Eighteen teams will set out on the path to the Middle Cup final, a match that will be held in North County's north Dublin home in Balrothery. For two of those teams though, it will very much be a case of "haven't we met somewhere recently?"
Railway Union 3 and YMCA 3 were the finalists in the 2012 Middle Cup final, and a pulsating game was won by YMCA by the narrowest of margins. And on June 1st, they wil square up again, this time in a first round clash in Claremont Road.
There is one newcomer to Leinster competitions, with Longford making their cup debut with a 100 km cross country trip to Laois. Laois 2 will be anxious to avoid their 2012 fate - a bowl out loss to Dundrum. Two other sides will make their Middle Cup debut, having played in the Middle 2 Cup last year. Leinster 4 will be up against it against Pembroke 3, whilst North Kildare take the step up after losing in the first round of the Middle 2 Cup in 2012 - they face Castleknock 1.
Clontarf 3 are being fancied to have a good 2013. Unlike their "better" counterparts in the club, Clontarf 3 had a great season in 2012, gaining promotion to Division 4, as well as reaching the semi-final of the Middle Cup. They host Merrion 4 in the first round.
The other ties see Merrion 3 face North County 3, Sandyford 1 play Rush 2 (Rush 2's first cup game since 2011 after giving a walkover last year), the winners of the Leinster 3/Terenure 2 preliminary game play Phoenix 3 and the winners of Laois 2/Longford will play Malahide 3.