Photo Credit: Sportsfile
Cricket Ireland has today confirmed that Coleraine Cricket Club’s Kia McCartney has been offered a casual contract for 2023, replacing Rachel Delaney who has stepped away from the women’s senior performance squad due to work commitments.
McCartney, 17, was part of the Ireland Under-19s Women’s squad that competed at the recent ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup, playing four matches (see video) and opening the bowling. The right-arm off-break bowling all-rounder was also named in the Dragons squad in the 2022 Super Series.
Delaney, who has earned 34 caps for Ireland, has advised Cricket Ireland that due to full-time work commitments she cannot commit to a contract in 2023.
The centrally contracted full-time women’s players for 2023 are:
Full-time contracts
Laura Delany, Shauna Kavanagh, Arlene Kelly, Gaby Lewis*, Sophie MacMahon, Cara Murray**, Orla Prendergast***, Rebecca Stokell****, Mary Waldron
Educational/Part-time contracts
Ava Canning, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Louise Little, Jane Maguire, Leah Paul
Casual (match) contracts
Alana Dalzell, Sarah Forbes, Joanna Loughran, Aimee Maguire, Kia McCartney, Kate McEvoy, Eimear Richardson, Freya Sargent
* Gaby Lewis is on a full-time contract during semester breaks
** Cara Murray will move from Educational/Part-time contract to a full-time contract in July 2023
*** Orla Prendergast will move from Educational/Part-time contract to a full-time contract in June 2023
**** Rebecca Stokell will move from Educational/Part-time contract to a full-time contract in December 2023
Name of Author: Cricket Ireland
Cricket Ireland, officially known as The Irish Cricket Union Company Limited by Guarantee, is the governing body for cricket on the island of Ireland. It oversees the national men’s and women’s teams and organizes the Inter-Provincial Series, Super 3s, and All-Ireland club competitions. Ireland achieved Test status for women in 2000 and for men in 2017 when it became a Full Member of the ICC.
