Leinster CC Taverners

Leinster Taverners provide many parts of the club, that other sections may sometimes be slightly lacking. Qualities such as wisdom, experience, a love of the finer things in cricket and most of all a willingness to celebrate friendship across the country.

Taverners Trail =- Continued and concluded

19^th August
v Terenure Rugby Club (Observatory Lane)
As someone forgot to make available the shining new red taverners book the exploits of our heroes on this date, were committed to an under 11’s Boys book – kindly supplied by Kevin The true story may yet be narrated in the now famous “Taverners Trail” but for now your writer is remarking how suitable it is that we are recorded in an under 11 book. For instance – Tom Dillon throws his toys out of the cot when bowlers wont give him runs, Paul Delany insists on kicking team-members in the shins or even rugby tackling them! . Trevor Dunne makes the childish statement that the non-lbw rule in taverners is wrong as it is bad for young cricketers. But the boldest boy in the class was Dermot Fitszimons who not only pulled Collette’s pig-tales, but also twisted her arm to try and make her bowl. The class held its breath – but luckily Peach contented herself with withdrawing to fine leg (where else) .James Conway heroes is Knights of the Round Table which is probably why he wears more armour going in to bat than those “noble gents “Clive is warned not to bring teddies etc to the cricket does and drops the biggest dolly ever in the squad match. Peter Challoner gets lines continually for opening the wrong book in the class – he always opens “the art of coarse fishing “ (outside the off stump )not of “coarse cricket “ while Paul Richardson insists on reading “The Christie Ring Story “ (particularly studying the plate showing Christie’s grip right over left –so there!) under the desk driving teacher Brian mad – although the children think HE is mad to expect test performances from a team that for the most have never played above 5ths cricket in their life if even that.

26^th August
v. Evening Herald (Observatory Lane.)
Back to reality I’m afraid and we lose to the only true “works team” in our fixture list. Having posted a magnificent 140 (DJF, AD, ST 20 apiece, PC a magnificent 17, MS 16 and BB 15) they jolly well chased it and got it! There was some talk of our opposition including 2 ringers in their number but you know …! Bowling figures suffered during the onslaught – it gives me great pleasure to announce AD had 21 taken off him and DJF had 27. (Neither however matched t PPB’s record of 28 in two overs in a previous match)
Other remarkable incidents in this match were DJF who retired hurt at 3 – not surprising as he was running with AD but he returned to score a brilliant 20 .(Of course it doesn’t say whether it was his feelings were hurt or his physique!) Also a return to form of SG was seen – or was it he just got a chance to bat at last!)Finally no one told the Herald skipper if you get a present of 2 players from the oppo.- you do not bat them at 10 and 11 which was the case for Hannah Ridgeway and Laura Delany of Lcc – Tut Tut.Also – you usually also give them a bowl! Tutissimus Mr Robins!

2^nd Sept
v Merrion CC
At the start of every the season I say to Mr Elliott – the only game I really want to play is the Merrion one. Right says our Falstaffian chief ,giving every appearance of having received in one ear and not ejected through the other .Alas – this is the third consecutive year I was de-selected showing that our chief does not suffer fools gladly nor indeed does he suffer us (the fools) at all.! Merrion are equally disappointed but this only because they have heard through the grapevine (probably my offspring) my bowling is there for the taking at 12 an over!
Merrion batted first and would appear to have put on a fair total of 111However they only brought 8 to the crease and who knows what the fresh and eager batsman might have yielded. Butler and Carroll(the latter justifying our selection of in an illegal “league player”) picked up a wicket each and the other 4 retired Lcc tried something new in the batting order opening with Fitszimons and Richardson who scored 20’s as did Delany and Smith . With the other 3 batsmen mustering 14(Mullen did not justify selection as a” league player”) between them it was enough – Lcc coasted past the Mcc in the 12^th over. The afters were good fun – helped by the fact that nearly all our guests stayed to the bitter end going to prove in this as in many other features that the cricket club taverners sides are the most satisfying games.

