Another new season, another new competition. With the massive expansion of cricket across Leinster in the last few years, there has needed to be more competitions to give everyone a chance of lifting some silverware.
So 2014 will see the first installment of a new competition, provisionally titled the "Minor 2 Cup". Seventeen teams are in the draw, with a mix of teams from Division 13, Division 14 as a few non-league teams. As would probably be expected, two teams are making their cup debuts, and a further five teams haven't won a match since records started being properly recorded at this level in 2011.
So let us start with those seven teams who have never tasted that winning feeling. Ashbourne CC play their first ever competitive match in the LCU, and it will be Meath against Westmeath as they travel west to Mullingar 3. Not that easy a first game, but it could have been even harder, and Ashbourne will definitely have the element of surprise!
Phoenix 6 are the second team making their debut, and they will be away to Terenure 4. The last time Terenure 4 played a cup match was when losing in the Minor Cup first round in 2011, one of these will get a big W on our honours board for the first time.
Evening Herald Taverners have the worst cup record of all those in the competition (Sorry!), afer losing each of their previous three encounters. They will play Wicklow County 2 away, another unknown task. Wicklow were in the Intermediate Cup in 2012, but since then only have a first round defeat in the 2013 Minor Cup.
Castleknock 3 entered competitive cricket for the first time last year, and will be quietly confident of advancing this year. At least they would have been before being drawn against the most successful side in the draw. Leinster 7 won the 2011 Minor Cup, and were losing semi-finalists in 2012 before matters off the pitch meaning they didn't enter in 2013. They will start as favourites in 2014.
Similarly, Balbriggan 3 entered for the first time last year, and they have been given a favourable draw, being at home to Halverstown 2. Halverstown 2 won a match in the 2012 Minor Cup, but didn't enter in 2013.
Greystones 3 will have to get to the final the hard way, after being drawn away to fellow Division 14 side Civil Service 4 in the preliminary round. Civil Service 4 reached the Minor Cup quarter final last year, and will start as favourites in this one. The winners will play Adamstown 3 in the first round proper
Knockharley 3 have been guaranteed a home route to the final, and welcome Clontarf 7 to Kentstown. The last meetings between these two were back in 2011, and with a win a piece, the tie remains too close to call.
The final tie sees Bell's Academy play Merrion 8. The cricket team of the Bohemians FC Supporters Club missed the 2012 Minor Cup due to travelling to Euro 2012, and with Merrion 8 not entering competitions in 2013, there is a touch of the unknown about this one as well.
Draws for the mid-week T20 competitions will be published once the new Open Competitions Committee has met after tonight's AGM