Munster cricket is starting to flourish.
Though Cork County's Chris Banon (see profile and interview at this link- http://www.cover-point.com/post/Chris-Banon-Cork-Countys-rising-star.aspx ) is the only youngster close to the Irish squad (U17s) currently, the following players are just some of the young prospects that may well be challenging for international honours at some stage in the new decade:
Ruadhan Jones: Cork Harlequins
Aged 13, Ru is a right hand opening batsman and leg spinner. He has played for 3 successive seasons for Munster U13s in Interpros. In Munster he is a Senior Cup and League Medal winner with Cork Harlequins.
Ru was also captain of the 2009 Cork Harlequins Munster U13 League winners. During the campaign he scored one century and one fifty.
Rory O'Keeffe: Cork Harlequins
Aged 14, Rory is a right hand opening batsman and wicketkeeper.
He opened and kept for Munster U13s in 2009 Interpros. Like Ruadhan he is a Munster Senior Cup and League Medal winner with Harlequins.
Playing as a wicketkeeper and opening batsman for Harlequins Munster U13 league winners 2009, Rory had a top score of 75 in a record opening stand of 221.
Cian Scannell: Cork County
16 year old all-rounder Scannell is a product of the Presentation Brothers College in Cork.
A right handed batsman he counts among his achievements scoring a century against Midleton College in the Munster U-15 league.
He is a member of the Munster U-15 team and with his off spin enjoyed a best bowling performance at that level of 3 for 4 against the North West.
Scannell's favourite cricketers are Daniel Vettori and Ed Joyce and he became interested in the game by watching Ireland in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.
Anto O'Reilly: Cork Harlequins
See profile and interview at this link - http://www.cover-point.com/post/Interview-and-Profile-with-Cork-Harlequins-young-e28098leggiee28099-Anto-Oe28099Reilly.aspx
Ciaran MacGregor: Midleton Cricket Club
11 year-old Ciaran is a very promising seam bowler in his third year of cricket at the club during which he has shown he has the confidence to take on players several years older than himself.
In 2009 he was Midleton U13s most consistent performer with the ball, producing the best bowling figures in each of the matches he played before injury cut short his season.
Ciaran's passion for cricket combined with his willingness to work at his game makes him a player to watch out for in the coming seasons.
Brandon McEvoy: Midleton Cricket Club
Another 11 year-old who has distinguished himself with both bat and ball for Midleton's U13 and U15 teams to the extent that he is set to become a regular with Midleton's adult 2nd XI in 2010.
Has made great strides as a seam bowler in the past 18 months as well as developing into a determined batsman who is very difficult to dislodge from the crease.
Brandon is a gutsy performer who is very single-minded about improving his game, qualities which augur well for a promising future in the years ahead.
Liam Rooney in cooperation with Ted Williamson, Jim Doran and Kingsley Jones
Copyright: Cover Point
