Parkhill: Club of Year award is a massive honour

The prize caps a never-to-be-forgotten campaign, the highlight of which was the First XI winning an unprecedented quadruple trophy haul.

The first-team landed the RSA Irish National Cup, Ulster Bank Section 1 league title, the O’Neills Ulster Shield and the Lagan Valley Steels T20 Trophy.

But the silverware didn’t stop there. The club’s packed trophy cabinet must still be at bursting point as the 2nd XI, 4th XI and Under-15s won their respective league championships to make it a magnificent seven.

“The award is a massive honour for the club. I don’t think we saw this coming at the start of the season,” said Parkhill. “At the beginning of the campaign we were preparing to build the club up again after relegation [from NCU Premier Division]. It was a season beyond our dreams, to be honest.

“We knew we were in the running for it. We knew no other team in the NCU or the North West was going to touch us but we didn’t really know the ins and outs of the southern teams. It’s not just a team of the year award, it’s a club award, so we weren’t sure how other club’s seconds and thirds had performed.

“We knew we were in the running, so it’s definitely a nice one to get. Special mention to our Seconds, Fourths and Under-15s who won their leagues. The success has come throughout the club so hopefully it’s something we can build on for the future.”

Carrickfergus saw off stiff competition from YMCA Dublin and Cork County to win the coveted award.

YMCA won the RSA Leinster Division 1 and 3 titles, the Intermediate Cup, the Tillain Cup and nine junior titles.

In their 140th anniversary year, Cork County’s runners-up spot in Leinster Cricket Union Division 2 gave them a second straight promotion. They also won the Munster Cricket Union league.

Parkhill will be one of several Carrick representatives in Dublin on Friday to pick up the title.