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just read Danny's posting about Overton. Were they not in the Parks League - that's another slice of history. I thought that was where Ernie McCormick, Boyce & the Parkinsons started but I may be wrong. A name I recall (possibly wrongly) was a Major Shields trophy.

"Mary Hopkins" refers to "committment" and whilst I have no direct knowledge, I understand that some sides, such as St. Mary's from the Crumlin Road, area were "somewhat difficult" to play against. Did a certain Mr. Marno, who was a fiesty opponent, play for them before joining BRAFP when St. Mary's folded? And this was in the days of the "losing draw" when the side batting first had to bowl the opposition all out to get full points. Ballymena at The Mall hanging on for draw to ensure that Armagh forfieted 2 points and Trevor Barnes bowling the last overs underarm!! Ah happy days alright!!

Does anyone remember a team called Overton and if so who were they?

Alan was indeed in the team and still doing well over in Drumaness. Cathal Bannon, Davy Mills and several others come to mind too. I wonder if it was Dennis and Trevor Lennon from Cooke and Trevor Lennon from Downpatrick you remember? Anyone remember the Tyrella and/or Minerstown team(s)?

Creigduff
I remember playing against them in the cup for CI 3s. Alan Mills of Drumaness was in their team. I also played againt Crossgar in the Colts Cup, they seemed to me made up of a lot of Lennons.

Great reading about local cricket and the many teams and clubs that there used to be in days now sadly long gone.
Judging by the amount of teams in the areas mentioned,there must have been alot more local clubs & teams all around the country not even mentioned as yet! What has happened and is club cricket in Ulster, really in decline, are as 'Mary Hopkins' says; people are not committed and young ones just can't be bothered!

Funny enough in the small town of Moira where I come from, 20yrs ago we had a Football Club Moira Albion,(play in the Mid-Ulster league)it consisted of a 1st & 2nd team and a thriving youth team.
Presently, bear in mind the population and housing has increased greatly; Moira Albion F.C. can now barely put out a 1st team and nearly folded last season. And this is soccer we are talking about here!!
Hope local cricket has now turned the corner and maybe the halcyon days of yesteryear,mentioned by some of the previous posters will return again.

If the blink'en summers would dry up,it would certainly help!!

"Those were the days" lads when there was little or no Sunday cricket, no wicket covers, no B&Qs, no shopping centres, limited personal transport but what you had were guys who REALLY wanted to PLAY cricket at the grass roots level ............what do we have now...........Development plans, Development committees, Development Officers, sunday cricket, better facilities and transport but no "local" competitions and a desire amongst some to play less cricket....... I just don`t understand.........I suppose it come down to COMMITMENT

Vic,

Totally agree.. how much older? lol

Taito,
Your dad may remember playing in Creigduff. You probably don't know where it is but if you pass by Tullymurray on the way to Clough from Downpatrick, they played as the ground levels off on the left hand side. As a young fella, the only memories I had were of the concrete wicket, Jack Moreland batting with one glove and pad on and the midges biting at my head!

Andy - Don't get Lowry Cunningham started on the 6 cricket fields he could see out his bedroom window in Donemana!

Stevie, I must let him post more often, he must talk more sense than me ! Just hope he can play like his Dad when he gets older!!!! Would you not agree? lol!!

andy- my dad played for crossgar and tells many a story of playing against several of the teams that have been mentioned on here.

I thought "Zingary" meant gypsies - not I hasten to add ethnic Irish travellers. While we're down memory lane is there anybody out there who remembers playing against Crossbows, Crossgar, Mossley or Cloughfern? I recall playing a cup game at RAF Bishop's Court but that seems about 100 years ago. Interesting to read about the various sides in the Dundrum area. I picked up a Radio Ulster programme a few years ago when Alfie Linehan & Lloyd McKee were talking about the various sides that played in & around Downpatrick and were "feeder" sides for D'patrick. There was a rumour that used to go around Ballymena that when Galgorm had a big game coming up the late Tom Kyle wasn't averse to bringing in a ringer or two and I recall Walter Cosgrove later confesssing to being one of them - but maybe my memory is playing tricks!!

Andy - I do now remember Zingari as C'ville 4ths. 'I Zingari' would be a much more pretentious crowd based as it is/was on Harrow School Old Boys.

It's wonderful how a comment by a 9 year old can strike up such an interesting discussion. Puts some of us to shame. Vic,he must take after his mother! LOL
As a footnote, within a 5 mile radius of Dundrum, over 50 years ago there were numerous cricket teams. Clough, Dundrum, Tyrella, Minerstown, Creigduff and I think Bright. Downshire Cup was won by Clough in 1947. JWE Clarke was the skipper, i think the vice was Dundrum skipper Gavin McNerlins grandfather Campbell. Walrond Clarke some of you older guys may have come across in table tennis circles back in the eighties.