Waringstown are the best team in Ireland

Lee Nelson accepts the award for Tildenet Club of the Year on behalf of Waringstown Cricket Club from Richard Jones, Commercial Sales Manager Tildenet, at the 2015 Hanley Energy Cricket Ireland Awards.

The villagers enjoyed a halcyon summer, winning the NCU Premier League title and then the Irish Cup with a superb victory over Merrion at The Lawn.

And their remarkable achievements were recognised in Dublin with the Tildenet team of the year award and coach of the year for Simon Johnston.

Captain Lee Nelson said Johnston has been hugely influential in Waringstown’s success.

He said: “When we brought Jonty to the club he raised the bar in terms of our professionalism in training, on match-days and in everything we did. With Paddy Curry also there as fitness coach we are trying to do everything more professionally and the club are reaping the rewards from top to bottom.”

Nelson said the success of 2015 tasted all the sweeter after the disappointment of 2014 when Waringstown dominated much of the cricket played, only to finish runners-up in three competitions.

“To come back in the manner we did after what happened the year before and to win the league and Irish Cup is a tremendous achievement,” he added.

“We are absolutely delighted.”

Waringstown are Ireland’s highest ranked team of the year for the fourth time in the last five years.