Ernie C.Smith

In the mid 1920s and 30s Ernie Smith joined with the late John Armstrong in forming one of the best opening batting partnerships in the history of YMCA CC and this partnership extended with great success into Interprovincial Representative games. It was in 1935 that this partnership was repsonsible for Leinster beating Ulster. Unfortunately, John Armstrong died just at the ending of the last great war.

Ernie joined the youth ranks at the age of 13 in 1924 and in 1925 was playing in the boys Minor League Team with other players of that period, Jack Balmer, Bill Oliffe, Victor Dobson, Reg & Charles Bowesman and Harry Whiteside.

At the age of 16 Ernie was selected to play on the YMCA Junior XI. In a short time he graduated to the YM Intermediate Team and over the years came to be regarded as one of the most talented bats in Intermediate ranks. He scored a number of centuries and made 149* in 1932 against North Kildare. He was a good change bowler and brilliant slip fielder.

He captained YMCA 1st XI on their entry into Senior Ranks in 1934. In YMs first match he scored 82 on debut and topped the Club batting averages in that year and similarly in 1936 & 1943. He captained again in 1947 and was President of the Club in the years 1950 & 1965. He was a respected Vice-President for many years.

Outside of cricket he represented Ireland in Table Tennis and was ranked highly as he was runner-up in the Irish Free State Table Tennis Singles Championship. He also played Hockey for YMCA, a great career of sporting ability in every sense of these words.

1st XI Career:
Matches: 144
Inns: 127
NO: 8
HS: 82
Runs: 1932
Av: 16.23
50s: 8

Wkts: 37
Runs: 835
Av: 22.56

Cts: 34
1st YM player to score a 1000 runs in 59 innings and played 50 games in a row from 1942-1945.