Anthony with the Munster Senior Cup
Sixteen year old Cork Harlequins leg-spinner 'Anto' O'Reilly is part of a new breed of Irish cricket players playing the game. From Carrigaline in Cork, O'Reilly was encouraged to take up the game after watching the World Cup on Sky Sports.
Like Eoin Morgan before him, O'Reilly is an accomplished hurler but it is as much with his with his leg-spin as his batting that O'Reilly will be looking to make an impression on the cricket field in 2010.
Full Name - Anthony Joseph O' Reilly
Date of Birth - 26/10/1993
Club - Cork Harlequins CC
Bats - Right Hand
Bowls - Leg Spin
CP: When did you start to play cricket?
AOR: I joined Cork Harlequins in the middle of 2008 (Enthusiastically encouraged by my parents after breaking a good few windows!)
CP: What sparked your interest in the game?
AOR: When I was younger my dad used listen to cricket on the radio, and as the economic boom kicked in we got Sky Sports, which brought it all to life. I remember watching the 2003 World Cup, and from then on I was hooked.
CP: Favourite cricketer and why?
AOR: Of all time? It has to be Shane Warne. He changed the way people looked at spin bowlers forever. They were no longer used just to tie up an end.
My favourite current player is definitely Graeme Swann. He has this never say die attitude and he is an inspiration to everyone that if you don't make it the first time keep trying and you will eventually.
CP: Biggest influence and why?
AOR: Well from watching the TV I have been influenced by various cricketers, Shane Warne, Andrew Flintoff, and Kevin Pietersen, spring to mind.
On a more personal level, since joining Harlequins a lot of the senior players have been very supportive but I suppose the main trio being Ted Williamson, Cormac Wilcox and Morne Bauer. Also Kingsley Jones, who is the youth officer with the club.
They have given me great encouragement and are always helping me to get better.
CP: Ambitions for 2010?
AOR: First of all anyway, it is vital that we regain the Munster Senior League and Cup, to maintain our position as the best team in Munster.
Also, It would be nice to win a game in the Interprovincial series this year and maybe even progress to the next round of the Irish Senior Cup.
(Cork Harlequins travel to CYM to play in the preliminary round of the Irish Cup on Saturday April 24th).
CP: Ambitions beyond 2010?
AOR: Personally, I would like to be able to get myself into the situation where I would be able to be selected for the Irish under 17 team. Maybe even one day play cricket as a profession.
CP: Proudest achievement to date?
AOR: Academically, I received an award in the BT Young Scientist Exhibition last year.
But in sporting terms I suppose it would be between winning the All Ireland under 16 hurling tournament in Carlow with my club Carrigaline or making my debut with the Harlequins Senior Team.
CP: Biggest disappointment to date?
AOR: Losing the Cork under 16 county hurling championship against Blackrock in 2009.
CP: What else are you passionate about?
AOR: Hurling, football, soccer everything that involves sport really. I play hurling and football for my local Club Carrigaline
I love music as well and recently I have begun the long journey of learning to play the guitar.
CP: What other interests have you?
AOR: My friends will tell you that I'm a bit of a political guru!
CP: What could Irish cricket be doing (if anything) that it is not doing already to make the sport more popular?
AOR: One of the reasons that the sport is not as popular as just say hurling/rugby is that it is not played in many schools.
If you look at the schools that it is played in - in Cork, Midleton College, Presentation College and Christians Brothers are the three that spring to mind. Many people I know feel that cricket is very elitist. If it was in more public schools, like my own Carrigaline Community School, I feel more people would consider playing it.
I also think that it needs to get more coverage on Irish television, you rarely hear cricket mentioned on the RTE news!
I am aware that the Ireland vs Australia game is being covered by RTE during the summer, and this might help spark interest.
Anthony O'Reilly in conversation with Liam Rooney
Copyright: Cover Point
