Sunday, 7th August 2016
Halverstown: 166
D. Drumm 25*; S. Gray 25; A.Moran 18; B.Early 17*; C.Johnson 15* (*= Not Out)
Baltinglass Bowling: John Kirby 4-0-18-1; J.Neil 6-0-20-0; M.Hanley 7-0-37-0
T.Tutty 3-1-16-0; Jack Kirby 8-0-54-0; S. Bennett 2-0-12-0
Baltinglass: 103
D.Quinn 25*; S. Bewley 21; J.Best 9*; M.Hanley 9
Halverstown Bowling: D.Drumm 3-0-8-2; J.Threadgold 3-2-2-1; S.Gray 3-0-11-1;
L.Pitt 5-0-15-1; J.Brown 4-0-17-1; B.Early 4-0-19-1; A.Moran 3-0-17-1
Who remembers the Baltinglass Rebellion? Well, it was a long time ago, to be fair. In 1580, Viscount Baltinglass of Harristown led a rebellion, largely religiously motivated and very bloodily suppressed. Was this the same Harristown on which Halverstown now play? Certainly Baltinglass owned lands in the locality, around Kilcullen and Calverstown, so it might well be so. This is a new Baltinglass revolution, led by the Rev. Mairt Hanley- but cricket motivated! Baltinglass now has a cricket team and were playing their 3rd ever game. Several were new to cricket, some only vaguely aware of the rules and 3 were ladies. Yet they faced the might of 1885- established Halverstown and acquitted themselves well, indeed scoring over 100 runs for the first time ever!
Captain John Kirby won the toss and put Halverstown in to bat. Despite some tight bowling from John and son Jack, Des Drumm and Alan Moran, who along with Frank O'Beirne provided the Merrion contingent (a long story!), got us off to a very good start before Alan became the only batsman to lose his wicket This was taken by John Kirby, whilst the other batsmen either retired at the agreed 25 or were rotated. Jack Kirby bowled accurately- and economically- until his last 2 overs a, when Halverstown put the foot down for the final spurt. John Neil's bowling stats, conceding just 20 runs off his 6 overs, were the pick of what were very decent figures overall and John Tutty bowled the team's sole maiden.
Baltinglass started promisingly and Simon Bewley proved very dogged with the bat, hitting a couple of boundaries in his 21 whilst Dave Quinn, his first time ever batting, hit a fine 25 not out, including 3 boundaries. Unfortunately they were the only batsmen (or batswomen) to reach double figures- with Shirley Ross the best of the ladies with 6. There was great cheering from the pavillion when the century was passed, but the final wicket fell just afterwards with the score a most creditable 103- a score which has won many a match in Harristown in the past. I wonder was James FitzEustace, Viscount Baltinglass of Harristown, looking down and smiling at the fun, friendly and wholly sporting and indeed eucemenical game of cricket that took place in Harristown estate on Sunday last?
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