The newest competition in the LCU's Open Competitions family was launched in 2012 thanks to the support of the Russell Court Hotel, with 24 teams competing in eight groups of three. Railway Union 4 beat Ringcommons 1 in the final, and it can already be guaranteed that neither of them will make it this year.
The format has been changed with those 24 teams being reduced to 21, and a knockout format being used instead of the group stages, the result being a reduction in the competition from 31 to 20 games.
As with the other T20 competitions, the teams are split up into North, West , South and Central. After that, the only surprise is AIB Taverners, who have been drawn away to Wicklow County. All other matches are purely in alphabetical order, which means Adamstown's decision to name themselves after the Lucan district gives them a home draw all the way to the final.
Conversely, Railway Union will now wish they were called Ammalgamated Railways. That decision in the midst of time means they are drawn away in all their matches. All other ties throw together neighbours (albeit of the lexicographic kind rather than geographic), so Adamstown play Castleknock, Laois Mullingar, Balbriggan Clontarf and Pembroke Phoenix.
The full draw can be seen below, with the final to be held in Civil Service on Bastille Day, July 14th.