Thomas Hanrahan was an Irish-born sergeant in the Army who played with decent success as a bowler for both Swansea CC and the South Wales Cricket Club during the late 1870s whilst he was stationed in the area.
After some lively performances with the ball for Swansea, Sergeant Hanrahan made his debut for the South Wales club in their trial match at St. Helen’s in 1876, and after some impressive performances on his home patch , he went on the Club’s tour to the Home Counties, playing against Sussex Club and Ground at The Oval as well as the Gentlemen of Sussex at Hove.
Two years later, he enjoyed a very productive tour of the London area having earlier claimed four wickets in the trial match at Swansea. He duly only the bowling with CP Lewis at The Oval and delivered 52.2 overs against Surrey Club and Ground. 21 of these were maidens as he took 8/79 having started bowled lively seam-up before switching to off-cutters. However, the highlight of the tour for the Limerick-born bowler was taking 6/30 and 5/75 in the two-day match against the Gentlemen of Sussex at Hove.
His efforts on the South Coast came a month before his wedding to Clementina Thom on 25 August 1878 at St. Mary de Lode Church in Gloucester.
With extra domestic responsibilities, the Army sergeant was able to make one more visit with his cricketing chums from South Wales on their London tour in 1879 with Thomas taking 5/63 against the MCC at Lord’s. Thomas was subsequently posted to Kent so he and Clementina – who had five children – subsequently lived in Dover.
During the 1890s Thomas became Barracks Quarter-Master at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea before working as an Assistant Foreman at the Woolwich Dockyard in London.
HANRAHAN, Thomas
Born – Rathkeal, Limerick, 6 July 1847.
Died – Coventry, 16 February 1924.