LEINSTER LIGHTNING IN DERRY (14-16 JULY)

The Sherwin O’Riordan sponsored Leinster Lightning squad has been announced for the second IP20 Festival which is scheduled to take place from Friday-Sunday next weekend at Bready, Co Derry.

Friday 14th: Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights (3.30pm)

Saturday 15th: North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning (3.30pm)

Sunday 16th: Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds (11.00am)

As per our recent IP leadership changes, Andre Botha will be overseeing the Leinster Lightning team and will be accompanied in Derry by Michael Cotter.

Andre will be operating in similar challenging circumstances to his predecessor with the continued unavailability of core squad members including long-serving captain, George Dockrell, Josh Little and Andrew Balbirnie. Other core squad members will only be partially available including Lorcan Tucker (Friday only), Harry Tector (Sunday only) and Barry McCarthy (Friday & Saturday).

Availability and selections are further complicated by a full programme of senior club cricket also taking place on Saturday 15th. On the positive side, Simi Singh returns to the squad having recovered from injury.

Andre goes in to the weekend in a positive frame of mind:

"I’m very honoured and excited to be part of Cricket Leinster. I want to thank and congratulate Jonesy (Nigel Jones) on all he has done for Cricket Leinster and I certainly have some big boots to fill…. I also want to thank Philip and everyone in Cricket Leinster for giving me the opportunity and I will do my best to keep up the high standards that is expected. I’m really looking for to my first tournament in charge. We have some very experienced players back in the fold with some exciting and talented youngsters in the squad that is going to get so much knowledge and learn a lot in the next phase of their cricket careers. I'd also like to thank Sherwin O'Riordan for all their support for the team"

Leinster supporters will also be delighted to see the return to provincial colours of David Delany who has returned from Australia and is showing good form for his club having won the top batter & top all-rounder trophies across Leinster in 2022.

Another exciting addition to the young squad is the 21-year old New Zealander Riley Mudford who has been performing strongly for Railway Union since joining the club at the start of the season.

LEINSTER LIGHTNING SQUAD (DERRY, 14-16 JULY)

Simi Singh, North County
Tim Tector, YMCA
Seamus Lynch, Terenure””
Riley Mudford, Railway Union
Sam Harbinson, Merrion^^
Mark Donegan, The Hills
Lorcan Tucker, Pembroke*
Harry Tector, YMCA^
Fionn Hand, Clontarf
Joey Carroll, Leinster
Gavin Hoey, Pembroke
Mikey O’Reilly, YMCA
Reuben Wilson, YMCA
Barry McCarthy, Pembroke**
David Delany, Clontarf^^

* Friday only
** Friday & Saturday only
“” Saturday & Sunday only
^ Sunday only (not selected due to suspension)
^^ Friday & Sunday only

Our thanks to Sherwin O’Riordan Solicitors for their support and sponsorship of Leinster Lightning - it is hugely appreciated and enables us to deliver important components of the IP programme.