Students Salute Ireland Tour Graduate O’Brien Heroics

Students Salute Ireland Tour Graduate O’Brien Heroics

O'Brien mobbed by his teammates after their win over Bangladesh

©Action Images

Students Salute Ireland Tour Graduate O’Brien Heroics

Keeper Christopher Youldon in action

Date 9th June 2009
Venue Ashbrooke Sports Club, Sunderland

Northern Universities Student Club Community Cricketers Elite sent their warmest congratulations to the continued firework performances of Kevin O’Brien who was one of the founder members of the now traditional North East Tour of Leinster Cricket Union.

The tour which has earned the reputation as Europe’s finest U21 championship heads into its sixth championship the day after the ICC T20 World Cup reaches his climax thanks to backing of Hilton Newcastle Gateshead, Gatorade and Ellwoods where the North East will witness the pretenders to Kevin’s title as the tours most successful graduate.

John D Holland, Director of Cricket was absolutely delighted to see continued cricketing success for Kevin and Ireland adding “it is great reward for their youth development programmes in particular in Leinster who continue to produce not only Ireland but now England Internationals in Eion Morgan.  Watching Kevin’s exploits reminds our players of not only the challenge but the honour of facing the next stars of World Cricket.  Ireland’s new players Andrew Poynter visited two years ago and little Finto McAllistair is a legend of the tour as we have lost count of how many he has graced us with his presence on.  With Scotland professional squad also in the tournament for one week our students have the chance to live the life of International cricketers and our aim is to somehow pull off a miracle win for the North East”

The North East students, who six years ago suffered at the hands of a Leinster performances described “as like watching a highlights reel” thanks in part to the hitting of O’Brien inspiring their management to completely rebuild their club into something that could compete at Leinster’s level both on and off the field.  Six years on, Kevin’s team mates will face what Mr Holland calls “a very young and inexperienced squad” but one with significant local Sunderland interest focused on the shock selection of 15 year old Michael Robson who is emerging fast through the students ‘Futures Programme’ while Christopher Youldon brings Leinster into contact with the North East’s most cheeky wicket keeper.

Michael and Christopher joins their team mates on Wednesday at Ashbrooke in Sunderland as the ‘Ronny Boyd Training Camp’ programme grows in importance and no doubt the students will be looking forward to the challenge of taking on the next generation of Ireland stars just 7 days later.

To find out more details on NUSC visit www.nusc-ccelite.play-cricket.com  or www.cricketworld.com/nuscccelite - special Tri Nations coverage is available via the clubs members only website.  For more details including log on details contact nusc-ccelite@o2.co.uk