Only six years after their formation, the ambitious North Kerry Cricket Club have joined the ranks of the Munster Cricket Union for the 2016 season. They will join a record-breaking seven other sides in Munster’s Division 2, with their opening fixture taking place at Midleton’s Cricket Field on the 24th of April. We caught up with NKCC’s Paul Wyer ahead of their historic moment.
“Yeah, that game really will be a watershed moment for us in what has the potential to be a very exciting year,” admits the Guildford born Wyer. “We have already made a concerted and successful effort to build towards a squad of 20 members plus, but we will always remain committed to offering an opportunity to play cricket to a wide variety of ages and abilities. More often than not we have had fathers and sons playing on the same team and we really hope that this continues.”
Founded in 2010 by a group of ex-pats and based in the Listowel / Ballybunion area of Kerry, NKCC have been regulars in the successful Kerry T20 competition since. However the club felt they were hamstrung by a number of factors, and so began working towards three main aims; securing their own cricket ground, raising funds for an artificial wicket and gaining entry to the Munster Cricket Union League. “Cricket still remains a very niche interest in Kerry, so while we look forward to one day having our own ground, the opportunity to ground share with Co Kerry this season offers up a different route for our development. As interest in the sport grows, new opportunities may present themselves and as part of our inclusion in the league we will try to do what we can to develop that interest. During the off season months we plan to work closer with our local community and offer some introduction to cricket to local kids in the hope that the game increases in visibility and popularity at both a local and county level.”
Co. Kerry burst onto the Munster Cricket scene in 1988 winning both the Munster Minor League and Cup in their debut season, before establishing themselves as one of the region’s most competitive senior clubs. Having already faced down the challenges of the fearsome sounding Dingle Dingoes, who’s to say that these babies to the league won’t soon be following in the footsteps of their southern rivals.
NKCC’s first ever fixture will be at the Cricket Field, Midleton, on the 24th of April. Please support Munster cricket and play your part in history by being there.
