Leinster CC have high hopes of winning the Bob Kerr for the second time in their history this year. There has been a great buzz at training with our 1st and 2nd teams competing in the top two divisions of the LCU.

Irish U19 opening batsmen Hugh McDonnell has come off a season with St. Kilda in Melbourne and is in great form with the bat and ball, his partner up front is the experienced Craig Mallon who will also captain the side. Stephen Moreton who has joined from Pembroke has high ambitions for the season with the bat and will be looking for wickets with his leg spinners. Anton Scholtz has been our most consistent performer with bat and ball over the years and he returns from Melbourne looking in very good shape and hungry for success.

Professional Joel Leacock who joins us from the BNB St. Catherine Cricket Club in Barbados is a genuine all rounder who has started very well with Bat and Ball, he will open the bowling and bat 5. Seasoned campaigner Mark Jones is now featuring in the middle order and will look to keep the board ticking in those middle to late overs with his aggressive and attractive style of play. Myself and JP O'Dwyer will fill the next batting spots at 7 and 8 and will be looking to capitalize on the foundations laid by the top order. Joe Carrol can give it a bash with the bat and is a very talented young seam bowler who can execute his yorkers at the Death.

We will have two wicket keepers to chose from, in the experienced and reliable Peter 'George The Bear' O'Donnell and tough competitor/emerging talent Richard Forest who will join us from Trinity College later in the Summer. The final spot in the side will probably be a battle between seam bowler Robert Keneally who has started the season opening the bowling for the 2nds with great success or economical Left Arm Spinner Pete Byrne who is returning from a calf injury sustained in Pre-Season. In reserve, stalwart David Lucas and the talented 14 year old leg spinner/batsman Gareth Delaney will be pushing to get in the side. I think our depth in batting and variety with the ball will help us progress in the Cup.

I believe holders Warringstown and Instonians will be two sides from the NCU that will be tough to beat along with Merrion CC and North County from Dublin, while Limavady from the North West must have strong ambitions too.