CRICKET LEINSTER DISTRICT CUP 2025

Cricket Leinster is pleased to announce details of our Open District Cup competition for 2025 with some notable changes from prior years.

The CL District Cup competition is intended as a high-performance pathway competition for players with potential to achieve selection for the Leinster Lightning Bolts and/or the higher levels.

It is designed to maximise the ‘representative’ opportunity for such players in particular those who no longer qualify for underage representative competitions but have potential to play at a higher level subject to development, exposure/opportunity and performance at both club and district levels.

Based on learnings from the first two years of this competition, it has been decided that the District Cup for 2025 will have 3 competing teams (versus 4 in prior years) with a continued (and expanded) emphasis on students representing the Dublin University team, and a geographic shift in the composition of the other two representative teams into North Leinster and South Leinster selections (akin to the old IPs prior to 2013).

The 2025 schedule of fixtures seeks to elongate the amount of time the tournament takes place over during the summer.

Key Points to Note

• Each team plays four fixtures in each format – one more than last year.
• Changed start times to allow adequate play in fairer conditions (light in May T20s).
• Regulations to mirror the playing conditions which are used for the CI Future Series (Leinster Lightning Bolts) with powerplays, Free Hits, DLS used for reduced overs and using a white ball/coloured clothing.
• North Leinster & South Leinster teams will be subject to selection of a minimum of 2 U19 players per match.
• Teams will be subject to a maximum of 2 players between the age group of U23 and U25.
• Points will be allocated in the same manner as IP/Future Series competitions, with 4 points for a win, 2 points for a No Result and 0 points for a loss. The IP bonus point scheme will also operate, applicable where the margin of victory is more/less than a run rate of 125%. The team with the most points wins the competition with ties separated by Net Run Rate initially. Should NRR not separate the teams then the result between the two tied teams will determine the higher placed team.
• The winner of the competition (and the associated Siggins Trophy) will be the side who is at the top of the table at the conclusion of the 12 fixtures.
• As CL Head Coach & Pathway Manager, Andre Botha will be the overall District Cup Competition Director and will have the final say on any matters referred/escalated from the individual teams for decision.

As CL Operations Manager, Michael Cotter will have accountability for all operational aspects of this District Cup competition including catering, hosting, match management, photography and officials.

Fixtures

Club Allocation by Team

South Leinster – Adamstown, Bagenalstown, Carlow, Clondalkin, DLR County, Gorey, Greystones, Halverstown, Kilkenny, Laois, Leinster, Merrion, Pembroke, Railway Union, Sandyford, Slieve Bloom, Terenure, Wexford Wanderers, Wicklow County 

North Leinster – Ashbourne, Athlone, Balbriggan, Castleknock, Civil Service, Clontarf, County Cavan, Dundalk, Finglas, Knockharley, Longford, Lucan, Malahide, Mullingar, Naas, North County, North Kildare, Ongar, Phoenix, Rush, Swords, The Hills, Tyrrelstown

As in prior years, each coaching team will organise and schedule two pre-season open invite sessions from which players will be identified for potential inclusion etc.

All players that have expressed an interest in playing will be invited to these training sessions to be evaluated by the coach/manager/selectors.

Each match day squad will include 12 players.

Players may not move between squads or play for more than one team without the express permission of the LL Head Coach & Pathways Manager (Andre Botha).

Match-Day Officiating (Umpires & Scorers, including Live Scoring)

The LCU&SA will appoint two experienced umpires to each match and two experienced scorers to each match. Standard match fees will be paid by Cricket Leinster in the normal manner. One scorer will be expected to live score the match on CricClubs.

Match Reporting (curing via Social Media and after via website reports)

CL will have a match reporter at each match to live tweet and write a match report for the website.

Trophy

The Perpetual Siggins Trophy and winners medals to be co-presented by the CL President (Meena Baskarasubramanian) and Ger Siggins (Dublin University) at the conclusion of the tournament.