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North West Warriors

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Overview

For all of the homegrown talent from the North West, there is a sense that the Men in Green have under-achieved in this competition. The transfer in of Andrew Balbirnie is a fascinating move, with Warriors fans hoping he has the same impact as Niall O'Brien when he played for the Warriors in 2018.

  • Head Coach: Boyd Rankin
  • Captain: Andy McBrine
  • Main Grounds: Bready, Eglinton
  • Titles won: 3
  • Players to watch: Andrew Balbirnie, Andy McBrine, Craig Young
  • Emerging Stars: Sam Topping, Scott Macbeth

Player profiles

Andy McBrine (captain)
  • Shirt number: 35
  • Playing style: LHB OS
  • Playing role: All-rounder
  • Club: Donemana

No-one has played more inter-pros than the Warriors skipper (86 to the end of last season) and since his international debut in 2013 has also squeezed in 139 appearances for Ireland. Still Ireland’s leading off-spinner in Tests and ODIs.

Andrew Balbirnie
  • Shirt number: 63
  • Playing style: RHB
  • Playing role: Top order batter
  • Club: Pembroke

Ireland’s Test match captain who has been a mainstay of the Lightning team since 2013. After a career batting at first wicket down, his last 20 appearances have been as opener and from there has scored six half centuries. Has missed only two inter-pro seasons and has scored three hundreds.

Liam Doherty
  • Shirt number 3
  • Playing style RHB RM
  • Playing role All-rounder
  • Club: Eglinton

Played at Under 19 World Cup in West Indies, made promising start to his inter-provincial career and one to keep an eye on. Irish passport-holder from South Africa and joined Eglinton last season.

Jake Egan
  • Shirt number: 11
  • Playing style: RHB OS
  • Playing role: Batter
  • Club: Carrickfergus

 Back in the Knights squad after an off-season playing with Randy Petersham in Australia thanks to the Cricket Ireland sponsorship where he played First grade all season. Irish passport holder, grew up in Perth, scored a century in Academy inter-squad game, good on short-ball.

Graeme Hume
  • Shirt number 41
  • Playing style LHB RMF
  • Playing role Bowler
  • Club: Waringstown

Another South African who arrived in Coleraine as overseas professional in 2017 and made his Warriors debut two years later. Took 10 wickets at just nine runs apiece in 2022 in the Cup, leading to his Ireland ODI debut the same summer. Now a squad member in all three formats, with 22 caps, and in this year’s T20 World Cup squad.

Ryan Macbeth
  • Shirt number 8
  • Playing style RHB RMF
  • Playing role Bowler
  • Club: Lisburn

Has left the North West after eight seasons with Brigade for a ‘new challenge’ in the NCU with Lisburn. A regular in the Warriors side for the last few seasons, he is an attacking opening bowler and power-hitter at the end of the innings.

Scott Macbeth
  • Shirt number 33
  • Playing style RHB OS
  • Playing role All-rounder
  • Club: Brigade

2024 could be remembered as the breakthrough year for Scott, having played for the Ireland Academy and at the U19 World Cup and has already starred with the bat for Warriors. Hard hitting batter and spin bowler. He scored 90 not out in Ireland U19s famous win against England at Loughborough last year.

Cameron Melly
  • Shirt number 25
  • Playing style RHB
  • Playing role Batter
  • Club: Brigade

Irish passport holder, at Cardiff University, and plays for Cardiff UCCE, powerful batter in finishing role. Debut for Warriors last season. In Ireland Academy squad in Spain last year.

Robbie Millar
  • Shirt number
  • Playing style RHB LS
  • Playing role Bowler
  • Club: Eglinton

Still awaiting his senior IP debut. Has come through the North West Pathway system, tall leg spinner who gets good bounce and can score useful runs at the back end of the innings.

David O'Sullivan
  • Shirt number: 
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To come.

Conor Olphert
  • Shirt number
  • Playing style RHB RF
  • Playing role Bowler
  • Club: Bready

Made debut for Ireland in June 2022 against the best in the world when India came to Dublin for two T20s but still waiting for third cap mainly because of a series of injuries. Twisted his ankle on the first day of this season playing football in the warm-up to Warriors’ first match!

Gavin Roulston
  • Shirt number 24
  • Playing style LHB OS
  • Playing role Batter
  • Club: Bready

Rated highly, scored match-winning 80 against New Zealand at the U19 World Cup, having come through the Ireland Under-17s. Good temperament, probably more suited to 50-over cricket.

Sam Topping
  • Shirt number: 
  • Playing style: 
  • Playing role: 
  • Club: 

To come.

Sam Willemse
  • Shirt number: 
  • Playing style: 
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  • Club: 

To come.

Jared Wilson
  • Shirt number 10
  • Playing style RHB RM
  • Playing role All-rounder
  • Club: Cliftonville Academy

Moved from Newbuildings after leading them to the Premiership title to become Director of Coaching at Cliftonville Academy in 2023. Now in his fourth season playing for Warriors. Was member of Ireland Academy squad at ECC T10 in Spain.

Josh Wilson
  • Shirt number: 
  • Playing style: 
  • Playing role: 
  • Club: 

To come.

Craig Young
  • Shirt number 44
  • Playing style RHB RFM
  • Playing role Bowler
  • Club: North Down

Experienced pace bowler who made his Ireland debut in 2013 and but for injuries would have won many more than 120 caps. When fit one of the first names on the Ireland team-sheet and made his Test debut this year against Afghanistan. Out on his own as leading wicket-taker in the Trophy with 61 from 36 matches at the start of this year.

Head coach

Boyd Rankin (Head Coach)

Legendary former Irish international with 153 caps, 229 wickets at just 23.35.

A dual-nation Test cricketer, Rankin retired in 2020 after a glittering international and county cricket career.

Details