News

Lee Nelson will skipper the Northern Knights in their crucial Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial Championship decider with Leinster Lightning at Rathmines which starts on Tuesday (10:30am).
Nelson – fresh from leading Waringstown to an Irish Senior Cup and NCU Premier League double – will be aiming to make it a week to remember as the Knights can clinch the Championship with a win – even a draw may suffice if they can secure enough bonus points to overhaul the North-West Warriors who are currently nine points ahead.

Nelson is joined in the squad by his Waringstown team-mate James McCollum, and the CIYMS duo of Chris Dougherty and James Cameron-Dow.

There are three representatives each from North Down and Instonians – Peter Eakin, Jacob Mulder and Ally Shields from the Comber side, while Stephen Bunting, Jordan McClurkin and James Shannon are included from the Shaw’s Bridge line-up.

Ballymena’s opening bowler Robert McKinley and CSNI all-rounder Shane Getkate complete the youthful looking squad.

The Knights had no fewer than ten players unavailable for the fixture – Mark Adair required by Warwickshire and Andrew White, Greg Thompson, Phil Eaglestone, Adam Dennison, Nigel Jones, Allen Coulter, Neil Gill, Gary Kidd and Zac Rushe all having work or school commitments.

The Knights selectors opted not to play any overseas professionals in the fixture, content to give the local based players the opportunity to secure the title.

The Lightning will head into the tie knowing they need a win to secure the title after their game with the North-West Warriors last week, was abandoned due to the weather in Bready. Once again John Mooney will lead the side, which has been boosted by the presence of George Dockrell, who is available to make his first Hanley Energy Inter-Provincia Series appearance of the season. They will, however be without key players John Anderson and Kevin O’Brien though injury, and Barry McCarthy, who had originally been named in the squad has also withdrawn after being recalled by Durham.

In another youthful squad, Jack Tector and Lorcan Tucker bring the average age down even further, with the Ireland Under 19 stars looking set to play.

Northern Knights Squad

Lee Nelson (captain), Stephen Bunting, James Cameron-Dow, Chris Dougherty, Peter Eakin, Shane Getkate, Jordan McClurkin, James McCollum, Robert McKinley, Jacob Mulder, James Shannon, Alister Shields.

Leinster Lightning Squad

John Mooney(captain); Yaqob Ali, Joe Carroll, George Dockrell, Tyrone Kane, Fintan McAllister, Andrew Poynter, Eddie Richardson, Simmi Singh, Max Sorensen, Jack Tector, Lorcan Tucker.

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