Cricket Leinster's third tier T20 cup in its Open Competitions structure is the YMCA Salver, which this season will feature clubs from Division 4 down to Division 8.
Rush 2 are the reigning champions, beating Knockharley 1 in the 2016 final, whilst Pembroke 3 have won the compeititon most, with wins in 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2001. Can Rush retain their title, or can Knockharley win their first ever T20 crown? Or do Pembroke have a chance of winning trophy number five? Read on.
Clontarf 3 will host North Kildare 2 in the first of seven preliminary round matches to be played on May 16. North Kildare 2 haven't won a match in this competition at the last three attempts, and will struggle to beat a Clontarf team who are two divisions above them, and who reached last year's semi final.
The winners of that match will face the winners of Knockharley 1 and Rush 2 - and as those of you who are paying attention will know , this is a repeat of last year's final. Both teams look capable of getting to this year's final, and it is a shame that one will be bowing out so early. That is the beauty of cup competitions though, and we need to pick a winner. Rush triumphed last time out, but Knockharley are now a Division 4 side as opposed to Rush down in Division 6. Knockharley have won four of the last six meetings between the teams and on top of that are at home. Knockharley to advance.
The pick of the first round proper may well be Ringcommons 1 vs North County 3. There are enough sub-plots here to fill a three hour long screenplay. It's first and foremost a local derby, with many players having played for both clubs. But more than that is Ringcommons' astonishing T20 record in Leinster cricket. They have won their last eleven matches in T20 competitions, winning the 2014 and 2016 Whelan Cup. They probably would have won in 2015 as well but were found to have breached player registration issues and were removed from that year's cup. This though represents a step up to the next level. They have only won one of their last three matches against North County 4, and this is their first match against their third string. North County should advance, but it promises to be a humdinger.
Balbriggan 2 have been moved several divisions up the leagues after their preformances in 2016, and are now three divisions higher than their opponents in this preliminary round match, Swords 1. A team from Swords has never beaten a team from Balbriggan, and it would be a colossal upset were it to happen in this match.
The winners of that match will play the winners of Mullingar 1 and Malahide 3 in the first round proper. These two were both relegated from Division 5 at the end of last season, and is another match that could go either way. Mullingar reached the final of the Salver in 2015, and although they have a decent record in this, haven't beaten Malahide 3 since 2012. Malahide were themselves finalists in 2014, and have won their last two encounters in Mullingar. Malahide should win a tight one.
The final matches in the Northern half of the draw will see Castleknock 1 play the winners of Laois 2 and The Hills 3. That Laois continue to be in the northern half of this competition is odd, as they are further south than any of the teams in the southern half. Luckily for Laois 2 they have a home draw, but it is one of the most northern teams, The Hills 3 who face a 240 kilometre round trip on a Tuesday night. Whether they will be in any fit state to play a match is open to question, and then they face a team in a higher division, and one that won the last meeting between the teams (back in 2012). Laois 2 to advance. Castleknock 1 may well fancy their chances in the next round, being a divison higher than Laois, and two divisions higher than The Hills.
YMCA 3 face four time winners Pembroke 3 in the first preliminary round match in the southern half of the draw. Pembroke's recent form has been pretty ordinary, losing their last two matches in the competition, and their last three matches against YMCA 3. YM haven't been entered in this competition in recent years but have a great chance to be the first YMCA team to put their name on the YMCA Salver.
The winners wil face Sandyford 1, who have one from their last four T20 matches. They have shared the last two matches against Pembroke 3, but don't have such a good record against YMCA.
Two Division 5 sides meet in the next tie, as Greystones 1 meet Merrion 4. Merrion won the Salver in 2015, and therefore have a really good 7-2 record over the last three seasons. Against that is the fact that they have an awful record against Greystones, losing their last three matches. Greystones are back in the Salver after a couple of tough years in the higher Tillain Cup, and will relish the chance to prove themselves again. Greystones to knock out the 2015 champions. The winners will then face Dundrum 2 of Division 7. Dundrum have a respectable record recently - 3-5 and whilst that kind of form may get them through against lesser sides, they are in the middle of the pack this year, and won't have enough fire power to get past Greystones.
The final two matches in the draw are both in the first round. Railway Union 3 host Leinster 3 in a match which should on paper be close, were it not for the fact that Railway (the 2014 champions) have won ten of the last twelve matches against Leinster 3. That is one of the best/worst records in Leinster cricket, and means the odds have to be in Railway's favour.
The final match has Adamstown 1 hosting Terenure 2. Adamstown are now a divison above Terenure 2 (five as opposed to six), and more importantly the Terenure club have failed to win a match against Adamstown sides in seven attempts.
Our pick for the four semi finalists are Balbriggan 2 and Knockharley 1 from the northern half, and YMCA 3 and Adamstown 1 from the southern half, with Knockharley beating Adamstown in the final to pick up their first ever T20 crown.