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 Leinster Schools team is captained by Ethan Clarke (one of three players from The High School, Rathgar). There are four other schools represented (Ardgillan Community College, Sandford Park School, Skerries Community College and Wesley College). All of the team are also regular club cricketers with no less than seven clubs represented in the team.
Ardgillan reached the penultimate stage of the Senior Schools competition and this is reflected in the selection of Brian Dunphy and Jake Devane who both play their club cricket at North County CC.
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 Pembroke’s Jack Tector.
There are several well-known and familiar faces in the touring squad for 2025, including former Ireland International, Peter Chase and current North Leinster U23 captain, Cillian McDonnell.
This is a white-clothing (red ball) 50-over game and is scheduled to start at 11.00am at Civil Service CC (in the Phoenix Park).
LEINSTER SCHOOLS XI (VERSUS MCC)
THURSDAY 29TH MAY (11.00AM)
Ethan Clarke (The High School & Pembroke CC), Captain
Brian Dunphy (Ardgillan Community College & North County CC)
Rob O’Brien (The High School & Railway Union CC)
Joe Russell (Skerries Community College & The Hills CC)
Bruce Whaley (Sandford Park School & Pembroke CC)
Gethin Kelleher (The High School & Railway Union CC)
Tom Squires (Wesley College & Merrion CC)
Jake Devane (Ardgillan Community College & North County CC)
Daniel Lydon (Wesley College & Leinster CC)
Alex Casey (Wesley College & Merrion CC)
Max Stead (Skerries Community College & The Hills CC)
Coach/Manager: Rob Delaney/Joe Prendergast
MCC XI
THURSDAY 29TH MAY (11.00AM)
JJ Cassidy (Merrion)
Cillian McDonnell (Clontarf)
Harry Dyer (CSNI)
Sanil Gupta (Pembroke)
Rory Betley (Dublin University)
Peter Chase (Malahide)
Swapnil Modgill (Merrion)
Fiachra Tucker (Pembroke)
Tomas Rooney-Murphy (The Hills)
Reece Malone (Derriaghy)
Finlay Yates
Ben Jarman
Tour Manager: Jack Tector
There will be live updates available on Cricket Leinster’s social media channels throughout the afternoon.
And a reminder that the traditional schools interprovincial fixture is scheduled to take place over two days in June (Monday 23rd & Tuesday 24th) when Leinster Schools host Ulster Schools at Anglesea Road.