With the 2015 Whelan Cup ending in a certain amount of controversy, the 2016 version will take place without defending champions Leinster 5, who were given a year off after fielding a player that was ruled to probably playing at too low a level. As a result, only four teams in this year's competition have won the Whelan Cup in the last ten years, and none of them more than once (Ringcommons 1 (2014), Sandyford 2 (2008), Phoenix 4 (2007) and Rush 3 (2006))
The headline news is that along with all other Cricket Leinster T20 competitions in 2016, a group format will be used, with the eight group winners progressing to the quarter finals. From Civil Service 2 at the top end of Division 9, down to Halverstown 1 at the top of Division 13, a large spread of talent puts the advantage very much in the court of the five Division 9 draws in the draw.
We start at the top of the draw, and it is very hard to look past Civil Service 2 as the 2016 winner of the WHelan Cup. They are the highest ranked league team in the competition, and come down to the Whelan Cup after several hard years in the YMCA Salver. They face Terenure 3 (who they have not lost to in the last five years), and a Merrion 6 who they have not faced, but who are two league divisions below them. Home advantage all the way to the final means that Civil Service are the team to beat.
Service will play the winners of Group B, who we think may be YMCA 5. Neither YM, or the other teams in the group, Clontarf 5 and Cabinteely 1 would be in the top rank of teams in the competition, but with Clontarf having a good record over Cabinteely, and YMCA having a good record over Clontarf, it is difficult to look past the Sandymount side - although they could well then face Civil Service in the quarter final.
Group C has no team from Division 9, allowing at least one lower division team into the quarter finals. Railway Union 4 are the top digs on league form, winning the lower Russell Court Trophy in 2012 - and this competition back in 1985. They haven't played either Pembroke 5 or Sandyford 2 before, and their match against Sandyford 2 will be crucial. Sandyford have been one of the top Whelan Cup teams in the last few seasons, losing the final in 2015, and reaching the semi finals last year. But Railway finished a massive 24 places ahead of Sandyford in the league last year, and that has to make Railway favourites to advance from the group.
The final group in the top half of the draw is one of the most interesting, with two Division 9 teams, Greystones 2 and Phoenix 4 being pitted against the 2015 Russell Court Trophy champions, Dundrum 3. Dundrum 3 are likely to find the step up too much, but there will be a real tussle between the other two. The previous five meetings between Greystones 2 and Phoenix 4 have resulted in four wins for the Wicklow side, and that makes Greystones favourites to progress, where we think they will lose to Civil Service in the semis.
Group E has a west Dublin feel, as Adamstown 2 (originating in greater Lucan but playing in greater Clondalkin), new club Clondalkin 1 (originating in Clondalkin, but playing in greater Tallaght) and Lucan 1 (originating in Lucan but playing in greater Clonsilla) meet. The sides have never met before, and are all relatively close in the league. Clondalkin may have the element of surprise, and with a few decent players involved in the club, may just squeeze through into the quarter finals.
Swords 1 are another modern day Whelan Cup colossus, being runners up in 2013 and semi finalists in 2014. The team are still looking for their first bit of silverware, and they don't have a bad chance in this comp. Both Castleknock 2 and Mullingar 2 are only one division below, and in fact Mullingar have a good 4-2 record over Swords in all matches. We think Swords will just get through, but it could be close.
Group G promised to be a real cracker, with three Fingal sides meeting, all who have experience of winning this competition. Ringcommons have had a funny few years, winning this competition in 2014, before falling away last year, and they cannot be underestimated. The Hills 3 have a rich history, winning the Whelan Cup in 1990 and 1989 as well as the higher YM Salver in 2008, 1999 and 1993. On paper The Hills should be stronger than Rush 3, but we'll go on a hunch that the 2006, 2000 and 1991 winners (and last year's runner up), Rush 3 will pip Hills to the group. Whoever wins that match will go all the way to the final.
The final group is the lowest ranked, with North County 5 and Malahide 5 of Division 12 joining Halverstown of Division 13. It will all be quite tight, and this could be Halverstown's year. Whoever triumphs will run into the trouble in the quarter finals when they face the winners of Group G!