WITH the Interprovincials in full swing this week, you might expect that the cream of local youth is straining every sinew to impress the Irish selectors.
But in terms of securing a career in the game, far more significant action is taking place across the Irish Sea in Acklam Park, Middlesbrough.
Three young Irishmen – ‘keeper Stuart Poynter, pace man Peter Chase, and all-rounder Barry McCarthy – are turning out for the Durham against Glamorgan in the Second Eleven Trophy.
Already capped, Poynter is behind Gary Wilson and Niall O’Brien in the pecking order for the gloves, but has impressed in his first season at Durham.
Chase has played a few times for the county and has this season started to produce performances after several years being filed under ‘promising’.
The game in Middlesbrough is the north-east county’s first look at McCarthy, who was impressive in his outings for the Lightning and the star for Irish Universities in their victory in the Hone-McGregor Trophy.
Other Irish youths are linking up with counties this season, such as Jack Tector (Glamorgan), Mark Adair (Warwickshire) and Stuart Thompson (Sussex).
The situation provides a dilemma for Irish administrators.
“You’re talking about non-contracted Ireland players, so what can you do?”, says Alan Lewis, chairman of selectors and himself a 124-times capped all-rounder.
“Ideally we could support them here but you can’t blame them trying to make a career in the game.
“Jack Tector is a member of the Academy and goes to Glamorgan with the blessing of Cricket Ireland.
“That’s not the situation with the others so it’s not a case of them having to ask permission.” But Lewis recognises the dangers in the situation – one long-signalled by Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan.
“We have eight or nine guys in the Ireland team who are in the UK, and our major difficulty with that is that they can end up representing England instead of Ireland.”
The Interprovincial series was set up with several aims in mind, one of which was to provide a route into professional cricket.
But it may have come too late for some.
“What you’re seeing is a different generation of Irish cricketers who now see a pathway to a career in the game”, says Lewis.
“Obviously I’d prefer it was controlled by Cricket Ireland, who could manage their time, but you can’t blame lads for their ambition.”
He singles out Shane Getkate as a possible model. The Malahide product had a couple of seasons on the books at Warwickshire and now, at 22, is on the staff at Lord’s with MCC Young Cricketers.
“Shane is a good example of what can be done – he felt he wasn’t making progress at Leinster so he’s moved to the Knights.”
An exodus of young talent would be frustrating for Cricket Ireland as it tries to deepen the quality and broaden the reach of the interpros, but there is no easy solution in a year when the major sponsor exits.
And who knows what will happen in ICC when the music stops on its chaotic, crazy musical chairs.
“Cricket Ireland isn’t a gravy train,” explains Lewis.
“Every last cent is accounted for and goes towards bettering the game.”
But while the established players grind it out over three days in Malahide, Irish cricket’s Ryanair Generation are booking their tickets – for Middlesbrough.
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INSIDE Edge talked to Andrew Poynter last week about his impressive run of five 50s on the bounce. Of course it was Murphy’s Law that he would make a duck that night in a T20 match, but he was back in the groove at the weekend.
His incredible scoring streak has reached 649 runs in a fortnight after making 120 against North County in the league and 195 against St Johnston in the Irish Senior Cup.
Both those innings were unbeaten, and both were in partnership with Clontarf’s exciting prospect 16-year-old Colin Currie.
The pair had unbroken stands of 218 and 296 as Tarf got their season into gear.
Currie’s contribution was 89 and 91, but Inside Edge readers know all about the youngster.
We raved about him here last summer after seeing him score two centuries in four days. A star hurler too, there are great hopes that Currie will opt for cricket and become the first international produced by Clontarf in almost 30 years.
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THE cricketers of Co Clare have their own Davy Fitz-style breakthrough to celebrate this week. While the hurlers overcame Cork famously in the 2013 All Ireland final replay, it took a year longer for the cricket club to overcome Cork County for the first time in its history.
The Mardyke men had beaten Leinster Division 2 leaders Malahide on Saturday, leaving them well placed for promotion, but came down with a bump next day in the Munster competition. Cork were restricted to 195, which Clare chased with 12 overs to spare thanks to a century stand by Farman (67) and Farrukh (66).
To compound Cork’s woes, a well-struck six smashed the Pavilion window at the city ground.
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Are eight-team divisions working in Leinster?
As July starts, YMCA, North County and Railway Union have just five games left to play in the 2014 season.
That’s a lot of weekends with no sport for a lot of top players.
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Tweet of the week: It’s a dog’s life being a county cricketer, as Niall O’Brien discovered this weekend.
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Fixtures
Thursday: Women’s Div1: Clontarf v Leinster, Merrion v Malahide, Pembroke v North Kildare, The Hills v YMCA
Friday: Alan Murray Cup South: YMCA v Railway; Merrion President’s XI v Leinster Lightning, 6pm
Saturday: RSA Leinster Senior Cup semi-finals: Merrion v Clontarf, The Hills v Malahide
Sunday: Interpro T20: Warriors v Knights, Warriors v Lightning, Bready