The Inter-Provincial Cup is a limited-overs cricket tournament in Ireland between the three leading cricketing provinces on the island.
The tournament was held for the first time in 2013 across venues in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Up to and including the 2016 tournament, the matches were not given List A status. However, at an International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting in October 2016, List A status was awarded to all future matches.
History
Background The Ireland cricket team enjoyed increasing success at the international level in the late 2000s and into the 2010s which boosted the popularity of the game in the country. They had earned the reputation of a giant killer after upsetting teams like Pakistan and Bangladesh (2007 Cricket World Cup), and England (2011 Cricket World Cup). Their good performances in major international tournaments meant that Cricket Ireland openly started bidding for Test match status to the International Cricket Council.ICC to consider Ireland's bid for Test status ESPN.co.uk. Retrieved 9 March 2013
Nevertheless, one of the main stumbling road blocks for Ireland from getting to play the pinnacle of the game was a lack of a first-class cricket infrastructure at home, among other things. As early as August 2011, Cricket Ireland announced plans of a domestic first-class tournament.Ireland plan first-class structure ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013 In January 2012, Cricket Ireland announced the ambitious 'Vision 2020' plan which announced the establishment of a first-class structure by 2015 and achievement of Test status by 2020. It also began work on a cricket academy to find talented players across the country and improving grass-roots cricket in the country.
For the first time professional contacts, with central, A, B, and C levels were established. Plans for Test status were established partly to stem the flow of their star cricketers moving away to England in hope of playing Test cricket such as Ed Joyce, Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin.Ireland unveil Test cricket vision CricketEurope4.net. Retrieved 9 March 2013CI reveals ambitious plans aimed at receiving Test status Sky Sports. Retrieved 9 March 2013Ireland map out path to Tests ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013Ireland's Boyd Rankin retires to play Test cricket for England Cricket Country. Retrieved 9 March 2013Ireland calls for Test status to 'halt exodus' ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013Rankin retires, Holdsworth calls for Test status irelandcricketwebbly.com. Retrieved 9 March 2013
According to Richard Holdsworth in an interview with Setanta Sports, Cricket Ireland were pleased with the strategic progress that had been made as of November 2012.Cricket Ireland happy with progress of strategic plan Setanta Sports. Retrieved 9 March 2013 In December 2012, Ireland got a $1.5m boost as increased funding from the ICC to establish elite domestic competitions in the country.Ireland receive $1.5 m boost from ICC ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 9 March 2013
Format The tournament is played in a double round-robin format, with each team playing each other twice, once at home and once away.
Points summary Points are scored as follows:
Win – 4 points Tie or no result – 2 points Loss – 0 points Bonus point – 1 point awarded to a team winning a match with a run rate equal to 1.25 times that of the losing team
Teams According to Richard Holdsworth's interview to Setanta Sports, three teams would initially participate in the tournament, Leinster cricket team, Northern cricket team and North West cricket team as Munster and Connacht were considered still quite far away from fielding a competitive team for provincial tournaments. They were also given a separate limited overs names much similar to the systems in England and Australia, i.e., like Nottinghamshire Outlaws and South Australia Redbacks. In this case, the names are Leinster Lightning, Northern Knights and North West Warriors.North-West announce shortlist for name Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 March 2013NCU confirm team name for 2013 Interpros Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 9 March 2013
From the 2021 season, Munster Reds joined the Inter Provincial Cup having previously only competed in the Twenty20 Inter-Provincial Trophy In March 2026, it was announced that Munster Reds will not feature in the 2026 edition following a comprehensive review of the Inter-Provincial competition in late 2025.
