Liam McCarthy (cricketer)
{{Short description|Irish professional cricketer Liam McCarthy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox cricketer
|name=Liam McCarthy
|batting=Right-handed
|bowling=Right-arm Medium Fast
|role=Bowling All-rounder
|club1=Munster Reds
|year1=2021-
|column1=FC
|column2=LA
|column3=T20
|columns=3
|matches1=1
|matches2=13
|matches3=13
|runs1=37
|runs2=176
|runs3=68
|bat avg1=37.00
|bat avg2=35.20
|bat avg3=22.66
|100s/50s1=0/0
|100s/50s2=0/1
|100s/50s3=0/0
|top score1=35*
|top score2=74
|top score3=22
|deliveries1=156
|deliveries2=444
|deliveries3=160
|wickets1=2
|wickets2=19
|wickets3=8
|bowl avg1=44.00
|bowl avg2=19.05
|bowl avg3=33.00
|fivefor1=0
|fivefor2=1
|fivefor3=0
|tenfor1=0
|tenfor2=0
|tenfor3=0
|best bowling1=1/40
|best bowling2=5/16
|best bowling3=2/23
|catches/stumpings1=2/-
|catches/stumpings2=3/-
|catches/stumpings3=4/-
|source=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/liam-mccarthy-1278203|date=6 December 2023|country=Ireland}}
Liam McCarthy is a South African-born Irish cricketer, currently playing for Munster Reds in domestic cricket. He plays club cricket for Railway Union where he is the club captain.{{Cite web |title=Contact Railway Union Cricket Club |url=https://www.railwaycricket.com/contact |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.railwaycricket.com}}
Domestic career
Originally from Johannesburg, McCarthy came to Ireland in 2021 to play for Railway Union. He has Irish heritage through both his great-grandmother and great-grandfather.{{Cite web |title=McCarthy's Party |url=https://irishcricketarchives.org/DATABASE/ARTICLES2021/articles/000012/001263.shtml |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=irishcricketarchives.org}}
He was called up to the Munster Reds squad for an Interprovincial T20 round in Comber in September 2021. He made his T20 debut on 17 September against Northern Knights.{{Cite web |title=NK vs REDS, Ireland Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Trophy 2021, 17th Match at Comber, September 19, 2021 - Full Scorecard |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/ireland-inter-provincial-twenty20-trophy-2021-1259521/northern-knights-vs-munster-reds-17th-match-1259551/full-scorecard |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}
He would go on to make his List A debut for Munster on 5 May 2022 against the Knights.{{Cite web |title=NK vs REDS, Cricket Ireland Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cup 2022, 2nd Match at Belfast, May 05, 2022 - Full Scorecard |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/cricket-ireland-inter-provincial-limited-over-cup-2022-1305418/northern-knights-vs-munster-reds-2nd-match-1305423/full-scorecard |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}} He took 3 wickets in the 2022 List A season{{Cite web |title=Cricket Ireland Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cup, 2022 bowling most wickets career Records |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/bowling-most-wickets-career/cricket-ireland-inter-provincial-limited-over-cup-2022-14508 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}} and 2 in the T20 competition.{{Cite web |title=Cricket Ireland Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Trophy, 2022 bowling most wickets career Records |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/bowling-most-wickets-career/cricket-ireland-inter-provincial-twenty20-trophy-2022-14509 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}
McCarthy enjoyed a much improved 2023, finishing as the joint top wicket taker in the Interprovincial Cup with 15 dismissals.{{Cite web |title=Cricket Ireland Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cup, 2023 bowling most wickets career Records |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/bowling-most-wickets-career/cricket-ireland-inter-provincial-limited-over-cup-2023-15387 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}} He also took 6 wickets in T20s.{{Cite web |title=Cricket Ireland Inter-Provincial Twenty20 Trophy, 2023 bowling most wickets career Records |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/tournament/bowling-most-wickets-career/cricket-ireland-inter-provincial-twenty20-trophy-2023-15388 |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}} In a List A match against North West Warriors on 4 September he took his first career five-wicket haul, returning figures of 5/16.{{Cite web |title=REDS vs NWW, Cricket Ireland Inter-Provincial Limited Over Cup 2023, 10th Match at Bready, September 04, 2023 - Full Scorecard |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/cricket-ireland-inter-provincial-limited-over-cup-2023-1375520/munster-reds-vs-north-west-warriors-10th-match-1375534/full-scorecard |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}
International career
McCarthy received a call-up to the Emerging Ireland squad to tour the West Indies in November 2023.{{Cite web |last=Ireland |first=Cricket |date=2023-10-12 |title=Stephen Doheny to lead squad |url=https://cricketireland.ie/news/stephen-doheny-to-lead-squad/ |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Cricket Ireland |language=en-US}} He played two List A games on the tour before making his first-class debut against West Indies Academy on 2 December.{{Cite web |title=WIA vs IRE-E, Ireland Emerging Players in West Indies 2023/24, 2nd unofficial Test at Coolidge, December 02 - 04, 2023 - Full Scorecard |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/ireland-emerging-players-in-west-indies-2023-24-1410093/west-indies-academy-vs-ireland-emerging-players-2nd-unofficial-test-1410335/full-scorecard |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=ESPNcricinfo |language=en}}
In March 2024 he was named in the Ireland Wolves squad for their tour of Nepal.{{Cite web |last=Ireland |first=Cricket |date=2024-03-03 |title=Wolves for Nepal |url=https://cricketireland.ie/news/wolves-for-nepal/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Cricket Ireland |language=en-US}}