SHERWIN O’RIORDAN LEINSTER LIGHTNING SQUAD 2025 CONFIRMED

Having secured yet another double success in the 2024 season, the Sherwin O’Riordan Leinster Lightning squad for the 2025 season has today been confirmed.

Our thanks to James Sherwin, David O’Riordan and all the team at Sherwin O’Riordan Solicitors for their continued sponsorship of the Leinster Lightning & Leinster Bolts programmes – 2025 is the third year of our partnership with Sherwin O’Riordan.

We encourage all members of the club cricket community to consider Sherwin O'Riordan (https://sor-solicitors.ie/) for all your legal requirements - it is important that we take every opportunity to support those who support our game.

Leinster Lightning Head-Coach Andre Botha will have a new skipper at the helm, with Pembroke man Lorcan Tucker taking over the reins from George Dockrell.

Dockrell has been to the forefront of an extremely successful period for the Leinster Lightning, taking over from John Anderson before the start of the 2018 season, he led the team to doubles in the 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2024 seasons, with the IP50 title in 2021, and IP20 title in 2022 taking the total number of trophies in his time as captain to 10.

As could be expected, Tucker is delighted to be taking up the role, however he was quick to pay tribute to an extremely strong spell for the team under Dockrell.

“Naturally, I'm delighted to be taking on the new role and am proud to have the opportunity to follow what George has built.

He took the role on in what was a transitionary phase for us and managed to emulate the success the team has had since the start of the IP programme.

I'll be doing my best to continue this legacy and am very much looking forward to working with Bothsy and our new squad this summer.”

Botha is quick to pay tribute to the talents all around the province;

“Our Lightning squad for 2025 is a strong blend of experienced campaigners and exciting young talent. We're equally encouraged by the depth of players within CL, with many from our wider squad involved in other provincial setups—gaining valuable experience and sharpening their skills at a high level. At the same time, we’ve got hungry players on the fringes, eager to prove they belong at this level and ready to seize their opportunity.”

On captaincy, there’s obviously the excitement surrounding the appointment of Tucker, whilst the head-coach is also keen to recognise the brilliant work of Dockrell in his tenure.

“We’re delighted to announce that Lorcan has accepted the captaincy role for CL this season. As he takes on increasing leadership responsibilities within CI, this is a natural next step, and we’re excited to support him in shaping the team and implementing his playing strategies. I’m personally looking forward to working closely with him and hearing his vision for the squad.

We also want to take a moment to thank and congratulate ‘Doc’ for his incredible service as captain over the past 6 years. His commitment, leadership, and cricketing knowledge have been second to none. This is by no means the end—I'll continue to tap into his insights, and I’ve no doubt he'll remain a driving force within the group, supporting Lorcan and the squad just as passionately as ever.”

One man who won’t be involved in the Lightning squad this summer is Andrew Balbirnie, with the Pembroke man moving to the North West Warriors ahead of the upcoming campaign, and he also is a man who Botha wishes to praise.

“Lastly, we want to wish Balbo all the very best in his new venture. While we’re losing a wealth of experience and knowledge, we’re confident his influence will live on through the players he’s helped develop and will continue to do the same moving forward.”

Balbirnie leaves behind a magnificent legacy for the Lightning, having made his debut in 2013, he has been consistently involved in the side since returning to Ireland full-time in the 2017 season, appearing 73 times across all three formats, passing fifty 22 times and converting to three figures on four of those occasions.

Across all formats, he amassed 2,659 runs at an average of just over 42 in his time in a Lightning shirt, and is currently the leading aggregate run-scorer in both the IP20 and IP50 competitions in all teams.

Some of his highlights include twice being at the crease at the completion of tournament-winning run chases in recent IP50 successes, making an excellent 85* in Eglinton against the North West Warriors in 2021, and most recently in 2024 sharing a remarkable unbeaten, 13-over, 131-run stand with Lorcan Tucker, as they completed a sensational Net Run Rate turnaround to earn the Lightning the IP50 title once again.