TeamFirst seasonLast seasonTitlesLeinster Lightning 2013 2026 11Northern Knights 2013 2026 2 North West Warriors 2013 2026 0 Munster Reds 2021 2025 1
Competition placings
2013 to present Season Winner Second Third Fourth2013 Northern Knights Leinster Lightning North West Warriors DNP2014 Leinster Lightning Northern Knights North West Warriors 2015 Leinster Lightning Northern Knights North West Warriors 2016 Leinster Lightning Northern Knights North West Warriors 2017 Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Northern Knights 2018 Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Northern Knights 2019 Leinster Lightning Northern Knights North West Warriors 2020 Leinster Lightning Northern Knights North West Warriors 2021 Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Northern Knights Munster Reds2022 Munster Reds North West Warriors Leinster Lightning Northern Knights2023 Northern Knights Leinster Lightning Munster Reds North West Warriors2024Leinster LightningNorthern KnightsMunster RedsNorth West Warriors2025Leinster LightningMunster RedsNorthern KnightsNorth West Warriors2026Leinster LightningNorth West WarriorsNorthern KnightsDNP DNP - Did Not Participate
All-time records (All records correct to end of 2026 season)
Team records
Highest innings totals
Score Team Opps Venue Date 446/6Leinster LightningNorth West WarriorsSydney Parade23 Jul 2026 425/7 Leinster Lightning North West Warriors The Vineyard 14 Aug 2023418/8Leinster LightningNorthern KnightsSydney Parade07 Jul 2026414/9Northern KnightsLeinster LightningSydney Parade07 Jul 2026 353/9 Leinster Lightning Northern Knights Stormont 5 Sep 2023
Lowest completed innings totals Score Team Opps Venue Date 90 aoMunster RedsNorth West WarriorsMardyke19 May 2022105 aoNorth West WarriorsNorthern KnightsStormont4 May 2015119 aoMunster RedsLeinster LightningMardyke8 Aug 2024 120 ao North West Warriors Northern Knights Lodge Road 26 May 2014 123 ao North West Warriors Leinster Lightning The Village 1 Jun 2013123 aoNorthern KnightsNorth West WarriorsBready12 May 2022
Individual records – batting
Most career runs Runs Innings Player Team Average 1682 37 Andrew Balbirnie Lightning/Warriors54.25140837Stephen DohenyLightning/Warriors/Reds39.11 1387 52 Andy McBrine North West Warriors28.89 1327 39 Lorcan Tucker Leinster Lightning41.46 1183 35 George Dockrell Leinster Lightning59.15
Highest individual scores Score Player For Opps Venue Date 152 PJ Moor Munster Reds Leinster Lightning Sydney Parade 10 May 2022143*Chris De FreitasLeinster LightningNorth West WarriorsOak Hill15 May 2025 136 Simi Singh Leinster Lightning North West Warriors New Strabane Park 30 May 2016 133 Lorcan Tucker Leinster Lightning North West Warriors The Vineyard 14 Aug 2023131Suliman SafiNorth West WarriorsMunster RedsWoodvale Road20 Aug 2025
Most runs scored in a season Runs Innings Player Team Season 4456Andrew BalbirnieLeinster Lightning20254285Cade CarmichaelNorthern Knights20254095Stephen DohenyLeinster Lightning2026 364 5 George Dockrell Leinster Lightning 2021 3525Suliman SafiMunster Reds2025 352 6 Murray Commins Munster Reds 2021
Individual records – bowling
Most career wickets Wickets Matches Player Team Average 62 50 George Dockrell Leinster Lightning22.695454Andy McBrineNorth West Warriors30.48 50 42 Tyrone Kane Lightning/Reds22.704737Craig YoungNorth West Warriors28.23 46 27 Gavin Hoey Leinster Lightning24.13
Best bowling in an innings Bowling Player Team Opps Venue Date 6/22Scott MacBethNorth West WarriorsMunster RedsBready5 Sep 2024 6/26 Gavin Hoey Leinster Lightning Northern Knights Stormont 5 Sep 2023 6/39 Barry McCarthy Leinster Lightning Munster Reds Sydney Parade 22 May 20216/42Tyrone KaneLeinster LightningNorthern KnightsStormont20 Aug 20195/16Liam McCarthyMunster RedsNorth West WarriorsBready4 Sep 2023
Most wickets in a season Wickets Average Player Team Season 1712.23Gavin HoeyLeinster Lightning2024 17 12.58 Barry McCarthy Leinster Lightning 2021 15 16.46 Liam McCarthy Munster Reds 2023 1519.86Theo van WoerkomNorthern Knights20231317.15Josh ManleyMunster Reds2021
Partnership records
Highest partnerships for each wicket Wicket P/Ship Player 1 Player 2 Team Opps Venue Date 1st 235 Stephen Doheny Tim Tector Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Sydney Parade 23 Jul 2026 2nd 240 Andy McBrine Stephen Doheny North West Warriors Northern Knights Stormont 2 Jun 2022 3rd 212 Lorcan Tucker Harry Tector Leinster Lightning Munster Reds Oak Hill 7 May 2025 4th 157 Tyrone Kane PJ Moor Munster Reds Leinster Lightning Sydney Parade 18 May 2023 5th 187 Andrew Balbirnie Kevin O'Brien Leinster Lightning North West Warriors The Vineyard 3 May 2014 6th 121 Scott MacBeth Graham Hume North West Warriors Munster Reds Bready 5 Sep 2024 7th 215* Simi Singh George Dockrell Leinster Lightning Northern Knights The Vineyard 4 Jun 2018 8th 103 Tyrone Kane Lorcan Tucker Leinster Lightning North West Warriors Observatory Lane 9 Sep 2018 9th 72 Shane Getkate Jacob Mulder Northern Knights Leinster Lightning Observatory Lane 31 Jul 2016 10th 69 Craig Young Andrew Britton North West Warriors Northern Knights La Manga 24 Apr 2019
See also
Cricket in Ireland History of cricket Inter-Provincial Championship Inter-Provincial Trophy
References
External links -official website