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Bulls Showcase Grit and Fire Across a Blockbuster Month of Cricket
Our senior teams produced a massive collective effort throughout May, delivering last over drama, encountering tough league and cup battles, highlighted by clinical individual and team performances.
Our M1s fought out a demanding schedule and found consistency hard to pin down. They opened their Premier League block on 2nd May with a commanding 53-run home win over Railway Union, before suffering an 87-run defeat on the road against Phoenix a few days later. Knockout action then took centre stage on May 16th as the team executed a clinical 6-wicket victory against Malahide in the Leinster Senior Cup, powered by a spectacular maiden century from Sam. Returning to action on the 23rd, the side endured a highly disappointing double-header weekend, losing their league clash to Leinster by 5 wickets before falling by 192 runs to the same opponents in the Irish Senior Cup. They wrapped up their month on with an encouraging display, bouncing back to defeat Balbriggan by 8 runs in the Alan Murray Cup with a blistering 74 from Sam and 4 wickets from Fionn.
The W1s showcased incredible fighting spirit and tactical growth through a month filled with thin margins. They opened their Premier League campaign with a sequence of agonisingly close finishes, defeated in a 1-run thriller to Pembroke and a hard-fought 17-run game to Merrion, despite a magnificent unbeaten 82 from Robyn in the latter. The knockout arena brought similar late drama in the Senior Cup Quarter Final, where a brave lower-order effort took the chase down to the very final delivery of the match, ultimately falling just 4 runs short against Pembroke. However, the team’s persistence was rewarded on during the double-header at Observatory Lane, where they executed a comprehensive 37-run win over Leinster – anchored by Rosie’s half-century – before returning to the field to secure a dominant 58-run triumph against Phoenix fueled by a rapid 66 from Robyn.
Our M2s navigated a somewhat disrupted and testing schedule where they showed real character to finish their month on a high. A competitive, high-scoring 5-wicket loss to Malahide was followed two weeks later by an abandoned return fixture. Cup encounters tested the squad’s depth, with a tough 110-run defeat against Sandyford in the Senior 2 Cup and a 22-run setback against North County in their Tillain Cup fixture. The team saved their most complete performance for the end of the month, executing a clinical performance with the ball to dismantle Merrion by 49 runs and get their Tillain Cup campaign right back on track, driven by a magnificent unbeaten 95* from Yash.
The W2s were the undisputed form team of the club throughout May, stringing together a flawless run of three consecutive victories to establish absolute authority in Division 2. The squad set a magnificent benchmark for defensive discipline, starting on 6th May with an emphatic 8-wicket victory over Pembroke. They carried that momentum directly into their next fixture, rolling through Railway Union to secure a comprehensive 9-wicket victory, highlighted by a dominant unbeaten half-century from Hannah. The team wrapped up a perfect month on May 26th by dismantling Malahide by 45 runs on the road, leaving them in a fantastic position at the top of the league table heading into June as Rosie fell just short of a magical milestone with a spectacular 98*.
Our M3s experienced a month of contrasting fortunes across three league outings in Division 6. Their campaign got off to a difficult start, suffering a comprehensive 9-wicket defeat on the road against Tyrrelstown. They responded in the best possible fashion, putting together an exceptional, high-scoring team performance to overwhelm DLR County by 118 runs after putting a massive 277 runs on the board, with a fantastic century from Rana (126 off 101 balls) and an unbeaten 85 from Sultan. The side concluded their May schedule with an away trip to Athlone, where the batting unit found runs tough to come by in a hard-fought 4-wicket defeat, though Conall provided great resistance with a well-made 53.
The W3s put together a series of highly commendable performances across May, saving their absolute peak for a crucial knockout encounter. The team found the early going tough in Division 3 league games, with a competitive 25-run defeat to Leinster before being edged out by 7 wickets in a low-scoring battle against Pembroke. However, their seasonal momentum completely shifted in the Minor Cup Quarter Final, where the squad combined a superb bowling restriction with an assertive top-order chase to overwhelm The Hills by 9 wickets, led by a blistering, match-winning 47* from Hollie to book a thoroughly deserved spot in the semi-finals.
