LEINSTER SCHOOLS VS MCC – THURSDAY 30TH MAY (MALAHIDE)

This week sees the traditional MCC Ireland tour taking place around a number of Leinster and Munster venues. Whilst some of these games are relatively new within the tour, one game which has been a staple over many years is Thursday’s game between the Leinster Schools and MCC.

The fixture rewards the best of the players from the Cricket Leinster Schools Senior Boys competition from this season with the opportunity to take part, with it being as close to a warm-up fixture for the other traditional Leinster Schools fixture in the calendar, against Ulster Schools, as the side would be faced with.

Leaving Certificate students are traditionally not selected for this fixture due to the examinations commencing next week, and that is reflected in the team selection once again this year.

The overall depth of the school’s competition for 2024 is reflected in that there are only two schools with more than one representative in this team, Senior Cup runners-up St Columba’s College providing both Seb Dijkstra and Harry St Leger, whilst Catholic University School are represented by Ethan Marshall and Chris Butler.

In all there are 9 schools represented across the playing XI selected for this fixture, who also between them represent seven different clubs, three of the representatives plying their trade with Pembroke, whilst there’s two from each of Phoenix and Clontarf.

The MCC side meanwhile is predominantly made up of members/players from Leinster-based clubs, with the balance coming generally from the UK. Their tour is managed by a member, and this year’s edition is managed by former Clontarf 1^st XI player Connor D’Arcy.

There are several well-known and familiar faces in the touring squad for 2024, including five men with Leinster Lightning caps to their name, Peter Chase, Tim Tector, Patrick Tice, David Delany and Gavin Hoey, as well as Northern Knights cap Matthew Humphreys.

First ball in the game will be at 11am, with the fixture being 40 overs per side. The fixture taking place in Malahide CC.

There will be live updates available on Cricket Leinster’s social media channels throughout the afternoon.

LEINSTER SCHOOLS

Hassan Shahid (St Joseph’s, Rush & Rush CC)
Olly Riley (Gonzaga College & Pembroke CC)
Seb Dijkstra (St Columba’s College & Merrion CC)
Harry St Leger (St Columba’s College & Pembroke CC)
Gareth Morgan (Terenure College & Terenure CC)
Ethan Clarke (The High School & Pembroke CC)
Chris Butler (Catholic University School & Clontarf CC)
Yousaf Shah (Castleknock College & Phoenix CC)
Daniel Sugrue (The King’s Hospital & Phoenix CC)
Jake Devane (Ardgillan & North County CC)
Ethan Marshall (Catholic University School & Clontarf CC)

Manager: Rob Delaney (CL Schools Co-Ordinator)

MCC

Peter Chase (Malahide CC)
Timcy Khanduja (Malahide CC)
Matthew Humphreys (Dublin University CC)
Dave Russell
Patrick Tice (Merrion CC)
Tim Tector (Pembroke CC)
Ricky Simpson
David Delany (Clontarf CC)
Gavin Hoey (Dublin University CC/Pembroke CC)
Tómas Rooney-Murphy (The Hills CC)
Paul Ryan (Clontarf CC)
Gary Outram
Michael Hogan (Leinster CC)
Steven Hirst
Stuart MacArthur
Finlay Yates

Tour Manager: Connor D’Arcy (MCC Ireland)