The fixtures and squads for the Interpros have been released with no red-ball cricket on the horizon ahead of the Test.
As previously reported, it all kicks off in two weeks' time with a T20 three-day event at Pembroke - the only Festival in the schedule.
George Dockrell skippers Lightning - one of seven internationals in their squad, but given the T20 World Cup, it's unclear just how many games the senior guys will actually feature in, hence the extended 21-player squad featuring many of last season's Bolts.
One notable absence is Simi Singh, who has been a mainstay of Leinster Lightning since the intepros were relaunched back in 2013.
PJ Moor is one of five Irish internationals in the Munster line-up, with perhaps Irish passport holder Sean McNicholl the most interesting name. Jordan Neill has also been included in Jeremy Bray's squad.
There is no Murray Commins in the 16-man squad.
Andy McBrine once again is in charge of the Warriors - who like Lightning have seven internationals in the 16-man squad. While they will be a match for the others at full strength, they do appear to be lacking in depth.
They have trimmed their squad from the 23 named last year, with Ani Chore, Raymond Curry, Ryan Hunter, Nathan McGuire, Tommy Orr, Dharm Singh, Josh Wilson, and Mike Erlank the men out from the 2023 line-up - Ardmore's Harry Zimmermann coming in.
Defending champions in both competitions are the Knights, who have Mark Adair with the skippers armband once again, and who like Warriors and Lightning have seven seniors in their ranks.
Canadian U19 international Ben Calitz is a new face, as is Sam Topping - brother of Morgan - who is a keeper/batsman who has been on the books at Sussex for a few seasons.
Carrickfergus batter Jake Egan - an Irish passport holding Australian - who has spent the winter overseas as part of Ireland's overseas programme with Randwick Petersham is also named in Simon Johnston's squad of 17.
Leinster Lightning
George Dockrell (Phoenix) (Captain), Andrew Balbirnie (Pembroke), Chris DeFreitas (Balbriggan), David Delany (Clontarf), Fionn Hand (Clontarf), Sam Harbinson (Merrion), Gavin Hoey (Dublin University/Pembroke), Philippe Le Roux (Railway Union), Josh Little (Pembroke), Seamus Lynch (Terenure), Barry McCarthy (Pembroke), Byron McDonough (Pembroke), John McNally (Clontarf), Mikey O’Reilly (Dublin University/YMCA), Olly Riley (YMCA), Adam Rosslee (YMCA), Amish Sidhu (Phoenix), Harry Tector (YMCA), Tim Tector (YMCA), Lorcan Tucker (Pembroke), Reuben Wilson (YMCA)
Munster Reds
PJ Moor (Clontarf) (Captain), Curtis Campher (Clontarf), Gareth Delany (Leinster), Matt Ford (Malahide), Alistair Frost (Malahide), Mike Frost (Malahide), Ryan Hunter (CSNI), Ryan Joyce (Cork Harlequins), Tyrone Kane (Merrion), Zubair Khan (Cork Harlequins), Brandon Kruger (The Hills), Josh Manley (Lisburn), Liam McCarthy (Railway Union), Sean McNicholl (The Hills), Jordan Neill (CSNI), Matthew Weldon (The Hills), Ben White (Phoenix).
North West Warriors
Andy McBrine (Donemana) (Captain), Liam Doherty (Eglinton), Stephen Doheny (Merrion), Shane Getkate (Phoenix), Graham Hume (Waringstown), Ryan Macbeth (Lisburn), Scott Macbeth (Brigade), William McClintock (Donemana), Trent McKeegan (Newbuildings), Cameron Melly (Brigade), Robbie Millar (Eglinton), Conor Olphert (Bready), Gavin Roulston (Bready), Jared Wilson (Cliftonville Academy), Craig Young (North Down), Harry Zimmermann (Ardmore).
Northern Knights
Mark Adair (Lisburn), Ross Adair (CIYMS), Ben Calitz (Muckamore), Cade Carmichael (Instonians), Jake Egan (Carrickfergus), Matthew Foster (CSNI), Matthew Humphreys (Lisburn), Tyron Koen (CIYMS), Tom Mayes (Waringstown), James McCollum (Waringstown), Ruhan Pretorious (Woodvale), Cian Robertson (Instonians), Neil Rock (Instonians), Paul Stirling (North Down), Morgan Topping (Waringstown), Sam Topping (Sussex), Theo Van Woekrom (CIYMS).
