A Thriller in Terenure as Walnuts Claim Victory 

On a damp but balmy evening in D6W, the Walnut Taverners hosted Flutter Entertainment in what was the inaugural fixture between the two sides. Originally a bye week for the Walnuts, the game came to life thanks to Jack’s connections and Damian’s vision — and what a memorable contest it proved to be, with the Walnuts edging to victory by just one wicket in a nail-biting finish.

The evening also marked the welcome return of two Walnut stalwarts — Josh and Gourang — whose presence lifted spirits both on and off the field.

With bowler-friendly conditions overhead, Flutter won the toss and elected to bat first. The Walnuts made steady inroads throughout the innings. John led the attack with three wickets, ably supported by Gourang (2), and Sean, Junior, and Josh with one wicket each. 

Gourang and Josh were the pick of our bowlers, combining terrific technique with the ultimate in control and consistency.
Despite the challenging conditions, Flutter’s Simon played a composed and mature knock of 20, while Nicola showed great resilience in compiling a composed 8. Captain Stuart (12) and Sean (11) also hit double figures as Flutter closed on a competitive 83.

In response, Junior got the Walnuts off to a brisk start with a quickfire 15, but the innings soon faltered under pressure from some notably accurate bowling — especially Jemima, Simon, Nicola, Christian, and Brian. The latter two impressed on their cricketing debuts, with the entire attack marshalled superbly by captain Stuart, and as the wickets tumbled, the run chase hung in the balance.

Stand-in skipper Colin anchored the innings with a composed 22, bringing much-needed stability. With the game going down to the wire, it fell to Andrew, Sean, and debutant P Mac to see the side home. They held their nerve admirably, inching the Walnuts over the line with just one wicket to spare in a dramatic finish.

A special word of thanks to Andrew and Junior for the post-match sambos, and to Philip for preparing a pitch that held up superbly despite the tricky weather.

It was a terrific evening of cricket, camaraderie, and community spirit. Everyone at the Walnut Taverners extends sincere thanks to Stuart, Jack and the Flutter Entertainment team for a fantastic contest. With plenty of talented players — many of whom were new to the game — Flutter impressed with both skill and sportsmanship and we’d be delighted to welcome them back for a rematch next year.

Flutter CC @ Terenure College , July 31st 2025