The draw for this year's Middle 2 Cup handily throws up a lovely comparison with last night's Super Bowl. There will be shocks along the way, there will be a tantalising prospect of an upset, before the favourite (or one of the favourites anyway) comes through at the last minute to take the crown. It's unlikely that the winners of the Middle 2 Cup will have one of the greatest players of the last 50 years at the helm (unless perhaps Shane Warne makes a surprise comeback for one of the teams), but it is always possible that we will see one of the greatest comebacks ever in the final. 20-5 before successfully chasing 320 should do the trick.
The Middle 2 Cup is for teams playing league cricket in Divisions 7 and 8, although Merrion 5 provide the exception by playing in Division 6. Whether we think that is enough to take Merrion to the Cup, will be revealed below.
Division 8 sides Leinster 4 and Adamstown 2 meet in the top match. Leinster's recent record is pretty awful, having lost in the first round in each of the last three years. Adamstown's is a little better, and they got to the semi finals last year. However the four most recent matches between the teams have been shared, and home advantage may be enough to see Leinster through in a tight one.
The next match is also an all Division 8 affair, as The Hills 3 welcome Swords 1 to Milverton. In many ways it is similar to the top match. Recent performances have been similar, and both teams got to the latter stages of the (lower) Intermediate Cup in 2015. The Hills won the one meeting the teams had last year, and home advantage should see The Hills home in another tight one.
That means two Division 8 teams through to the quarter final with one guaranteed in the semi. There is a delicious local derby in the next tie, as North County 3 face Ringcommons 1, many of whose players have played for North County in the recent past. Ringcommons have a great cup record, winning the Junior Cup last year. But that is two cups lower down the ladder, and this will be a big, big step up. North County 3 haven't won a Cup since the 2003 Intermediate Cup, but the draw has been kind to them this year, and they could be marching all the way to the final.
The final draw in the top half of the draw sees Pembroke 4 at home to Merrion 5, and the tea leaves don't great for Pembroke. Merrion 5 have won the last five teams between the pair, and Pembroke play two league divisions lower. Merrio's recent cup record is not actually that great (only winning one of the last four), but they shuold be too string for Pembroke.
An intriguing match in Claremont Road is at the top of the bottom half, as YMCA 4 host Clontarf 4. Unbelievably, the teams have not played at all in the last six seasons so not too much to go on. YMCA are playing in Division 7 to Clontarf's Division 8, and both team's records is distinctly useful. YMCA 4 have seven cups in their history, the last being the 2014 Inter Cup and they have won six of their last eight cup games (although many of those were on the way to that 2014 Inter Cup). Clontarf have four Cups, the last the Middle 2 Cup in 2013. They also have a very decent, recent record, being runners-up in 2014 and semi finalists last year. A tight one, but Clontarf may advance.
North Kildare 2 host Laois 2 in another tight match. Laois won this competition in 2015, and have won three of their last five games against North Kildare. That doesn't signify a demolition, and home advantage could play a big part. Laois shoudl be favourites, but we think North Kildare mat spring a surprise in this one.
Two more second teams meet in the penultimate tie, with Knockharley at home to Dundrum. Dundrum had a shaky year in 2016, and although the rumours coming out of the club are positive, they probably won't be over-achieving in 2017. Knockharley are still moving in the right direction, they beat Dundrum the last time they played (2015), and are at home. That should be enough to see Knockharley advance.
The final match has Wexford Wanderers 1 travelling to Bagenalstown 1. The verb in the middle there is the problem for Wexford . They have been drawn away in each of the last three cups, losing each time. They have an ok record against Bagenalstown (3-4), but in Bagenalstown they are only 1-3. Againt, this could be a tight one for the two Division 7 clubs but Bagenalstown should advance.
All that means that four Division 8 sides should advance, and we think three of the semi finalists will be from that division (Leinster 4, Knockharley 2 and Clontarf 4). But as stated above, the draw has been kind to North County 3, and they should have the strength to lift the cup, the final of which is just round the corner - in Ringcommons on August 11.