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Three days ago, 21-year old uncapped Stephen Doheny received a phone call from Ireland’s Chair of National Men’s Selectors – an international squad member was ill and Doheny had been selected as a late replacement for the senior international side and was to fly out on Tuesday to India. The only problem? Doheny didn’t have any international playing kit.
Demonstrating the value of a close partnership, Cricket Ireland and O’Neills came to the rescue. Over the weekend, staff from O’Neills were able to produce an entire international playing uniform for Doheny at its factory in Strabane, and shipped it to Dublin early on Tuesday morning. The kit was then rushed to Dublin Airport, and Doheny was able to fly out for India with a brand new uniform.

Only close cooperation and a true partnership approach could have delivered this successful outcome, and comes right off the back of Cricket Ireland signing a new partnership deal which will see O’Neills Irish International Sports Company Ltd continue as the official team kit supplier for the next three years.

The leading Irish sportswear manufacturer will be the official kit supplier to Cricket Ireland, and Irish national teams, including the T20 World Cup squad competing in Australia in 2020.

Kieran Kennedy, Managing Director of O’Neills Irish International Sports Company Ltd, said:

“Exciting times are ahead for Cricket Ireland, both on the world stage and more locally here in the North West. We are pleased to be renewing our long and distinguished partnership with Cricket Ireland as their official team kit and sportswear supplier.

“Many of our staff have direct family links to the Irish cricketing fraternity and we are proud to offer our support to this popular sport for the next three years.”

Dennis Cousins, Commercial Director of Cricket Ireland, also welcomed the new contract signed with O’Neills for 2020, 2021 and 2022. He said:

“We are delighted that such a successful Irish sportswear manufacturer has agreed to continue our ongoing partnership in 2020-2022. We look forward to showcasing their top-quality sports and leisurewear locally, nationally and internationally over the next three years.”

“While many would associate O’Neills strongly with the GAA, equally committed is their ongoing support for cricket in Ireland – at international through to grassroots levels. Exemplifying this is their additional sponsorship of our Junior Membership programme, which has helped us increase membership participation over 100% in the last three years.”

Image: Mark Adair and Simi Singh present Kieran Kennedy from O’Neills a signed shirt

2020 will be one of Cricket Ireland’s busiest years, with men’s and women’s senior squads competing in world tournaments.

The Ireland Men’s team are currently in India preparing for a T20 International series against Afghanistan, after which they will head to Zimbabwe for a white-ball series. This summer the squad will host Bangladesh, New Zealand and Pakistan before travelling to England in September for a three match ODI series. They will then head Down Under for the 2020 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup which will be held in Australia from October 18 – November 15.

The Ireland Women’s team will have a series of yet-to-be-announced fixtures before heading to Sri Lanka in July for the ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier tournament.

Across Ireland there are five affiliated cricket unions belonging to Cricket Ireland, among them the North West Cricket Union (NWCU) which takes in the Derry and Strabane areas where O’Neills has such a strong manufacturing and retail presence. Indeed, cricket has been an enduringly popular pastime in the area and 32 clubs are part of the NWCU.

O’Neills was founded in Dublin in 1918 and a century on the company employs more than 900 staff on the island of Ireland. Its fabrics are knit in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Strabane and dyed and finished in Walkinstown, Co. Dublin. The 16-acre site in Strabane includes a new distribution facility which was opened in 2018 to serve O’Neills’ growing local and global customer base.

Cricket Ireland merchandise will be available online at www.cricketshop.ie

Craig Easdown
O’Neills have signed a new three-year partnership with Cricket Ireland
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