This year's Middle 2 Cup is a melting pot of teams, and amazingly it will contain a team who played in the Senior 2 Cup last year, as well as one who played in the Junior Cup.
Wicklow County are having a season of consolidation, with their first team playing in Division 8, and using Aravin School instead of Oakhill. Although they struggled in Division 4 last year, they should be too good for Division 8, and hence wil be one of the favourites to life the Middle 2 Cup. They travel to another side who could be something of a dark horse, Civil Service 2.
The Phoenix Park side also consolidated in 2012, and although their 2nds lost in the first round of the Intermediate Cup, they still wil be one to watch in the higher competition this year.
Last year's finalists will again be fancied to do well, although there will not be a repeat of the final, as they are scheduled to meet in the semi final. Clontarf 4 narrowly missed out on the league and cup double after an exciting cup final defeat to Dundrum. They will attempt to go one better, starring with a home tie against Halverstown 1.
Meanwhile, Dundrum 2 will start the defence of the Middle 2 Cup title with a trip to Wexford Wanderers. The two losing semi-finalists from 2013 meet in this year's first round, Balbriggan 2 hosting Pembroke 4, whilst there is one other all Division 7 tie as Knockharley 1 host Bagenalstown 1.
Another dark horse were the team who played in the Junior Cup last year. Greystones are only in their second year of competitive cricket, but have been parachuted into Division 7 after dominating Division 12 in 2012. It's difficult to know how they will cope at the higher level - they take on Leinster 5.
As with Greystones, Dundalk have risen quickly through the club ranks, and may find this their hardest year yet. They were fist round loser in the Intermediate Cup last year, and after a cup promotion, they will face the winners of Adamstown 1 and Malahide 4.
In the one other tie, The Hills 3 and Merrion 5 meet, the prize to both being the possibility of a place in the final in Balbriggan on August 11th. This year's Middle 2 Cup shows just how much cricket in Leinster has changed in the last few years - seven counties are represented in the draw - Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow