Club History

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

Year
Competition
Team
Individual Awards
Internationals
1971
Junior League
Junior Cup
Fingal B League
1sts
1972
Intermediate B League
Intermediate Cup
Whelan Cup
Fingal B League
1sts
1973
Intermediate A League
Intermediate A Cup
Whelan Cup
Fingal Challenge Cup
1sts
Junior League
2nds
Gerry Byrne Cup
U17’s
1974
Middle League
Middle Cup
All Ireland Junior Cup
Fingal Championship Cup
1sts
1975
Fingal Championship Cup
1sts
1976
Fingal Championship Cup
1sts
1977
Senior 11 League
Fingal Championship Cup
1sts
Intermediate B League
Whelan Cup
Fingal B League
2nds
1978
Senior 11 League
Fingal Championship Cup
Christy Russell Cup
1sts
Oulton Cup (Bowling: Senior 11)
Liam Archer
Intermediate 11 League
Fingal B Cup
2nds
Junior League
3rds
Gerry Byrne Cup
U17’s
1979
Oulton Cup Paddy Byrne
1980
Fingal Championship
1sts
Oulton Cup Martin Byrne
Fingal B League
2nds
Gerry Byrne Cup
U17’s
1981
Gerry Byrne Cup
U17’s
1982
Senior 11 Cup
1sts
Oulton Cup Matt Dwyer
Fingal B Championship
2nds
Gerry Byrne Cup
U17’s
1983
Fingal B Championship
3rds
1984
Senior 111 League
2nds
Junior B League
3rds
1985
O’ Grady Cup (Bowling: Senior 1):
Martin Byrne
Hopkins Cup: Wicket-keeping:
Senior 1) Michael Dwyer
Under 19
William Dwyer
1987
Under 19
Mark Clinton
1988
Junior B League
Minor Cup
4ths
Gerry Byrne Cup
U17’s
1989
Senior 1 League
Senior Cup
Fingal Championship
1sts
O’ Grady Cup: Matt Dwyer
u-23
Mark Clinton
Fingal B League
2nds
Whelan Cup
3rds
Junior A League
4ths
Gerry Byrne Cup
U16’s
1990
Fingal B League
2nds
Intermediate B League
Whelan Cup
3rds
1991
Intermediate League
3rds
O’ Grady Cup: Matt Dwyer
u-19
Brian Higgins
Gerry Byrne Cup
U16’s
1992
Tillain Cup
2nds
u-15
Barry Archer
1993
Fingal Championship
Christy Russell
Fingal Challenge Cup
1sts
O’ Grady Cup: Matt Dwyer

u-15
Joseph Clinton

Ladies
Marguerite Burke

Senior 111 League
Brian Southam Cup
Fingal B League
2nds
YMCA Salver
3rds
Gerry Byrne Cup
U17’s
1994
Junior Cup
Ladies
1sts
O’ Grady Cup: Matt Dwyer
u-19
Declan Moore
1995
Senior 11 League
2nds

Oulton Cup: Joseph Clinton

Division 2 Batting:
Geraldine Thornton

u-19
Barry Archer
Division 2 League
Ladies
1sts
Amoroso League Cup
Sean Mc Grath Cup
U18’s
1996
Conqueror Cup
50 Overs Cup
1sts

O’Grady Cup: Matt Dwyer

Samuels Cup (All-Rounder)
Matt Dwyer

Division 1 Batting
Geraldine Thornton

u-18
Joseph Clinton

Senior
Declan Moore

Senior 11 League
2nds
1997
Senior 11 League
Senior 11 Cup
2nds

Oulton Cup: Luke Clinton

u-19
Joseph Clinton

Senior
Declan Moore

Yates Hale Cup
U15’s
1998
Senior 11 Cup
Tillain Cup
2nds
Oulton Cup: Martin Byrne

u-19
Joseph Clinton

u-15
Robert Hoare

Senior
Matt Dwyer
Paul Mooney

Minor Cup
5ths
1999
Senior 11 Cup
Tillain Cup
2nds
Oulton Cup: Pat Bennett

u-13
James Bennett

Senior
Matt Dwyer
Barry Archer
Paul Mooney

YMCA Salver
3rds
2000
Middle 2 Cup
Third X1

u-13
James Bennett

Senior
Matt Dwyer
Barry Archer

Junior C League
Fifth X1
2001
Senior 3 League
Second X1
Seán Pender Cup: Martin Byrne

u-15
James Bennett

u-21 Ladies
Tracey Fleming

Senior
Matt Dwyer

2002

u-15
James Bennett

u-21 Ladies
Tracey Fleming

Senior Ladies
Tracey Fleming

2003
Intermediate A League
Third X1
U17
James Bennett
2004
Leinster Division 4 League
Third X1
2005
Leinster Senior 2 League
First X1
U13
James Fleming
Leinster Senior Cup

First X1

2006
U15’s League
shared
Bryn Thomas – Leinster All-Rounder of The Year
Leinster Senior 1 Cup
First X1
Leinster Minor Cup
Fifth X1
2007
Leinster Junior Cup
Fourth X1
U15
James Fleming
Alan Murray T20 Cup
First X1
2008
Leinster Senior 1 League
First X1
Laura Boylan
Junior A and Junior C Leagues
Fourth and Fifth X1
YMCA 20/20 Salver
Third X1
2009
Leinster Senior 2 League
Second X1

Luke Clinton – Leinster Cricket Union, Fair Play Award

Albert van der Merwe – Leinster All-Rounder of The Year

Albert van der Merwe – Ireland Mens

Jeremy Bray – Ireland Mens and Ireland A’s

Laura Boylan – Ireland Under 17’s

2010
Leinster Ladies Senior 2 League
First X1
Jim Bennett – ICC Europe Volunteer Of The Year

Albert van der Merwe – Ireland Mens

Tomás Murphy – Ireland Under 17’s

Jeremy Bray – Ireland Senior Mens and Ireland A’s

Laura Boyland – Ireland Underr 17’s

2011
Girls Under 13 Pilkington Cup
Girls U 13’s

Laura Boylan – Ireland Ladies

Rececca Branagan – Ireland Under 17’s

Albert van der Merwe – Ireland Mens

2012
Bob Kerr All Ireland Senior Cup
First X1

John Wills – Cricket Ireland Coach of The Year

Nazeer Shoukat – John Dawson Fair Play Award

Max Sorensen
Leinster Ladies Minor Cup
Ladies Second X1

 

2013
Leinster Senior 1 League
First X1
Max Sorensen – Ireland Mens
Alan Murray T20 Cup
First X1
Lauren Hoey and Rhiannon Pope – Ireland Under 17’s
Boys Under 15’s Cup
Under 15’s
Cormac McLoughlin – Ireland Under 19’s
Girls Under 11’s Cup
Under 11’s
2014
RSA All Ireland Senior Cup
First X1
Joe McCleary Trophy (Grounds)
Max Sorensen – Ireland Mens
Harry Archer – Ireland U 13’s
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