Amidst the controversy surrounding the continuation of the Leinster Senior Cup (or otherwise), there will still be a trophy to be played for, matches to be won, runs to be scored and wickets to be taken.
The 40 over format will probably be something of a leveler, bringing the stronger teams in Division 1 back into the pack. The runs scored in the competition will probably not drop by as much as people think. When the Senior 2 Cup was reduced before the 2013 season, from 50 overs to 40 overs the runs scored per match stayed pretty static. The runs per over in the 2012 50 over Senior 2 Cup was 4.42, increasing to 5.91 in 2013.
The average score in the 60 over Leinster Senior Cup in 2016 was 288, so it looks like 250 in 40 overs is going to be the required score.
Two of the stronger teams, defending champions YMCA 1 and 2014 and 2015 champions Clontarf 1 have been given byes through to the quarter final, with the other twelve teams getting a chance to get a bit of form in the first round.
With it still being very early days in terms of clubs announcing their hand on the transfer market, it is a little premature to be making bold predictions. But as ever we can look over past matches for a bit of light reminiscing, and hopefully a hint as to who will go well in 2017.
The first team out of the hat were 2016 runners-up, Leinster, and they will face Railway Union in a repeat of the 2016 semi final. Observatory Lane hasn't been that happy a hunting ground for Railway, as they have lost the last three league and cup games in Rathmines against Leinster. They did however beat Pembroke last season in Rathmines, as Park Avenue was unavailable. Last year's semi final saw Bilal Azhar at the heart of Leinster's success, taking 5-37 as Railway were bowled out for only 137. Leinster's win was never really in doubt from that point. In theory this is a Division 1 side (Leinster) against a Division 2 side (Railway) but their respective league status was only confirmed after the former beat the latter in last year's league play off. Leinster will start as favourites, but only just.
The Hills host Rush in the second match, with the home Division 1 team starting as favourites. The near neighbours have played infrequently in recent seasons - only four times in the last six seasons. The last match was a Division 2 league game in 2015, with The Hills coming out on top. Lynal Jansen top scored with 52 for Rush, as Rush got a par total of 253 all out. It wasn't to be enough though, as Nicolaas Pretorius hit a 52 ball 63 to see The Hills home by 5 wickets with 33 balls to spare. Rush can take heart from the last Cup meeting between the teams. The 2011 encounter was a thriller, with The Hills setting Rush 276 to win. Sean Monks was the Rush hero, opening the batting and finishing up with 107* from 165 balls. The other end was the problem though, and at 204-7, it looked lost for Rush. Niall Mullen hit 36, and Eoin Sheehan was there at the end, as Rush sneaked home off the last ball to win a famous match by one wicket.
Another match up which has rarely been played in times past. Not a single Pembroke team has played a match in Balbriggan since Pembroke 2 lost by 4 wickets in August 2014. The last winning Pembroke team to win in the Jack Harper Memorial Ground was Pembroke 4, who beat Balbriggan 2 in May 2014. That may not have too much relevance to this fixture, which is a repeat of last year's Senior Cup first round match, which saw Pembroke win by 7 wickets. Fiachra Tucker took 4-48 to set up the win, as Balbriggan were bowled out for 222. Daniel Solway then hit 115* as Pembroke cruised home with 25 overs to spare. Balbriggan are still looking to win their first Senior Cup match, losing to Pembroke, North County, Phoenix and The Hills in their four matches. Pembroke have the favourites tag, as they look to break a cup drought that goes back to 1999. After that 1999 win, Pembroke had the second highest number of Leinster Senior Cups (12), with Phoenix leading the way with 15. At that point, Clontarf had only five success, but have won eight since 1999, to move past Pembroke on the all time list.
Next up is an all Division 2 clash that sees North Kildare welcome Terenure to The Maws. 2016 was the first year that North Kildare played in the Senior Cup, and they didn't disgrace themselves, going down by 61 runs to Railway Union. Terenure should be favourites - they won the corresponding league match by 48 runs last season. However, Terenure are going through a horrific run in the competition, not having won a match since 2006 - when they were still called CYM and beat Old Belvedere. Mike Baumgart top scored for CYM/Terenure on that day with 103 as Terenure made 248, before Niall McDarby took 3-40 to see them home by 79 runs. Their last away win was in Rush in 2002. One way or another, history will be made in Kilcock in May!
Yet another Division 1/Division 2 tie is next, as Merrion visit North County. North County may not be over the moon, as Merrion are no ordinary Division 2 side - they bring with them the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup, and will be no pushover. Merrion have also won the lst five league matches they have played in Inch. The teams last meeting in the cup, was in one of the greatest cup finals of all time, back in 2011. All of Merrion's top four made runs (Beasley 44, Dom Joyce 66, John Anderson 46 and Tryone Kane 66) as Merrion made 272, Eddie Richardson the stand out bowler with 3-35. At 247-5 (Conor Armstrong 57, Greg Hay 89) it looked promising for County, but late wickets for Dom Joyce, Damian Poder ad Alex Chetkovich saw North County finish one run short as Merrion won their third Senior Cup, and first since 1960.
The final match pits together two teams who are due a Senior Cup. Phoenix may still be the leading team in the history of the Cup with fifteen, but the last of those was the last of their famous seven wins in ten years in 1982. Malahide have won the Senior Cup twice, the last one being in 1970. Malahide last travelled to Phoenix for a Senior match in 2014, coming out handsome winners by 8 wickets, as Peter Chase (4-21) and Alessandro Morris (4-8) destroyed the Phoenix batting. Malahide's recent form in the Senior Cup has been pretty decent, getting to the semis in 2013 and the final in 2014. By comparison Phoenix last got to the semi finals in 2003, since when Malahide have got to the last four five times. This could be a close one.
The first round is to be held on Saturday June 3rd, with the final on July 29th in The Hills.