State aid for clubs not a total lottery

CRICKET/Column: At the ICC Trophy in 2001, I took a break from watching the depressing sight of Ireland failing to qualify for the World Cup finals and went to view the exponents of that other great bat-and-ball sport, baseball, writes James Fitzgerald

I remember thinking, as I stared up at the miraculous Toronto Sky Dome, how similar it was to YMCA's decrepid cricket pavilion back in Dublin.

Not because YM was home to some of the finest batters in the world (as good and all as Alan Lewis and Angus Dunlop may be); not because they had installed a retractable roof over their Sandymount ground (the holes in the pavilion roof did not count); but because, as I marvelled at the feat of Canadian engineering, I wondered how it could remain standing as nothing appeared to be holding it up.

Now, though, anyone who visits Claremont Road will notice many changes. In place is a proud new pavilion, a sparkling astro-turf hockey pitch and a cricket square that YMers are confident will be good enough to host high-profile matches in the seasons to come, with the first senior match tentatively scheduled for July 10th.

And with €38,000 funding just announced from National Lottery grants, YM will be able to add to those facilities with ancillary equipment such as new covers, scoreboard and machinery for preparing what is hoped to be a perfect outfield.

"This lottery money will finish off a pristine facility and hopefully put us at the forefront of cricket," said Alan Lewis. "We want to host big games here in the near future."

Of course, Claremont Road is not the only cricket ground to benefit from the grants which were announced recently by Sports Minister John O'Donoghue. In total, Leinster cricket was granted €314,000 and with the 10 clubs involved having to add at least 30 per cent of their own cash to that, the final capital investment to cricket in the Dublin area will be pushing half a1 million.

The club that will benefit most this time is Merrion, which will receive €70,000. This will go towards a several specific projects including a much-needed revamp of the changing-room facilities, an electronic scoreboard and improved seating for spectators around the perimeter.

Ireland's premier cricket ground, Clontarf's Castle Avenue, will receive €20,000 to improve practice facilities, provide new canvas side covers and a wicket mower.

With Clontarf hosting both semi-finals and the final of next year's ICC Trophy (all three of which will be televised live around the world), the countdown has very much begun to what will be the biggest single organisational undertaking in the Irish Cricket Union's history.

Indeed, the ICU is to be commended for the work it has put into securing these grants. The participating clubs applied through the ICU which, along with the Leinster Cricket Union, put together an impressive and ultimately successful document for Minister O'Donoghue's Department to consider.

"This is a huge boost for cricket and comes at a great time ahead of next year's hosting of the ICC Trophy. We are also applying for a similar scheme in the North so our success in the South will strengthen our hand in that regard," said ICU honorary secretary John Wright. "I hope clubs will now be encouraged to submit further claims after seeing what this one has achieved," he added.

The ICU, which will itself be granted €50,000 of lottery money to install an air-conditioning system at the cricket academy in North County, is now seeking further funds from the Sports Council and Fáilte Ireland ahead of the ICC Trophy. So while cricketers often legitimately bemoan the fact that their sport is forgotten about in favour of the higher-profile games, here is an example of a proactive union doing its best in conjunction with clubs to ensure that Minister O'Donoghue doesn't forget about the sport.