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Slieve Bloom Cricket Looking Forward To Leinster League Return

Tuesday, 11 May 2021 13:00

By Liam Winter X @winter_ishere

The club is aiming for promotion this season.

Slieve Bloom make their return to the Cricket Leinster league system this summer after their one year absence.

The club will compete in Division 10 following their relegation from Division 9 in the 2019 season.

Their 2020 season was hugely disrupted but club member Mick Schnackenberg believes this season could be a successful year for them.

“We played no league cricket last year because it was too much with inter-county travel last year. I think we should come back with a bit of style this year.”

Since joining the league system in 2013 the Offaly based club have collected their share of silverware including the Junior Cup in their début season followed by Division 10 one year later and the Intermediate Cup in 2016.

Slieve Bloom will have two trophies on their mind this season with a possible promotion from Division 10 and another shot at the Intermediate Cup on the cards, with the cup a particular focus.

“There is something special about a cup day out and the trophies in Cricket Leinster are very old and very special. The Intermediate cup has been going for 110 years and you get your name on the trophy its a bit special.” Said Schnackenberg.

Setting them apart from most other sides Slieve Bloom are for the most part a hospital based team, with members working in hospitals around the country but still travelling to the midlands in order to play for them.

Being reliant on members from the likes of Limerick and Dublin being a major reason for them opting out of the league system last summer.

Despite that they managed to put together friendlies to make the most of the available dates last year, providing much needed down time for hospital staff last year.

“Last year for us working in hospitals was pretty dire. For us getting those evenings on Sundays was just fantastic.” Said Schnackenberg.

Slieve Bloom’s season was still cut short however with the announcement of Ireland’s second lock down coming mid game against Athlone.

“Playing away at Athlone last season and we went into second lockdown as we were playing the game that was the last we played. We finished the game and that was it.”

They will be hoping for a longer more successful campaign this season with fixtures set to start across Leinster from June 7th.

For those looking to play cricket in Offaly their club socials or their club email googly@live.ie is the best way to get in touch.

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