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Following on from a two day camp over the Easter holidays the Autumn half-term provided another opportunity for Brían O’Rourke, the Leinster Cricket Development Officer, to develop talented Leinster U12’s and U14’s at the excellent North County indoor centre facility.

Once again he enlisted the help of ECC coach Richard O’Sullivan, who along with a number of local coaches (Fintan McAllister, Bryn Thomas, Reinhardt Strydom & Alan Caren) assisted Brían in providing a comprehensive and challenging programme.

The highlight for the local youngsters was the appearance of Niall O’Brien a locally developed player and coach who has starred for Kent County Cricket Club this season, when in the absence of Geraint Jones due to England commitments, he kept wicket and batted with distinction in what was his first full professional season.

Young promising wicketkeepers in attendance included:

Fintan McAllister (Rush), Robert Forrest, Richard Forrest, Adrian Darcy (all Clontarf), Robert Chambers, Ian Feehan, Patrick Purtill & Aisling Gill (all Malahide), David Robinson (YMCA), Jo Day (Pembroke), Andy Balbirnie (Pembroke), Sam McCloone, Sarah Hernan & Neil Griffen (all Leinster), Ciaran Malone (Balbriggan), Chris Coburn (Railway Union), Mark Ingram (Railway Union) &Brian Connolly (Phoenix).

With this level of expertise Leinster Cricket was able to provide a two-day wicket-keeping seminar in parallel with the squad coaching. Young players from across the province were treated to insights into keeping wicket and all left with practical routines to aid self-improvement. With a continued program of development at this level and role models such as Niall emerging it can only encourage the game to further flourish in Leinster.

The week's activities finished with a 6-hour ‘Young Leaders’ Coaching Course. The participants, all aged between 15 and 20, were given advise on how best to introduce cricket to primary school age children and how to organise fun game activities related to cricket.

In attendance were:

Darren Roux (North Kildare), Greg Withey (North Kildare), Donal Vaughan (CYM), Keith McCarthy (CYM), Ross Garvey (Pembroke), Eoghan Delany (Clontarf), Sean Gill, Keith Reynolds, Neil Boyne, Aisling O’Brien & Laura Kane (all Malahide), Ian O’Herlihy (Leinster), Siabh Armstrong (Rush) & Patrick Lynn (Railway Union).