Cricket

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Cricket has a long and proud tradition at Ballyclare High School, with up to five teams regularly competing each season: 1st XI, U15 XI, U14 XI, U13 XI and U12 XI. Our teams take part in the prestigious McCullough Cup (Division 1 Ulster Schools’ Saturday League)as well as the mid-week Ulster Schools’ Cup competitions, which include:

  • 1st XI – Ulster Schools’ Cup & President’s Plate
  • U15 XI – Shirlow Cup & Jubilee Plate
  • U14 XI – Derriaghy Cup & Plate
  • U13 XI – Mourne Cup & Plate
  • U12 XI – Wesley Ferris Cup (B) & Plate

Pre-season nets begin in February, with matches running from April to June.

Facilities
Cricket at Ballyclare HS is supported by excellent facilities:

  • Hollinger Park – 3 grass Surrey loam wickets and an artificial wicket
  • School grounds – an additional artificial wicket and 2 outdoor cricket bays
  • Sports Hall – 2 indoor cricket bays for winter training

Success and Achievements
Over the years, Ballyclare High School teams have celebrated success across all age groups, lifting trophies such as the U14 Derriaghy Cup, U14 NCU League, U15 Jubilee Cup, and the 1st XI McCullough Cup. In 2018, the 1st XI proudly won the President’s Plate.

The school’s most outstanding cricket achievement to date came in 2024, when the 1st XI reached the final of the Schools’ Cup, narrowly losing to a strong RBAI side. The team was superbly led by U19 Irish International, Finn Lutton.

Notable Players
Cricket at Ballyclare HS has a rich history, carefully documented by Mr Nutt and the late Mr Martin. The first representative honour came in 1959, when John Craig from Muckamore played for Ulster and Irish Schools. Many others have followed, including Jeffrey O’Hara, Colin Davidson, Andrew Cowden, John Busby, Kyle McCallan, Robert Smith, Jay Hunter, Ewan Wilson, Finn Lutton, Evan Carlisle and Jack Smyth.

One of the school’s most distinguished alumni is Kyle McCallan, who went on to become Ireland’s most capped player, representing his country at two World Cups.

Links with Templepatrick Cricket Club
The strong partnership with Templepatrick Cricket Club (TCC), based at The Cloughan, home of Ballyclare Rugby Club, has helped to promote cricket in the Ballyclare area. The club fields four adult teams and a wide range of youth sides, with at least 80% of members being past pupils. Many of our current players also represent TCC during the summer months, ensuring a strong pathway from school cricket into club and representative levels.