Where are they now?
An analysis of the 2011 youth players for Merrion
In 2011, the first year of modern Cricket Leinster records, Merrion had 160 boys in its youth section. Of these 23 played in adult Open Competitions [OC] in that year. This represented 18% of the total of Open Players and 20% of the matches played.
Compare this with the corresponding figures for 2026. This year there were 114 boys registered with the club. 25 of these played in OC. They made up 24% of the total players that turned out for the club and 27% of the matches. 15 youth players played in 10 or more OC matches. Depending on your perspective, this might be seen as having to rely more on youth players to fill out our adult teams in 2026, despite having two fewer teams, than 15 years ago or a greater focus on youth development.
But what of the career paths of the youth players in 2011. Of the youth cohort for that year, twelve played 10 or more matches in the season. None of these were still playing for the club [or elsewhere in Leinster] in 2026. Indeed of the 160 boys only five turned out for the club this year.
Reviewing the career records of the 2011 youth players in a little more detail we find that 44 of the 160 boys from the 2011 youth list (27.5%) played Open cricket in at least one season from 2012 to 2026. Across those 15 seasons they made up 12.9% of Open player-seasons and played 12.2% of Open matches (2,268 of 18,622). Nine played over 100 matches [including 2011] in their career. If one takes as a reasonable if somewhat arbitrary average of 12 games per year over 15 years as a baseline, and conflates the two Covid years into one due to the fewer matches played, then only three players from 2011 exceed that threshold, Sean and Tom Stanton and Denny David. Seven turn out for 10 or more seasons since 2011. None played every year, with Tom Stanton having the longest run from 2011 – 2025.
The chart below gives a sense of when the drop off in numbers occurred. Covid had an impact in 2020 but number recovered and maintained their downwards trajectory in 2021.
Analysis of the reasons why individual players gave up the game and at what age may add further insight to questions about career longevity and player retention. These are important issues to address in any review of the strategic direction of the club.
Footnote: Not included in the youth figures for 2011 above are three girls U19 who played in at least one OC game that year. All three, Leah Paul, Elana Tice and Rachel Delaney, went on to get full international caps for Ireland. Two turned out for Merrion in a Women’s game in 2026.