What a Finish to the U15 League Campaign!

Maghera Cricket Club’s Under 15s brought their league campaign to a memorable close with an emphatic victory over Killyclooney, capping off what has been the club’s best-ever U15 season.

Maghera U'15 XI vs Killyclooney U'15 XI

Thursday 6/8/26 - Donemana

Having won the toss, captain Sarah elected to field first, making the most of the conditions to put pressure on the Killyclooney batting line-up. Rory and Luke made an excellent start with the ball, with three wickets falling inside the opening four overs. Rory showed safe hands to take a catch off Sarah’s second over, before he and Luke claimed another wicket apiece. Luke’s dismissal came courtesy of a superb catch behind the stumps from Robin, as he went on to finish with outstanding figures of 3-11.

Rio also bowled his first-ever overs in an U15 match, while excellent fielding from Alyssa, Claudia, Bobby, Matthew and Danny helped keep the boundaries to a minimum. Killyclooney eventually managed to build a competitive total, aided by some good batting, a short boundary and a few too many wayward deliveries, finishing on 105 from their 16 overs.

Chasing more than a run a ball, Maghera approached the innings with a calm and positive mindset, perfectly demonstrated by opening pair Rory and Luke. Against a strong opening bowling attack, the Maghera batsmen defended the good deliveries and punished the loose ones. The runs began to build steadily, although after 10 overs the required run rate was still ahead of them.

That was when the Maghera lads stepped up a gear. A remarkable 39 runs came from the next three overs as the returning opening bowlers were put under pressure. Rory then retired after striking two consecutive boundaries to bring up a superb 58*.

With just six runs required from the final two and a half overs, Luke wasted no time, striking the winning runs in spectacular fashion — bouncing the ball off the grandstand roof to seal a fantastic victory.

There was plenty of elation as the players celebrated a thoroughly deserved win, although the occasion was also tinged with a little sadness. The match marked the end of the U15 chapter for several members of the squad, and we thank those players for their commitment and contribution to Maghera Cricket Club. We wish them every success as they take the next step into the senior ranks.

The victory rounded off a historic campaign, with Maghera finishing joint second on points and third once run rate was taken into account — the best league finish in the club’s U15 history.

What a season. What a team. What a way to finish.

Written by Kenny Irvine