Ballyspallen Cricket Club in Limavady is celebrating a unique ‘quadruple’ after a record-breaking season which has seen the North West club lift both cups and cash in great abundance.
Not only did Ballyspallen’s First XI become the first ever club from the North West Cricket Union (NWCU) to lift the prestigious Irish National Cup, its newly-formed Third XI achieved a remarkable league and cup double in its inaugural season – with a squad made up predominantly of young players who have progressed through the club’s own youth development system.
If that wasn’t enough, Ballyspallen has just completed an incredible ‘quadruple’ by running away with a £1,000 grant towards much-needed equipment in an exclusive Northern Ireland competition, run by KP Snacks (NI) as part of a campaign to mark its partnership with this summer’s blockbuster cricket tournament The Hundred.
The County Derry~Londonderry club was selected from entries submitted by cricket clubs across Northern Ireland, with judges impressed by Ballyspallen’s extraordinary on and off-field achievements during what has been a truly historic 2026 season.
Not bad for a club with no clubhouse, no bar and very limited facilities to generate income, as Ballyspallen Cricket Club Committee Member Tim Martin explained.
“Winning the £1,000 prize from KP Snacks is a fantastic recognition of what has been an incredibly special season for Ballyspallen Cricket Club,” said Tim.
“For a small, community-based club, these achievements mean an enormous amount to everyone involved. They are the result of the commitment of our players, coaches, volunteers, parents, supporters and sponsors and, importantly, the pathway we have worked hard to create for young cricketers within our club.
“We are extremely grateful to KP Snacks for recognising our club and for supporting grassroots sport. To receive this award after such a memorable season makes it even more special, and we hope it will help us build on everything we have achieved and make the future even brighter for Ballyspallen Cricket Club.
“We plan to reinvest the £1,000 award into our next generation of young players to help us continue providing opportunities, equipment and experiences for future generations of Ballyspallen cricketers,” he added.
The KP Snacks (NI) award formed part of a campaign encouraging local cricket clubs to explain why they deserved to receive £1,000 and how the funding would benefit their club or help develop cricket in their local community.
Ricky Watts, Business Account Manager (NI) for KP Snacks Ltd, said Ballyspallen’s application stood out because of the club’s exceptional achievements and commitment to grassroots development.
“Not only did we receive a record number on entries this year, but the standard was also the highest that we’ve see with lots of clubs carrying out fantastic work in communities across Northern Ireland,” said Ricky.
“However, Ballyspallen Cricket Club’s application really captured everything that this competition is designed to celebrate. For a small rural club, their achievements on the pitch this season have been outstanding – but equally impressive is the strength of their youth development programme and the clear pathway they have created for young people to progress through the club.
“The fact that so many of their players have come through their own youth system demonstrates the long-term vision and commitment that exists within the club.
“We are delighted to award Ballyspallen the £1,000 prize and hope the funding helps them continue their excellent work in developing the next generation of cricketers,” concluded Ricky.
Ballyspallen’s commitment to developing young cricketers is underlined by the fact that the club’s U-13 side reached the semi-finals of the U-13 Cricket World Cup, while talented youngster Jacob Blair earned selection to the Ireland U-16 squad and finished as Ireland’s leading wicket-taker in both the Barnard Castle County Cricket Festival and the Celtic Cup.
Furthermore, six Ballyspallen youth players were selected to represent North West age-grade teams across U-14, U-16 and U-18 levels.
The club also celebrated a historic milestone when Kate Martin became the first female player from Ballyspallen to be selected for North West representative squads at both U-14 and U-16 levels.
The club’s emphasis on nurturing home-grown talent is reflected by the fact that all but three players representing its senior men’s and women’s teams having progressed through Ballyspallen’s youth pathway.
The Hundred is a fast-paced, action-packed televised 100-ball cricket tournament featuring world-class players and massive names from around the world, with eight women’s and men’s teams competing over four weeks.
This year’s competition saw first time winners in both the Men’s and Women’s finals at Lord’s. Manchester Super Giants beat Trent Rockets by five wickets to lift their first ever Men’s trophy, while Trent Rockets cruised to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Sunrisers Leeds in the Women’s competition.
As an Official Partner of The Hundred, KP Snacks brands – including popchips, POM-BEAR, Tyrrells, KP Nuts, Hula Hoops, McCoy’s, Skips and Whole Earth – featured on the shirts of the competing teams.