8^th September
Inter Squad Match (The Village- Observatory lane – LCC Bar)

There was some soul-searching whether we should play on Friday (9^th) and let the Hooke lunch constitute our end of season meal – or play on the Thursday followed by a lighter meal. After about 1000 votes been cast it was decided to play on the Thursday. Although sympathies are for the finances of the club – it’s not all about money!
Alan Delany captained the team first to bat and they scored a spectacular 153 of 15 overs) with 20’s from the usual “suspects” Delany, Godfrey and O’Connor (not Eugene!) but also from Tierney and Challoner – the usual “innocents”. Good bowling performances from Hugh (getting Foster and Dunne) and Banahan (- his first wicket of the season- but think of all the pleasure he gives the oppo batters) on the Elliott team.
The captains talk – by Elliott – was a serious affair and it took a lot of persuasion to prevent a captains run out – until one bright spark pointed out that Elliott had run us all out over the last few years so it would be superfluous. A fairly brisk start from Carroll(20) and Banahan (13) delighted with his second knock of the season) led the way in superb chase (20’s from Branagan, Attard ,Smith and spectacularly Clive Colleran) with commendable 14 from Liam Barry (who also bowled well) and a slightly less commendable 4 from Frank Lynch (who didn’t bowl at all ) culminating in victory for Elliott’s team with 3 balls to spare.

AND SO THE END OF THE “TRAIL”
The above was a super game of Taverners cricket- over 300 runs scored in 20 overs and a result in the last over! Those who have played (or even watched) Tavs over the years know it a special type of cricket. The temptation to turn us into a “last league “team or worse as a sop for those failing to find places in league teams should be resisted. Nor should we be looked on as a cash cow in the bar ” although Friday nights is always busy .Remember also Taverners have at many stages come to the cricket committees help in times of economic crises.
I have often tried in vain to define the taverners game .Nearest I can get is to “A game for non-league players over 40 paying a Taverners sub, played with refined rules in which the object is to be as inclusive as possible – everyone should bat, everyone should bowl. If the last objective is reached – victory or defeat is not essential although the pursuit of the former gives shape to the “exertions”( In fact the only criticism of the lcc game is when selection and utilisation of the players is detemined by the need to win). The final and most important feature of taverners cricket is not only that it is played in a spirit of enjoyment but in an atmosphere of fun and even laughter- which happens thanks to ringmaster Elliott. Also thanks to Murrough McDevitt ,Captain Brian Godfrey, Club Secretary (for the grounds) and last but definitely not least to our talented, obliging and hard-working groundsman Rob Kenealy

PPB – 1^st October. 2011

The latest from the IPL (the Infirm Partaking Leisurely)

29^th July
v RTE (H – Kennilworth)
This was the Tavs first experience of Kennilworth and having got over the shock of feeling like 9 Tom Riordans (see RTE Guide 1970 and the “Riordans”) in the meadow (prior to mowing!), they adopted very well beating RTE (127) by 5 wickets .RTE learnt the lesson that it is not all about batsmen but rather the quality of batsmen and the maximisation of overs for they only got 6 to the wicket. (In fact the other 5 were on phones to Outside broadcasts RTE saying they had found at last a location for the long –awaited documentary of the Battle of the Bulge(after the battle) in Kennilworth square)The strength of the Lcc batting can be seen in that Treacy, Butler, Warren (gasp!) and Elliott (further gasp!!) were not called upon.

5^th August
V Guiness (H-Kennilworth)
Our 2nd visit to Kennilworth was not as successful as the above. Only 2 Tavs posted 20’s – giving us a total of 92 (caught in the 10th over by Guiness) much to the disappointment of our skipper of the day DJF who is imposed on us periodically to let us know that although BG is bad we could be doing worse! Both skippers strive to ensure the Tavs don’t enjoy themselves – but the lcc Tav refuses to bow the knee to those twin imposters of victory and defeat and continue to cackle at the discomfiture of their fellow player orchestrated in their merrymaking by Hugh Elliott – who by now is too precious to play and is held back for commentary and the book! There was genuine concern at the end of this match when the diminutive KW and PB were missing, believed to be lost in the Kennilworth long grass – but both were discovered after a not a fairly thorough search(one vote was to leave them alone and let them make their own way home !) PB had fallen asleep in the in the square leg area around the 5th over, whilst Kevin had found a group of “little people” at the top of the gound (long off) and had being exchanging jigs and reel with them.

12^th August
v Theatrical Cavaliers
This was not the usual colourful affair – the Tavs out- thespianing the cavaliers >Lcc could only muster 92 (SG, and MMcD our topscorers) - and the Cavaliers bowling all 10 bowlers .The Scorebook shows nothing for the theatrical chaps – I presumed the match was rained off – points being split on an even basis.

The latest from the weird world of the Taverners

08 August 2011

24^th June
Leinsterv Malahide (A).
Unfortunately this fixture was cancelled by rain and the intrepid tavs reigned in their horses (which they had mounted for the assault on this bastion of the north side) and looked forward to the home game against this stout opposition – due 22^nd July.

