It's all change at the top of this week's rankings. YMCA's last gasp victory over Clontarf in Leinster Division 1, saw Clontarf drop to 2nd, with Instonians' victory over Coleraine in the Ulster Cup being enough to move them up the one coveted place.
Waringstown played twice, beating Ballymena and Strabane, and coupled with some old victories dropping off YMCA's total (they won three matches between June 15th and June 22nd 2013, which now count for much less), YMCA had the ignominy of dropping one place despite beating the top side in the country!
Donemana have once again regained top spot in the North West. The men from The Holm are unbeaten in four league matches, play Coleraine in the semi finals of the Senior Cup tomorrow, and are in the quarter finals of the Ulster Cup, after beating Lisburn. The only loss so far was a defeat to North County in the first round of the Irish Senior Cup.
In Leinster, Pembroke's loss to Malahide dropped them down to 9th, whilst North County's win over Railway Union pushed them up a place to 12th. The Hills' DIvision 2 wn over Balbriggan moved them up above Pembroke into 7th. The other main moves were as a result of the Leinster/Phoenix match. Phoenix's bad start to the season looks to have come to an end, and they moved up to 33rd, at the same time as Leinster dropped two to 24th.
Sunday is All Ireland quarter final day, with the final eight meeting in both the Irish Senior Cup and National Cup
Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup
Clontarf (2) vs Waringstown (3) - Undisputed tie of the round. Clontarf (2013 champions) have home advantage, and a slight ranking advantage, but the tie could go either way. Waringstown (2011, 1992, 1983 champions) last played Clontarf at the same stage in 1990. Chasing 174, Deryck Vincent (101*) and Michael Rea (70*) put on 178 for the first wicket to complete a memorable win.
Leinster (24) vs Civil Service North (6) - Leinster (2009 champions) are very much the underdogs against a CSN side that whilst not having the best of league seasons, are still a top division side in the NCU. This a repeat of the very first final, when one of the forerunners of CSNI, NICC, beat Leinster by 14 runs in a low scoring 1982 final
Malahide (16) vs Pembroke (9). A repeat of last week's league clash, that Malahide won narrowly off the last ball. Malahide (2002 champions) wil be desperate for Reinhardt Strydom to play. The former Ireland player broke his thumb in last week's match, and is a vital part of the Malahide team. Pembroke, who have never even appeared in a final, will fancy their chances of revenge.
North County (12) vs Merrion (5). Five time winners of the trophy North County host the 2010 Champions. All eyes will be on North County's former West Indian Test player, Brenton Parchment, who hit a 56 ball 114, following up with 6-8 with the ball in a T20 match on Thursday night. Merrion have an excellent record in North County, and have won their last three league encounters. Expect a high scoring thriller.
National Cup
Newbuildings (46) vs Greystones (unranked) - Greystones' first foray into All Ireland competition continues, and they may well even be favourites against the North West championship side. Newbuildings beat Bonds Glen by 138 runs last week, and will be confident of beating the Leinster Division 4 team. It should be another cracker.
Drummond (38) vs Laois (unranked) - Another tough one to call. Laois are unbeaten in Leinster Division 3, whilst Drummond are unbeaten in the North West Championship. That suggests a home win, although the result will tell us a lot about the strength of the two leagues.
Ballaghaderreen (unranked) vs Dundrum (LCU) (unranked) - The one Connacht representative against Leinster Division 4 side Dundrum. Dundrum will fancy their chances, but Ballagh have been playing some impressive cricket this year. Again, this will say a lot about the strength of cricket over the Shannon.
Rush (37) vs Derriaghy (39) - Too tight to call on the basis of ranking, but Rush will think this is their year. Derriaghy are flying high in NCU Section 1, whilst Rush have had something of a stop start season in Leinster Division 2, winning two and losing two.
It is also provincial cup semi final weekend. The rankings predict the finals will be Waringstown vs Instonians in the NCU, YMCA vs Clontarf in the LCU (the Cork County/Clontarf semi final is to be played in a fortnight's time) and Brigade vs Donemana in the North West.