Our M4s provided fantastic entertainment across a busy month of league and cup cricket, showing great fight in several tight finishes. They began their month on 3rd May in Division 11, suffering an agonisingly narrow 3-wicket loss to Tyrrelstown after defending a modest total with plenty of spirit. They bounced back immediately on May 4th in the Junior Cup, producing a disciplined team performance to secure a commanding 7-wicket win over Malahide. Their league campaign tested their resilience on the road with an 18-run defeat against Phoenix and a tight 4-wicket loss to Wicklow County despite Rizwan hitting 59, before concluding their month with a narrow 9-run loss to Naas in the Junior Cup that was lit up by an extraordinary hat-trick from Vish.
Our M5s enjoyed a spectacular and highly profitable month of cricket, displaying team cohesion to pick up three wins from their four fixtures. They opened May on a high note by cruising to a dominant 9-wicket victory over Malahide in the Minor 2 Cup, with a fine three-wicket haul from Asif, before dropping an agonising 1-run league match to Ongar. They rebounded clinically with a 5-wicket league win over Swords, set up by Ruairi’s unbeaten fifty, followed by a dramatic last-over chase of Rush’s huge total of 291 where Pankaj struck a superb 54, part of a magnificent batting performance. The squad closed out May on a high, routing Greystones by 5 wickets in the Minor 2 Cup after Tom and Daniel ripped through the opposition with three wickets apiece.
With 17 Men’s and 10 Women’s matches scheduled for the month of June, plenty to look forward to.
A monthly chat with people involved with the club, on and off the pitch.
To kick things off in our 150th Anniversary year, we’re sitting in the clubhouse with our two First XI skippers. Fresh into their roles for the 2026 season, we’re talking to Fionn (Men’s First XI) and Lucy (Women’s First XI). So grab a coffee, settle into the armchair, and get to know our Club & First XI Captains.
DP: A month into the 2026 season, what are your initial thoughts on the performances so far and the potential for the rest of the summer?
Fionn: There’s a really positive buzz around the group right now. We’ve shown some fantastic glimpses of what we can do, both in our performances and our attitude. But honestly? The most exciting part is that we all know there’s plenty more gears to shift into. The squad has a great blend of experienced heads and really hungry younger lads. If we stay consistent, cut out the excuses, and keep improving week-on-week, it’s going to be a very solid season.
Lucy: Exactly, it’s all about building momentum! We’ve had a tough opening block—four games, one win, three losses—but we’ve already faced the heavy hitters like Pembroke and Merrion. Even in the defeats, I am so proud of the fight the girls showed. We have a young side, but the chemistry and energy at training and on match days has been brilliant. This tough start has just motivated us more. The talent is there, and we believe in each other right up to the last ball.
DP: What excites you the most about leading a First XI at Clontarf?
Lucy: Oh, it’s an incredible honour. What excites me most is bringing this group together and creating an environment that’s highly competitive but where everyone genuinely enjoys their cricket. Seeing the younger girls step up and grow in confidence during big match moments is just the best feeling. It’s a massive privilege to lead such a committed group every week.
Fionn: I couldn’t agree more on the environment piece. For me, it’s the challenge of uniting a talented group and setting up a space where everyone feels they can perform at their absolute best. Plus, let’s face it—doing this during the club’s 150th year makes it extra special. Leading Clontarf is a huge honour, and pushing this group to the next level is a challenge I’m completely fired up for.
DP: You’ve both played under plenty of captains. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve taken from them?
Fionn: I’ve noticed that the captains I respected most were always calm, consistent, and crystal clear in how they dealt with people. They built trust. That’s exactly what I’m trying to bring to my captaincy—being approachable, being honest, and setting the standards with my actions rather than just talking about them.
Lucy: It’s so true, the captain sets the tone! I’ve been lucky to learn from some amazing leaders, and the biggest takeaway for me is staying positive and calm when the pressure is on in the field. Your body language influences the whole team. I want everyone to look at me, know I have total faith in them, and feel the confidence to back themselves.
DP: What are the big goals for your teams for the rest of 2026 and beyond?
