On a cloudy day back in late June seven Primary Schools from across Fermanagh and Tyrone took part in the Clogher Cricket Club Kwik Cricket Finals day. Lisnaskea High School very kindly offered their grounds as support towards the day.

Kenny Maxwell from Clogher Cricket Club, who has been working tirelessly in developing schools cricket in the West, organised the Kwik Cricket competition with over 140 girls and boys taking part. School children from Aughadrumsee, Brookborough, Lisbellaw, Maguiresbridge, Queen Elizabeth II, Tempo and Enniskillen Model Primary Schools took part in the competition.

Kenny has developed his own schools programme which includes Kwik Cricket and through his part-time funded employment and passion for the sport, this will prove pivotal in developing the next generation of cricketers.

(Picture right shows Irish International Cricketer and Cricket Ireland’s Regional Development Officer for the Northern Cricket Union, Nigel Jones, along with some of the school children who participated)

Following Kenny’s invitation, Irish International Cricketer and Cricket Ireland’s Regional Development Officer for the Northern Cricket Union, Nigel Jones, attended the competition and delivered skill sessions, talks with teachers on coaching and also presented medals to the winners.

Nigel said after the event, “The work that Kenny has done and continues to do is crucial if cricket is to develop in areas such as this. If truth be told he has been a one-man-band for too long. This has been a great eye-opener for me and to see the enthusiasm from all involved today is fantastic. Plans are currently underway to identify further development opportunities and support for cricket in the Fermanagh and Tyrone area.  Players from today’s Kwik Cricket Finals Day need a pathway that will firstly allow them the opportunity to play and secondly support their player development once a pathway has been established.”

Nigel will continue to work closely with Kenny, Clogher Cricket Club and, due to the geographical position of the club, the Regional Development Officer for the North West Cricket Union Brian Allen, in order to identify future participating schools and plan further growth opportunities for cricket in the West.

For schools wishing to find out more information about cricket in the Clogher area, or how to get involved in boys and girls Kwik Cricket, please contact Nigel Jones or Brian Allen by email on nigel.jones@cricketireland.ie or brian.allen@cricketireland.ie.