1^st July
Leinster v Fitzwilliam (H)
Our guests won (or fudged) the toss and captain Barry O’Sullivan elected to bat. Their first 4 got 20 and the team got 123 off 15 overs – “sitting pretty” for a victory. Not so said our heroes and proceeded to produce 5 20’s reaching a winning total off 9 overs- a crushing defeat for that urbane club of the south side.
Sorry about lack of colour here – I was dropped for this match so only arrived late in the evening to hear the Taverners eulogise each other – completely unreliable as an account of the match! Brian G (Captain magnificent) was heard to complain to Hugh Elliott at the lack of Kevin W and PB on the team as he needed these to fill the vital batting positions of 10 and 11!

8^th July
Leinsterv Old Belvedere(H)
No shortage of colour in this match (red for blood!) – OB scoring 123 (2 20’s) Lcc only mustered 1 20 and a total score 111 despite a gallant stand of BG who clocked up 18.Colour you ask? Mowing down of yours truly by an old Belvederian (who was also an old Leinster player). Mumblings by Lcc of GBH (Grievous Bodily Harm) charges were completely forgotten when victim was awarded man of the match. Extraordinary what a bottle of wine will do!
This was an ideal game of Taverners cricket and if previous first team players appeared eg Eoin Deering, they tailored their skill to match Tavs level
15^th July
Leinsterv. Architects
Architects started well with 20’s from Subaro ,McConville, Rankin and Dockerell (the father not the son!) to reach a challenging 131.PB scared everyone including himself by leaping high in the air to just miss a catch – a shot to the shins from Dockerell (the father not the son) put an end to all leaping by the undersigned. Lcc had 3 20’s in their reply but cunning bowling from Hugh Elliott (2 for 9) and Biddle (1for 13 )- both seconded to the “Arcs” by Leinster , restricted the Tavs to 118.Despite all an exceptionally good night in the bar afterwards – who says we Taverners can’t take a beating in sportsmanlike fashion. (Usually eleven of the victorious opposition.!)
22^nd July
Leinster v Malahide (H)
One would feel that 106 would be enough to take the “ould” enemy particularly as it contained a stylish 20 from DJF and a not so stylish one from Steve Attard to which can be added a modest 16 from Colette (retiring at that stage to give the others a chance!- completely alien to the taverners code and probably to be penalised by a future dropping). Alas Keegan, Murphy and two others got the “near perfect “ in score (if not in shots) and the village got 107 to win the match in reasonable if not fine style. To compensate for the extra travelling time our guests were treated to a hot finger-food supper (paid for by the Tavs) – did not prevent from the usual vultures around the bar from helping themselves even before our guests had been served! It seems impossible to have a semi-private reception in the bar without a horde of free –loaders inviting themselves along

The Taverners Trail

19 July 2011

Lucky the undersigned is paid by the match and not the words as 2 of the next 3 matches are sadly lacking in substance as the earnest reader will see.

3^rd June Leinster v Pembroke
Despite Jonathan Bell’s urbanity down in Sydney Parade and his past successful presidency he was able only to cajole 4 players –so he called off the match on the Weds evening – not too late for our genial fixture secretary to conjure up some players from Bank of Ireland and an enjoyable evening was had in beautiful sunshine . The actual cricket went unrecorded in the tavs glistening new scorebook. It’s thought the bankers made copious notes on the taverner’s wealthy lifestyle and several of them were “Namanised” in the succeeding weeks.

10^th June Leinster v Phoenix
Field for your knock has always been the dictum of the “mob” playing with schoolboy bats at the end of the ground in the 50’s and 60’s .Alas this sacred belief was ditched in the above match- when the Tavs took 144 runs off the Phoenix attack – only to see the skies open and the team from the oldest club in Ireland (snigger) have to content themselves with the famous leinster Friday night sandwiches and a few bevies. Sad occasion but even sadder for Lcc who couldn’t remember a higher total taken off any opposition and so had to release the stranglehold they had on that august club and allow them get up from the position we had them in – across a barrel or indeed some would say in a barrel.

17/6 June Leinster v A St Mary’s Selection
Finally   we had a slightly “random match” with St Marys, captained by Steve Treacly who fielded a former Irish captain, a Belvedere Firsts opening bowler an international Rugby Player and a former captain of our seconds “.Bring it on” said the taverners and taking similar liberties with selection (former captain of First Irish Senior Cup Finalists) won with 4 wickets and an over to spare. This match was to commemorate the untimely death of Mary’s boy Andrew Hoey and many of Vincent’s relatives (including his Mother and Father were present. Despite the sombre occasion the match was played in a wonderful spirit Andrew’s own relatives and friends encouraging the irreverend approach to the cricket eg Marys team having to leave the field for “refreshments “ every 2 overs leaving the Tavs batters to fume and fret at the wicket ,beer less and of course” ball less “.

