O'Brien goes back to basics in Leinster

While his county colleague at Kent CCC, Geraint Jones was busily preparing to travel to Zimbabwe and South Africa, the other Kent wicketkeeper, Niall O'Brien of Ireland, was travelling in a different direction. Niall went back to his roots, spending a well deserved break at home with his family in Sandymount, Dublin.

However, it was not all rest for Niall as his time in Dublin allowed him renew acquaintances with National Coach, Adi Birrell and members of the Irish Squad preparing for the ICC Trophy in July. Home Club, Railway Union were not slow to spot an opportunity and very shortly after arriving back in Dublin, sister Ciara, the Irish Hockey International , had Niall assisting every Monday with coaching hockey with the boys from Willow Park in Blackrock. After hockey each Monday, it was a quick dash to St. Conleth's College in Ballsbridge where Niall conducted a Winter Cricket Coaching Programme for the U-11 and U-13 players from Railway Union.

The Programme was successfully run over eight weeks on Monday and Wednesday nights at both St. Conleth's College and Roslyn Park in Sandymount and over forty players from the Club participated. Assistance was given from Kenny Carroll, 1st X1 captain at the Club for 2005. The Programme was modelled on the same lines as the LCU Winter Programme for younger underage players, with a strong emphasis on skill development as being a key component in the developing of sound cricketers for the future. Basic bowling, batting and fielding skills were tutored and practised time and time again over the eight week period. Mastering basic skills at a young age will set the foundation for future success and enjoyment within the sport for these players. Each session finished with the obligatory 'game' with Niall and Kenny also getting involved.

Niall teamed up with LCU Development Officer Brían O'Rourke to run four days of coaching clinics during the school holidays. The boys U12's and U14's squads were engaged in two days of intensive coaching while sessions were also held for the girls U13, U15 and U17's squads with over 20 girls involved in each group. Over the four days the 'middle' session comprised of Niall working with a large number of young wicketkeepers who were put through their paces with a variety of innovative practice and training routines.

Niall returned to Kent in early January to meet up with new Director of Cricket, Graham Ford and prepare for the challenging season ahead. Young players back in Dublin will be looking to follow Niall's season with interest by various means, while he himself will no doubt be interested to find out if all the time and effort spent during the wet nights from October to Christmas will pay dividends during 2005.