The final article in our series of previews of the 2014 LCU Open Comps cup season looks at the Russell Court Trophy, the T20 for those towards the bottom of the league tier.
It's an event with strong Railway Union connections, and is fitting that the first two winners were both from Railway - their 4ths in 2012 and their 6ths in 2013. And although 20 other teams will be aiming stop them in 2014 ,it is difficult to see anyone stopping Railway Union ahceiving the treble.
The competition has seven Division 12 sides, five Divison 13, eight Division 14, as well as non-league AIB Taverners 1. It is though Division 12 teams that will be the ones to beat.
The "Northern" section first. Balbriggan 3 will host Mullingar 2 and will be confident of going on a cup run to match 2013, when they lost in the semi final. That semi final still may be haunting them though - Balbriggan were bowled out for 29! In the quarter final, the winners would face either Castelknock 3 or Laois 3 in an encounter that could go either way. Laois 3 won a match in the higher Whelan Cup last year, and although there has been some player loss, they will still be a decent outfit.
North Kildare 3 haven't won a T20 match in the past few seasons, and may struggle against Rush 4, who have a 2-2 record in the Russell Court. The winners of that match will travel to play Phoenix 5, who I have a sneaking feeling may advance to at least the semi finals.
Swords 2 are yet to complete a T20 match, and their first game will be against the winners of Clontarf 6 and Civil Service 4. Both are Division 14 sides, and neither have a T20 record that you'd write home about.
The "Southern" half of the draw looks to be stronger. Leinster 7 were losing semi-finalists in 2012, and face Wicklow County 2 - a team that has lost their last three T20 matches, albeit in a different competition each year. The winners of that match will travel to Halverstown 1, and as the losing finalists in 2013, they have a good chance of reaching the quarter finals again.
The reason Halverstown may not progress further ,emenates from their probable quarter final opponents. Railway Union 6 won all four of their games in 2013, and will believe they can beat Division 13 side Sandyford 3. If they do progress, they would face the winner of the tie between Pembroke 6 and Greystones 3.
In the bottom eighth of th draw, Merrion 7 host the surpirse package of 2013, AIB Taverners. They won two matches last year en route to the semi final, and with a similar squad, may well do well again. Should they beat Merrion 7, their quarter final opponents would be either Adamstown 3 or Dundrum 3.
The final will be part of a double header with the Whelan Cup in Railway Union on July 13th. We think that Railway Union 6 may make it the third win for the Park Avenue club
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