Our preview of the 2016 Open Competitions continues with a look at the runners and riders for the Middle 2 Cup. The seventeen teams in the draw are spread across Divisions 6. 7 and 8, with last year's winners, Laois 2 sitting in the middle. Whether there will be another Division 7 winner; or perhaps a Division 8 surprise; or even an "expected" win for one of the two Division 6 sides remains to be seen.
The sole preliminary round match is right at the top of the draw. Sandyford 1 have the plum tie of being at the top of the draw with home games all the way to the semi final. They will welcome North County 4 to Marlay Park in late May, and should advance to the first round proper. Sandyford last won this cup in 2008, and despite a slightly dodgy cup record in recent years, Sandyford should have enough in the tank over a North County team who are nearly two divisions below them. They pair have never met in the league, but Sandyford have beaten the higher North County 3 once in the last four attempts, and North County 4 have lost to the lower Sandyford 2 once in the last four as well. Home win.
The winners will then face Bagenalstown 1 in a match that will be a leap into the unknown for everyone. None of the three sides has played each other before, so the hunch is that Bagenalstown - a club that is on the up at the moment, will creep past which ever of Sandyford or North County wins the preliminary round match.
The next match sees two teams who have not yet won a cup in their short histories (NB: See Nicky Fusco's comment below the article. North Wicklow merged with Avondale in 2010 to form Wicklow County. The new club have not won any cups, but North Wicklow won five cups between 1997 and 2007). Castleknock 1 of Division 6 go into the match against Division 8 Wicklow County 1 as strong favourites. Not only do they have league position in their favour, but they have had a successful few seasons in cup competition, being runners up in the 2013 Middle Cup, and semi finalists in this cup last year. THey should be too strong for a Wicklow County team that has not won a cup tie in the last three seasons.
Defending champions Laois 2 have a fascinating start to their defence at home to Wexford Wanderers 1. The two teams have similar league position and a similar cup record (both have won this cup once, Wexford in 2002). Wexford's recent cup form has been poor though, and whilst they may have had a chance with a home draw, a trip up the N80 does them no favours, and the champions should advance.
Leinster 4 have all the history in the world, with thirteen cup wins in total, six more than the second best (of those in this competition) ,YMCA 4 who have six cups in total. Only one of Leinster's thirteen wins has been since 1984, and their recent form hasn't been the most impressive - the blanks from three games going back three years. They face a Clontarf 4 team who like all Clontarf teams seem to take a liking to cup competition. Whilst no great shakes in the league, Clontarf won this cup in 2013 and were runners up in 2014. They should see off Leinster in the first round.
Adamstown 2 have the distinct disadvantage of being the lowest ranked team in the Middle 2 Cup, and were likely to be underdogs against who ever they faced. The coin was tossed, and came down with a fox showing, which means Adamstown travel to Sydney Parade to face Pembroke 4. The Broke haven't reached the semi final since 2013, but will be favourites in the first round - and the path to the final may well open up.
In many ways, the pick of the round will see YMCA 4 travel to Dundrum 2. Where that journey will take them is still very much up in the air, as Dundrum CC are in the process of moving to a new ground. These two Division 7 sides have never met, with both having decent cup records in recent years - YM winning the Inter CUp in 2014, and Dundrum 2 the Middle 2 Cup in 2012. On top of that, they have got to the semi finals of the Middle 2 Cup in 2013 and 2014, and although they won't really have home advantage, they should just edge it.
Based on last year's final league positions, North Kildare 2 are the 14th best second team in the province, and they take on Balbriggan 2 who are the 17th best. Neither have records to write home about - North Kildare got to last year's semi final, whilst Balbriggan did the same in 2014. Not too much between the teams, but if there is to be an upset in this year's first round, it may well be Balbriggan progressing to the quarter final.
The final match will see Division 6 Merrion 5 play Division 8 Knockharley 2. There is no way that this should be a contest. Merrion are the highest ranked team in this year's Middle 2 Cup, they come from a club that habitually wins trophies at this level, and they have had a good record against Knockharley 1 in the last five years (although haven't won since 2012). But strangely, they have an awful cup record, losing in the first round in each of the last three years. Despite that, they should advance come June.
The top half of the draw will see one of Clontarf 4, Laois 2 or Castleknock 1 reach the final, and we'll plump for the Dublin 15 side. Castleknock will meet Pembroke 4 in the final, lifting their first ever cup in the final in Mullingar on August 6th. Possibly.