From The Pavilion

Welcome to the Irish League Youth Cup.

• All, and only, teams in the Irish League receive an invite.

• There will be a minimum 32 teams in the cup, or 64, if sufficient numbers accept.

• Teams are invited in the order or their One Day ranking at the end of the previous season

• This guarantees a place in the draw for the highest ranked 32 (or 64 teams) that accept.

Later, all sides in Division 3 and 4, of BOTH Youth formats, that do not make round two of the cup are invited to the Irish League Youth Plate.


Competition Details:

• It is a knock-out cup.

• The draw is random (there is no seeding).

• Games are played on a Wednesdays.

• Games played are T20 friendlies

• Games do not impact player fatigue for league matches.

• Local weather conditions are applied

• Pitch preparation is at the whim of the home team’s groundskeeper (so random).

What's the catch?

• There is none, entry is free.

• We ask, but don't enforce, that those who can pull Irish youth players as a contribution.

• Both finalists win an award of Pavilion membership.

Then why?
As always, my hope is to:

• Develop a sense of identity, belonging and community to the Irish league setup.

• Support the Irish national side by encouraging youth pulls where possible.

• Offer teams in lower divisions the chance to test themselves against higher league opposition.

• Have fun.

It would be great if you would join in by hitting the accept button when you receive your invite.

Timeline - S64

• 3 Feb 2026 - Invitations sent

• 25 Feb 2026 - Entry deadline

For 32 teams / for 64 teams:

• 4 Mar 2026 - Round of 32 / Round of 64

• 11 Mar 2026 - Round of 16 / Round of 32

• 28 Mar 2026 - Quarter-finals / Round of 16

• 25 Mar 2026 - Semi-finals / Quarter-finals

• 1 Apr 2026 - Final /Semi-finals

• 8 Apr 2026 - --- / Final

Team Roll of Honour

Season 63:

• Winner: Cork City Cobra's

• Runner-up: kato xi

• Semi-finalists: Ella XI; The New Originals

Season 62:

• Winner: Staindrop Lordies

• Runner-up: Hunslet Parkside C.C.

• Semi-finalists: kato xi; Woodlands CC

Season 61:

• Winner: Chester Ducks

• Runner-up: Staindrop Lordies

• Semi-finalists: Ella XI; Hunslet Parkside C.C.

Season 60:

• Winner: Spinney Wanderers

• Runner-up: Celtic Wolves

• Semi-finalists: Meeting Mr Miandad; Shaktar Senseless

Season 59:

• Winner: The WaddiWallas

• Runner-up: Spinney Wanderers

• Semi-finalists: kato xi; Royal Eleven

Individual leaders
Player of the Tournament, for most fantasy points:

• S63: 367 - Craig Delamere (kato xi)

• S62: 387 - Mark McDermott (Hunslet Parkside C.C.)

• S61: 510 - Malcolm Sartori (Chester Ducks)

• S60: 410 - Senan Scannell (Celtic Wolves)

• S59: 433 - Joost Brentjens (Spinney Wanderers)

Golden pads, for most runs scored by a batter:

• S63: 254 - Anthony Strahan (kato xi)

• S62: 273 - Mark McDermott (Hunslet Parkside C.C.)

• S61: 359 - Malcolm Sartori (Chester Ducks)

• S60: 222 - Christian Tynan (Meeting Mr Miandad)

• S59: 279 - Joost Brentjens (Spinney Wanderers)

Golden cap, for most wickets taken by a bowler:

• S63: 9-131 Michael Cusack (rfs, Cork City Cobra's)

• S62: 10-109 Tshepo Matsikenyeri (lf, Staindrop Lordies)

• S61: 9-94 Randall Norris (lfm, Chester Ducks)

• S60: 8-64 Taral Soni (rws, Corleone)

• S59: 10 – 141 Desmond Depay (rfm, Spinney Wanderers)

Golden gloves, for most dismissals involving the keeper:

• S63: 8 in 4 games (8c, 0st) - Winslow Williams (The New Originals)

• : 8 in 5 games (8c, 0st) - Leonard Ackerman (Cork City Cobra's)

• : 8 in 5 games (6c, 2st) - Gavan O'Mahoney (kato xi)

• S62: 6 in 3 games (5c, 1st) - Philip Burke (The Cross Lances)

• : 6 in 4 games (6c, 0st) - Dave Tone (Woodlands CC)

• : 6 in 4 games (6c, 0st) - Eric O'Leary (kato xi)

• : 6 in 5 games (6c, 0st) - Jonas Wilkes (Staindrop Lordies)

• S61: 8 (6c, 2st) - Dinny Taylor (Staindrop Lordies)

• S60: 11 (9c, 2st) Diarmuid McGrath (Meeting Mr Miandad)

• S59:12 (10c, 2st) Dogo Kiribui (The WaddiWallas)

I would love to participate. Let me know how to take part. I am training 2 youth Irish players and will be willing to scout from Ireland also. Thanks!