The Hanley Energy Championship will start this week as defending champions Leinster Lightning take on the Northern Knights in Clontarf with Jamie Grassi in line to start after both Fintan McAllister (work) and Lorcan Tucker (exams) declared themselves unavailable for the three-day match.
They aren’t the only stars missing for the Lightning with new skipper John Anderson also without Kevin O’Brien, whose wife is due to give birth, and Tyrone Kane who is also sitting exams at university.
It has eased what would have been a more difficult selection meeting with Joe Carroll and Peter Chase coming into what is a very strong squad.
The Knights will travel down to Dublin without any club professionals due to coaching commitments in schools, while Nigel Jones and Gary Kidd who played in the Hanley IP50 opener last Bank Holiday Monday are also unavailable.
James Shannon, who was serving a one match ban for that match will return to the side and formally take over as captain for the first time following the retirement of Andrew White.
Shane Getkate and Stephen Bunting who both missed out on the 50-over team have returned, while James McCollum is available after being unavailable for that match.
The match will run from Tuesday to Thursday in Clontarf, with entry free for all spectators and opportunities available to gain experience working at the match as a volunteer ahead of the busy summer of internationals.
Northern Knights Hanley Energy Championship Squad
James Shannon (Instonians), Stephen Bunting (Instonians), Chris Dougherty (CIYMS), Phil Eaglestone (Waringstown), Shane Getkate (CSNI), Jamie Holmes (Carrickfergus),Graeme McCarter (CSNI), James McCollum (Waringstown), Jacob Mulder (North Down), Lee Nelson (Waringstown), Nikolai Smith (Instonians), Greg Thompson (Waringstown).
Leinster Lightning Hanley Energy Championship Squad
John Anderson (Merrion); Yaqoob Ali (YMCA); Joe Carroll (Leinster); Peter Chase (Malahide); George Dockrell (Trinity/Leinster); Jamie Grassi (North County); Dom Joyce (Merrion); Andrew Poynter (Clontarf); Eddie Richardson (North County); Simi Singh (YMCA); Max Sorensen (The Hills); Jack Tector (YMCA).
Yes
Connaught
