The 2026 season kicked off last weekend for Limerick Cricket Club with three adult teams in action. After a busy pre-season period which extended back into 2025, a mix of youth and experience lined up for the Shannonsiders with Midleton and Nenagh the opponents. Looking to write the wrongs of last season did not get off to the best start, with all three teams succumbing to defeat but nonetheless, three close encounters meant a number of positives could be taken away with something to build towards for this weekend.

Limerick’s 2nd XI welcomed Midleton to the Manor Fields for their first game in Division One on Saturday afternoon, but due to the outfield presenting damp conditions in certain areas, the game was reduced to 35 overs with a later start. Waqas Mehmood, taking on his second season as the captain of this side, elected to bowl after winning the toss. 

He opted for the pair of Ramoji Alla and Neeraj Kumar to open the bowling which was well negotiated by Midleton, who saw out the first fifteen overs for 43 runs. Limerick struck back well four wickets in ten overs which shifted the momentum in favour of the home side, with Alla, Borghare and Mehmood all taking one apiece. The first innings was gritty with only three boundaries scored throughout as running between the wickets became crucial to setting a good target. Mehmood alternated his options in attack, using nine different bowlers to restrict the middle order. 

After a 45-run partnership for the fifth wicket got Midleton to 127-5, the hosts fought back well taking the final five wickets in the remaining 13 overs as the visitors set a total of 153. 

Despite the loss of Teke in the sixth over, a strong partnership between Mehmood and Kumar saw Limerick reach the century mark for the loss of just one wicket. It was an all too familiar batting collapse for the home side which ensued, scoring just 38 runs with the remaining batsmen to find themselves 16 runs short of victory.

RESULT| MCU Division One.

We lost to Midleton by 16 runs yesterday. 

Midleton 2: 153-8 off 35 overs.

Ramoji Alla 4-18

Dharmesh Patel 2-22

Limerick 2: 137 all out off 31.4 overs.

Waqas Mehmood 42

Nishant Kumar 31

                                           * * *

Limerick’s 3rd XI kickstarted their league campaign with a narrow loss to Nenagh on Sunday at the Manor Fields, falling just 12 runs short in their chase to secure victory. 

Jeevan Krishna stepped in to take the side in the absence of usual captain Sathya Prabu and elected to bowl first after winning the toss. His side bowled well, with just 22 extras conceded but Nenagh countered well by batting out the majority of the overs. Krishna opted for an array of bowlers, the pick of which being Sarfraz Ramay whose figures of 3-27 from 8 overs lifted his side during a strong spell. Contributions throughout the order allowed Nenagh to get to 141 before being fully dismissed after 37.4 overs. 

The game ebbed and flowed during the Limerick response, whilst the top order showed good resilience and longevity in their innings, dismissals outweighed the runs scored with Nenagh taking key wickets to stem the opposition tide. A late cameo from Prajapati and Ramay showed positive signs for Limerick who came within touching distance of attaining their target, needing 25 runs or so from the final four overs, before being fully dismissed on a score of 129.

RESULT| MCU Division Two.

We lost to Nenagh by 12 runs today. 

Nenagh 2: 141 all out off 37.4 overs.

Sarfraz Ramay 3-27

Abubakar Aziz 2-21

Limerick 3: 129 all out off  overs.

Karthik Karur 29

Pavan Prajapati 23

                                           * * *

With 8 u17 players lining out for the 4th XI on Saturday, Ramji Lakshmanan's side made the long trip to Midleton with the hope of salvaging victory against tough opposition and potential favourites for the league. Lakshmanan elected to bat first to give his side a target to defend but Midleton were clinical in their attack, ensuring only one of the top order reached double figures. Nagaraju flourished in the tail with a notable 15 runs from 26 deliveries but it was academic in the visitors’ pursuit of a defendable total as their innings finished on 78. 

Despite this, Limerick had early chances to exert some real pressure on the hosts. Some were taken which awarded the bowling of Yousaf Ramay, as a number of batters struggled to get off the mark. There was a standout performance on debut from Muhammed Aziz whose 3-16 from 5 overs of spin put the cat amongst the pigeons with Midleton 5 down for 65. The introduction of further spin, through Robert McCutcheon, brought another wicket for the Shannonsiders but it was too little, too late as Midleton ran out winners by a margin of four wickets.

RESULT| MCU Division Five.

We lost to Midleton by 4 wickets yesterday. 

Limerick 4: 78 all out off 28.4 overs.

Skandan Lakshmanan 15

Deepak Nagaraju 15

Midleton 4: 79-6 off 20.5 overs.

Muhammed Aziz 3-16

Robert McCutcheon 1-12

                                           * * *

The second round of fixtures sees a number of teams back in action, a bye and a start for others. Limerick’s 1st XI will mark the start of their league campaign by welcoming Kerry to the Manor Fields in the Premier League on Sunday, which will run at the same time as the 3rds visit to Shannon to face County Clare. The remaining fixture of the weekend sees Limerick’s 2nd XI host Nenagh on Saturday afternoon as they’ll be looking to bounce back to winning ways in Division One.