The Hills Cricket Club, 1969 –

Early Days

The cricket club in the area was one of the founding clubs which played in the inaugural Fingal League, and they won it in 1936 and 1941. Games in the early decades were played on the lands of local farmers around the Hills, with a different field being used each year in most cases. Wickets would have been crude tracks hastily prepared over the previous weeknights, and this answers the question about low scores.

Formation of the Hills CC

Some of the people who had been playing cricket for Balrothery, discussed the forming of the Hills CC. In September 1969, the idea of playing at Milverton was mooted, and Joe Clinton and Gerry Byrne approached the Wentges family of Milverton Hall with a view to using the Vineyard as a possible location. Mrs Wentges readily gave permission for the Vineyard to be used, and a general meeting was held in the Holmpatrick Hotel, Skerries to discuss the making of an application to the Leinster Cricket Union.

Early Successes

The Hills CC was formed, with Gerry Byrne as its first Chairman, and one team was entered in the Leinster League in the 1970 season with Seamus Clinton as captain. Success came almost immediately, with the Junior Cup and League being won in 1971, the Intermediate Cup and League in 1972 and 1973. During the three years from 1971 to 1974, the Hills were undefeated, and were promoted each year. The team was brilliantly led by Johnny Archer who was an excellent bat and wicket-keeper.

Formation of Other Teams

The second XI was established in 1972, and a third XI some time later. In 1973, Gerry Byrne presented a cup to be competed for annually at juvenile level. During the period up to 1977, a makeshift clubhouse was used, and in 1977, a timber-constructed building was erected. In 1978, an under 13 team was entered in the Leinster League, and J. D. Caprani commenced a twenty year involvement with the Hills as coach to the juveniles. In 1979, all three adult teams won their respective leagues, and the first of a number of attempts was made to be allowed join the Leinster Senior League. In 1981, the Hills installed an artificial wicket, and it received special permission from the Leinster League to use this wicket until 1986. In this year also, the Hills played in the Leinster Senior Cup by invitation, and it was finally accepted as a senior club in October 1982.

The Early Years of Senior Status, 1983 – 1989

The first year at Senior 1 went reasonably well, and the team won an All-Ireland Cup game against North Down. A greater emphasis was placed on coaching, and many young players such as Mark Clinton, Alan and Rory Courell, William Dwyer and Brian Higgins began to emerge. During this period, players such as Martin Byrne and Matt Dwyer won the Leinster Senior League individual bowling awards, and Michael Dwyer won the wicket-keeping award.

All of this effort came to fruition in the glorious year of 1989. In the words of Mark Clinton, “the batting was undoubtedly at its strongest either before or since. The bowling was very strong. Matt, Martin and Noel (Harper) were in the top 5 bowlers in Leinster that year”. On 22 July 1989, the Hills CC beat Carlisle at Kimmage Road in the Final of the Senior Cup. The following day, the team drew against Leinster, thus completing the coveted League and Cup double.

1989 – 1996

After the highs of 1989, there followed a somewhat fallow period for the Firsts in terms of team trophies, but between 1989 and 1994, Matt Dwyer won the O’ Grady Cup (best bowler in Leinster Senior Cricket) on four of the five years. The Thirds won a league and cup double in 1990, and the Seconds won the Senior 111 League in 1993. The Ladies section which had been formed in 1988 was now bringing honours to the club by winning promotion to Division 3 in 1990, to Division 2 in 1992, and they also won the Minor Cup in 1990. Marguerite Burke was the first Hills player to be made a Senior International when she represented Ireland at the Oval in 1993. At underage International level, Mark Clinton, Brian Higgins, Barry Archer, Declan Moore, Joseph Clinton, Geraldine Thornton and Caroline Archer represented their country during this period.

During this period, in addition to playing cricket, the drive to build a new clubhouse gathered momentum. After a tremendous amount of voluntary effort by the club members, our new club house was opened officially on 6 August 1995 by Séan Gilbride, President of The Hills CC and Michael Dwyer. The infrastructure was now in place for another concerted drive for cricketing honours.

1996 – 2002

The omens for a successful season were in place from the very start of this year. In recognition of the transformation in facilities which the club had effected, the LCU chose the Vineyard for the 1996 Conqueror Cup Final. The Firsts made the winning of the final on our own ground one of its main objectives for the season. This team had a tremendous blend of youth and experience and a great fighting spirit. Matt Dwyer was captain and the club had acquired the services of Ray Daly, a very astute coach. On 30 June, the Firsts won the 50 overs league by beating Leinster. Saturday, 3 August 1996 will go down in the annals of the club as one of its finest hours. The Hills won the toss and scored 200. Pembroke never had a chance, and thus it transpired that the Hills had won the cup double, and Matt Dwyer won man of the match. He also won the O’ Grady Cup (for bowling) and the Samuels Cup for best all-rounder in Leinster.

International Cricketers at the Hills

With success on the field came international recognition for some of our cricketers. Declan Moore became our first men’s Senior International in 1996, and in 1998, one of the greatest injustices of all time was rectified eventually, when Matt Dwyer was capped for Ireland. In this year also, Barry Archer and Paul Mooney were also capped by the Irish selectors.

Hills Cricket Club Honours List