LEINSTER LIGHTNING SQUAD & FIXTURES CONFIRMED (2024)

The Interprovincial squads for 2024 have been confirmed with the first fixtures scheduled to take place in just a few weeks’ time.

The opening event is a three-day IP20 Festival at Sydney Parade when it is hoped that some of our International/contracted players will be available to participate in advance of the International T20s taking place in Clontarf on 10th, 12th and 14th May against Pakistan.

In a departure from previous years, the core squads have been allocated without the contracted players in each case and this is reflected in a youthful Sherwin O'Riordan sponsored Leinster Lightning squad containing many players who have competed at Bolts level in recent seasons. Simi Singh has also indicated his intention to retire from List A cricket having been part of a hugely successful Leinster Lightning team over recent years and his skills/experience will be missed.

David Delany (Clontarf) will also miss the early games in May which take place prior to his return to Ireland having wintered in Australia again this year. There are also injury concerns around Adam Rosslee (YMCA) and Reuben Wilson (Clontarf) who have struggled for full fitness over recent months.

Whilst George Dockrell will continue as the official Lightning ‘club’ captain and will take the reins for the IP20 Festival, the side will primarily be led by Sam Harbinson who has been playing first grade cricket in Australia over the winter months having completed his first season at Merrion CC (where he is also the 2024 captain).

Given the composition of the squad, this season represents a major opportunity for many of the younger, high potential players to stake a claim for higher honours by delivering some stand-out performances for Leinster as the province looks to reestablish its traditional position of strength at IP level. It is also exciting to see 4 players within the extended squad who recently competed so well for Ireland at the Under 19s World Cup in South Africa. In all, there are 9 CL clubs represented in the squad.

Andre Botha, Leinster Lightning Head Coach & Pathway Manager spoke about the 2024 IP programme ahead:

“I am very honoured and grateful to be part of such a fantastic franchise and I want to thank Cricket Leinster again for the trust and opportunity. I also want to express my thanks and that of the squad to Sherwin O'Riordan Solicitors whose sponsorship support is very much appreciated.

It is obviously not ideal for us that our Irish contracted players are largely unavailable. This disproportionately impacts Leinster when taken alongside the reallocation of CL based players elsewhere. We have a fairly young squad for the season ahead with the main aim being to rebuild the squad in the context of the ever increasing Irish fixtures and the unavailability of senior players.

This is exciting for me and a great opportunity for the players to put their hands up and some pressure on the national selectors. Within CL, we also have some very good players that have not been named in the squad. As Head Coach, I want to make it clear that this does mean that such players are now out of contention for future selection. While we are looking to rebuild, we also feel it is important to recognize our in-form players within the CL region.”

The allocated Leinster Lightning squad for 2024 is as follows:

Sam Harbinson (Merrion), Captain
Seamus Lynch (Terenure)
Adam Rosslee (YMCA)
Chris DeFreitas (Balbriggan)
Tim Tector (YMCA)
Gavin Hoey (Dublin University/Pembroke)
David Delany (Clontarf)
Fionn Hand (Clontarf)
Amish Sidhu (Phoenix)
Olly Riley (YMCA)
Reuben Wilson (Clontarf)
Mikey O’Reilly (Dublin University/YMCA)
Philippe Le Roux (Railway Union)
John McNally (Clontarf)
Byron McDonagh (Pembroke)

For reference, the CI contracted players in the Leinster Lighting extended squad are George Dockrell, Lorcan Tucker, Harry Tector, Barry McCarthy, Andrew Balbirnie and Josh Little (only Lorcan Tucker and Barry McCarthy played any T20 cricket for Leinster Lightning in 2023).

SHERWIN O’RIORDAN SPONSORED LEINSTER LIGHTNING HOME FIXTURES FOR 2024 SEASON

IP20 FESTIVAL AT SYDNEY PARADE
Wednesday 1st May: Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds (11.00am)
Thursday 2nd May: Leinster Lightning v North West Warriors (3.30pm)
Friday 3rd May: Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights (3.30pm)

IP20 & IP50 AT OAKHILL
Wednesday 15th May: IP20 - Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds (3.30pm)
Thursday 16th May: IP50 - Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds (10.45am)

IP20 & IP50 AT SYDNEY PARADE
Wednesday 28th August: IP20 - Leinster Lightning v North West Warriors (3.30pm)
Thursday 29th August: IP50 - Leinster Lightning v North West Warriors (10.45am)

IP20 & IP50 AT OAKHILL
Tuesday 10th September: IP20 - Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds (3.30pm)
Wednesday 11th September: IP50 - Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds (10.45am)

Our thanks to James Sherwin and David O’Riordan of Sherwin O’Riordan Solicitors (https://sor-solicitors.ie/) for their continued sponsorship support of both Leinster Lightning and Leinster Bolts, it is hugely appreciated.