The 2025 squad contains plenty of experience and some exciting talent, Tucker is one of 6 representatives for last season’s Premier League Champions, Pembroke, the most notable being a return to the squad for Josh Little, who last took the field for the Lightning in 2022.

Little will be part of a strong battery of seamers including club-mate Barry McCarthy, as well as Clontarf’s Fionn Hand, David Delany and Reuben Wilson, whilst left-armer Jai Moondra is Leinster CC’s sole representative in the squad.

The batters in the squad are led by the Tector brothers, Harry and Tim, whilst Balbriggan’s Chris de Freitas and fellow left-hander Adam Rosslee are other contenders to bat in the top order.

George Dockrell and Clontarf’s newest recruit Séamus Lynch round out the primary batters in the squad.

The spinners in the side are led by Pembroke’s Gavin Hoey, who has wintered in Australia this year, he is supported by Balbriggan off-spinner Dylan Leus and Rush’s left-arm orthodox bowler, Nasir Totakhil.

SHERWIN O’RIORDAN LEINSTER LIGHTNING SQUAD 2025

Lorcan Tucker (Pembroke) (Captain)
Chris de Freitas (Balbriggan)
David Delany (Clontarf)
George Dockrell (Phoenix)
Fionn Hand (Clontarf)
Gavin Hoey (Pembroke)
Dylan Leus (Balbriggan)
Josh Little (Pembroke)
Séamus Lynch (Clontarf)
Barry McCarthy (Pembroke)
Jai Moondra (Leinster)
Adam Rosslee (Merrion)
Harry Tector (Pembroke)
Tim Tector (Pembroke)
Nasir Totakhil (Rush)
Reuben Wilson (Clontarf)

FIXTURES 2025

IP50 (Holders – Leinster Lightning)

HOME FIXTURES AT OAK HILL, CO WICKLOW

Wed 7th May – Leinster Lightning vs Munster Reds, Oak Hill, 10:45

Tues 13th May – Leinster Lightning vs Northern Knights, Oak Hill, 10:45

Thurs 15th May – Leinster Lightning vs North West Warriors, Oak Hill, 10:45

AWAY FIXTURES

August 13^th – Munster Reds vs Leinster Lightning, The Mardyke, 10:45

August 20^th – Northern Knights vs Leinster Lightning, Stormont, 10:45

August 27^th – North West Warriors vs Leinster Lightning, Bready, 10:45

IP20 (Holders – Leinster Lightning)

June 17^th – Northern Knights vs Leinster Lightning, The Mardyke, 15:45

June 18^th – Leinster Lightning vs North West Warriors, The Mardyke, 10:45

June 19^th – Munster Reds vs Leinster Lightning, The Mardyke, 15:45

June 24^th – Leinster Lightning vs Munster Reds, Stormont, 15:45

June 25^th – North West Warriors vs Leinster Lightning, Stormont, 10:45

June 26^th – Northern Knights vs Leinster Lightning, Stormont, 15:45

1^st July – Northern Knights vs Leinster Lightning, Bready, 15:45

2^nd July – North West Warriors vs Leinster Lightning, Bready 15:45

3^rd July – Leinster Lightning vs Munster Reds, Bready, 10:45

IP20 FESTIVAL AT SYDNEY PARADE

8^th July – Leinster Lightning vs Munster Reds, Sydney Parade, 10:45

9^th July – Leinster Lightning vs North West Warriors, Sydney Parade, 10:45

10th July – Leinster Lightning vs Northern Knights, Sydney Parade, 10:45

Our thanks once again to George Dockrell for his dedicated service as Leinster captain over the past seven seasons and to Andrew Balbirnie for his unstinting service to Leinster over many years. We also extend our best wishes to the many Leinster cricketers who have been assigned to other provincial teams for the 2025 season.