Historic year for ambitious Limerick Cricket Club - and they are just getting started

LIMERICK Cricket Club made history in 2026 with a clean sweep of Munster titles at U13, U15 and U17 level.

The club who are based in the Manor Fields in Adare are reaping the benefits of the focus on the youth section in recent years.

While the 13s and 15s suffered heavy defeats to Coleraine and Instonians respectively in their All-Ireland semi-finals, the U17 team were extremely competitive but fell to a 24-run defeat to the famous Railway Union club from Dublin that produced Ireland legend Kevin O’Brien on Wednesday.

It was three All-Ireland semi-finals in quick succession for the Shannonside club who are seeing years of hard work pay off in spades across the grades.

“In our youth section, they have really acquitted themselves well this season,” said Paul McCutcheon, who coaches the U17 team with Sarfraz Ramay.

“The 13s, the 15s and the 17s have won Munster. And, you know, we're mostly undefeated. One or two small losses, so a huge base on which to build for next season and the season after.”

During Wednesday’s game at the picturesque Richard Beamish Ground on Cork’s Mardyke Walk, Limerick struggled to take wickets but were sharp in the field against a fit Railway Union side who ran a lot of twos.

However, Limerick never let the game get away from them and an exceptional final over from Abubakar Aziz Ullah with the ball meant an reachable target of 120 was set.

The run chase got off to a disastrous start with Limerick losing three wickets in three overs.

The recovery was led by team captain and international player Ayan Ullah. When he was out for 30, the challenge fell apart as the wickets tumbled.

Despite the loss and the disappointment that comes with it, the Limerick camp left the field with their heads held high.

“We are very proud, they've come a long way,” said McCutcheon. “[It’s] a great experience for them and it's obviously great for the club as a whole.

“So we have the core of a really good team, a really competitive team. And, you know, next season we look forward to going one better.”

Limerick cricket is undoubtedly on the up - with local players beginning to be recognized at international level.

U17 captain Ayan Ullah is just back from Scotland where he was touring with the Ireland team.

“We've had a number of our youth caps in the last few years and I would expect more to go on to get Irish caps, get Irish recognition.”

And it’s not just national selectors taking notice.

With South Dublin, Belfast and Derry the traditional strongholds of the sport in the island, the game being played at a high level in other regions is well received at the top of the organisation.

A keen observer of Wednesday’s finals day was Cricket Ireland President Bryan O’Donnell.

“The coaching that has gone into them is a credit and they deserve, without doubt, to be in the semi-finals and I think the lads will benefit hugely from the experience of having played today,” said Cork man O’Donnell after Limerick’s impressive showing.

“Hopefully they will advance to senior teams of a high quality and that will lift the game on all fronts.

“The (financial) help from Cricket Ireland is absolutely vital because we don't have the finances within the system in Munster to be able to provide new facilities, coaching, which is now done on a professional basis in most of the centres of cricket in the country.”

Three Munster underage titles marked an incredible year for Limerick Cricket Club.

Three All-Ireland semi-final defeats mean the club feel they haven’t reached the heights that they know are possible for this group of players.

“I've never seen the boys so disappointed,” said McCutcheon outside the dressing room at the Mardyke. “There was a lot of dejection in there - and that's a good sign, because that shows you the standards they set themselves, the standards and the expectations they make of themselves.

“They fell short today, but they're setting the bar high, and that's what we ask of them.”