Lucy: For us, it’s about growing the whole women’s section—right through to the 2s and 3s. On the pitch, we want to keep bridging the gap with the top sides and turning those fighting performances into wins. Off the pitch, I want a supportive culture where everyone feels included and enjoys the group. What happens off the field matters just as much as what happens on it.
Fionn: Spot on. Results are great, and we absolutely want to give ourselves the best chance to compete for trophies, but the long-term goal is culture. I want a setup where the lads genuinely love playing for each other and for the crest. If we keep driving standards and developing the younger players, the long-term success of the club takes care of itself.
DP: Speaking of younger players, how do you foster team spirit and integrate the youth?
Fionn: It’s about making sure everyone feels valued, no matter their age. We’ve all been the young kid in the changing room before! I want the younger lads to feel completely comfortable speaking up, asking questions, and backing their skills.
Lucy: Absolutely, it can be intimidating! We have so much young talent coming through the youth system, which is amazing. My approach is to create a space where they can just be themselves and not fear making mistakes. I love chatting with them, getting to know them as people, and letting them know they are fully trusted. When they feel supported, they fly.
DP: Describe your captaincy style in just three words.
Lucy: Positive. Empowering. Supportive.
Fionn: Calm. Competitive. Accountable.
DP: Let’s go back in time. What advice would you give your 12-year-old self playing U13s cricket?
Fionn: I’d tell myself to stop trying to be a perfectionist! Get the basics right, trust your skills, be inventive, and just try to create magic moments out there. Take the game on and enjoy it more.
Lucy: Honestly, identical advice. I’d tell 12-year-old Lucy to just enjoy the process and have fun with her friends. Don’t stress about performance at that age—there is plenty of time for that later! Just ask questions and learn as you go.
DP: It’s brilliant to have Sam Morgan & Robyn Searle at Castle Avenue this summer. How have they settled in?
Lucy: Having Robyn back is fantastic! She was a huge miss last year. Because it’s her third season here, she already knows the girls, so she’s hit the ground running as our opening batter and a great spin option. As a young captain, having her experience to bounce ideas off is a massive confidence booster. Plus, she’s doing brilliant work coaching the youth section.
Fionn: Yeah, both of them have been top-class. Sam and Robyn have brought incredible energy and a real level of professionalism to the club. They’ve settled seamlessly on and off the pitch. They’re super approachable and engaged with the wider club membership, which is exactly what Clontarf is all about.
DP: To tie in with our 150th Anniversary, we’re running our #CCCMemories campaign. What’s your favorite Castle Avenue memory?
Fionn: For me, it’s not one single moment, it’s the collective feeling. It’s the shared memories in the clubhouse after a massive win, surrounded by teammates, members, and supporters. Castle Avenue has this unique way of making those moments feel even bigger because the people here care so deeply.
Lucy: I’ve been here since Friday Night Cricket in 2011, so choosing one is tough! But topping the list has to be winning Division 1 under Emma Butler in 2023. We won the final game at home against Leinster to pip Merrion to the title by less than a single point! Lifting the trophy at home on August 17th, and then celebrating at the Mansion House the following January… I’ll never forget it.
DP: Who is your ultimate cricketing hero?
Lucy: Nat Sciver-Brunt, without a doubt. Her all-round ability is incredible, but it’s her calmness under pressure that I admire most. Seeing her transition into a captaincy role is really inspiring for me as I develop my own leadership style.
Fionn: AB de Villiers. He just made elite cricket look entirely effortless. It felt like he could pick up a bat and do absolutely anything he wanted, completely naturally.
DP: Finally, what’s one cricketing skill you’d love to master or improve?
Fionn: I’d love to master bowling and batting left-handed. Just to add total versatility and become a completely unpredictable cricketer!
Lucy: Ambitious, Fionn! I have two—one as a leader and one as a player. As a captain, I want to speed up my decision-making and game-reading under pressure in tight finishes. As a player, I’m working on my bowling consistency so I can maintain my pace and impact throughout a whole spell. If I can nail those by the end of the season, I’ll be delighted.
Best of luck to both Fionn and Lucy for the rest of the 2026 season! Keep an eye out for our next Meet the: feature coming soon.