THE SCHEDULE
DATE |
COMP |
MATCH |
VENUE |
START |
|
Wednesday, 1st of May 2024 |
IP20 |
Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds |
Pembroke |
11:00 |
|
Wednesday, 1st of May 2024 |
IP20 |
Northern Knights v North West Warriors |
Pembroke |
15:30* |
|
Thursday, 2nd of May 2024 |
IP20 |
Munster Reds v Northern Knights |
Pembroke |
11:00 |
|
Thursday, 2nd of May 2024 |
IP20 |
Leinster Lightning v North West Warriors |
Pembroke |
15:30* |
|
Friday, 3rd of May 2024 |
IP20 |
North West Warriors v Munster Reds |
Pembroke |
11:00 |
|
Friday, 3rd of May 2024 |
IP20 |
Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights |
Pembroke |
15:30* |
|
Wednesday, 8th of May 2024 |
IP20 |
Northern Knights v North West Warriors |
Stormont |
15:30 |
|
Thursday, 9th of May 2024 |
IP50 |
Northern Knights v North West Warriors |
Stormont |
10:45 |
|
Wednesday, 15th of May 2024 |
IP20 |
Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds |
Oak Hill |
15:30 |
|
Thursday, 16th of May 2024 |
IP50 |
Leinster Lightning v Munster Reds |
Oak Hill |
10:45 |
|
Tuesday, 21st of May 2024 |
IP20 |
North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning |
Bready |
15:30 |
|
Wednesday, 22nd of May 2024 |
IP50 |
North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning |
Bready |
10:45 |
|
Tuesday, 28th of May 2024 |
IP20 |
Northern Knights v Munster Reds |
Stormont |
15:30 |
|
Wednesday, 29th of May 2024 |
IP50 |
Northern Knights v Munster Reds |
Stormont |
10:45 |
|
Tuesday, 4th of June 2024 |
IP20 |
Munster Reds v North West Warriors |
Oak Hill |
11:00 |
|
Tuesday, 4th of June 2024 |
IP20 |
Northern Knights v Leinster Lightning |
Stormont |
15:30 |
|
Wednesday, 5th of June 2024 |
IP50 |
Munster Reds v North West Warriors |
Oak Hill |
10:45 |
|
Wednesday, 5th of June 2024 |
IP50 |
Northern Knights v Leinster Lightning |
Stormont |
10:45 |
|
Wednesday, 7th of August 2024 |
IP20 |
Munster Reds v Leinster Lightning |
The Mardyke |
15:30 |
|
Thursday, 8th of August 2024 |
IP50 |
Munster Reds v Leinster Lightning |
The Mardyke |
10:45 |
|
Wednesday, 14th of August 2024 |
IP20 |
North West Warriors v Northern Knights |
Eglinton |
15:30 |
|
Thursday, 15th of August 2024 |
IP50 |
North West Warriors v Northern Knights |
Eglinton |
10:45 |
|
Wednesday, 21st of August 2024 |
IP20 |
Munster Reds v Northern Knights |
The Mardyke |
15:30 |
|
Thursday, 22nd of August 2024 |
IP50 |
Munster Reds v Northern Knights |
The Mardyke |
10:45 |
|
Wednesday, 28th of August 2024 |
IP20 |
Leinster Lightning v North West Warriors |
Pembroke |
15:30 |
|
Thursday, 29th of August 2024 |
IP50 |
Leinster Lightning v North West Warriors |
Pembroke |
10:45 |
|
Wednesday, 4th of September 2024 |
IP20 |
North West Warriors v Munster Reds |
Bready |
15:30 |
|
Thursday, 5th of September 2024 |
IP50 |
North West Warriors v Munster Reds |
Bready |
10:45 |
|
Tuesday, 10th of September 2024 |
IP20 |
Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights |
Oak Hill |
15:30 |
|
Wednesday, 11th of September 2024 |
IP50 |
Leinster Lightning v Northern Knights |
Oak Hill |
10:45 |