St Marys won the toss and put together a fine 119 with 20’s from Alan Dunlop(magnificent )Vincent Cunningham (super with additional marks for showing his father’s easy charm)and Stephen Treacy   (putrid – making one wonder how he even got on the team never mind captaining it ).Tavs batted well from the start and with 20’s from Cricket Section President Trevor Dunne (whose bat sometimes looks as broad as his smile) Tom Dillon whose bat never departs from the plumb line) and Alan Delaney who doesn’t use a bat at all sometimes!) This innings was hampered by the glare of the setting sun but when someone found a cap for Stephen T and placed it on his gleaming pate things improved immensely. And so the Tavs reached and passed the Marys total in time to join the Marys team and supporters – who had already commenced the revelries with all the vigour of a team who only play one match a year !(The Tavs have to pace themselves over 20 matches)

Steven T who is president elect of the Mary’s PPU Union this year (guess who won’t be invited to join his committee!) talks of a possible annual fixture with possibly a trophy commemorating the late Andrew. Joking apart this would be a wonderful gesture from the Union and indeed from the LCC   who could see it as a mark of respect to those (whatever their school) who alas do not live long enough to join the ranks of taverners cricketers .In a serious mood –to Stephen ,Murrough and of course Hugh – nice one!

Better late than never - Taverners vs President's XI

21 June 2011

Readers may be forgiven in thinking that Mary McAleese had been so overcome with the visit of ER II’s visit that she put together a cricket team to play our illustrious Taverners . Not so – it was our own gracious majestic President Trevor Dunne (KH, RGDATA ,LV) who put together our opposition this Friday. Tavs will take on any team so long as it can be assured of a victory – preferably an easy one !
Although Trev’s popularity is high and climbing higher in direct proportion to the presidential rounds at the bar – he would appear to have had a problem in assembling a team that transpired to be one described charitably as a motley collection !

Putting the home side(don’t get technical with me) in to bat, our heroes (now you know who took first knock!) scored quickly with magnificent shots both sides of the wicket (except for PPB choosing elegant effective snicks through the slips and wicket keeper gloves ) Attard ,Delaney and Smith collecting stylish 20’s.A slight hiccup developed when Dillon, Elliott Conway occupied the crease ,becoming a loud belch when Jim Tierney arrived going for his second 0 of the season – although it must be admitted one of these totals were unbeaten In fairness to Jim he acts as No 2 wicket keeper and has saved many a bye off the phlegmatic taverner attack. )Brian Butler celebrating his return to tavs cricket marked the occasion with a lightning –fast 14 and a fairly slow joke Strange captaincy decisions were made by the President ,bowling Ciaran Casserole for 2 overs and bowling that clever leg-breaker bowler(and former president) Marty Block for one over and Bob Cramp not at all.! There was talk of a possible coup back in the dressing room at end of the innings but it was put down with Machiavellian savagery by the Pres.- although he was seen to limp afterwards and rumour has it that it was not a bloodless (some say that a particular irritated team member swung a kick at his reverence) To make a long story short the Tavs posted a very creditable 111.

All was sweetness and light on the Tavs fielding and bowling attack. The first 3 bowlers bowled their 6 overs an avge of 5 runs each and one (Mick Smith )bagged 2 wickets as did later Brian Butler – who this time celebrated with a particularly long-winded joke which we were all pleased to hear – Brian is back at last Hurrah! The Tavs seemed to be coasting (despite a big innings by Casserly- defying the pace of 11 year old Joe Prendergast-and and by Joe Lyons – rather meanly run out although himself letting go about 20 stumping chances off the Tavs ) and were it not for Captain Fitzsimons (who also led with bat and ball)would have hit a few rocks .Suddenly(all) the presidents men had 5 to get off the last over with John Norton and Niall Carroll at the wicket –and President Brennan loitering in the wings (was he playing Hamlet or cricket?).After a few very tense moments ,and a feigned collapse (physical)by Carroll or was it Norton ? (who ran 4 doubles in a row) the visitors could scrape only 110 – a victory for the Tavs by one run.

Some more post-mortems in the Presidents dressing room led to demands for not alone his resignation from the captaincy ,but also his abdication from the cricket section presidency yet he came through smiling – the grin broadening when he found the Tavs were paying for the sandwiches in return for his own team putting on the covers .For the “afters,” 9 out of 10 and the match 10 out of 10 –put together it was great evening of sport.(an infrequent occurrence among the tavs !)