruit. Several members of this CSNI side were introduced to senior cricket while still teenagers and have been allowed to learn through difficult days as well as good ones.

Now they are delivering trophies.

Thompson has been there throughout much of that development, offering the experience of someone who has performed at international level while helping guide the next generation. At Stormont, the balance between experience and youth came together almost perfectly.

There remains one sizeable challenge ahead. Pembroke, the dominant force in Leinster cricket, stand between CSNI and the Irish Senior Cup next weekend. Victory there would turn an already memorable campaign into an extraordinary one.

That, however, was for another day.

“One last big push,” smiled Thompson. “But we’ll enjoy our celebrations tonight.”

After ten years without the Challenge Cup at Stormont, nobody could begrudge them that.