Minor 2 Cup
Previous winners. 2016 - AIB 1, 2015 - Carlow 1, 2014 - Leinster 7
Leading run scorer - Rocky Butt (Carlow 1) - 261 runs at 52.20
Leading wicket taker - Abdul Khan (Clontarf 6) - 12 wickets at 12.17
Most matches - Aidan McDermott (Clontarf 6) - 7
The first of our Open Competition previews for the 2017 looks at the Minor 2 Cup, and as normal with this competition, it is virtually impossible to predict who will fail and who will prosper.
The six finalists that the three year of the competitiion have produced are all absent from the 2017 edition, and only three of the sixteen teams have even reached the semi finals in the last three years.
There has also been the slight re-organisation at this level due to the new Development League, with some teams that would have performed successfully at this level now being non-league teams. It all adds to the excietment of the cup, eve if it makes any previewer look foolish.
Two Division 15 sides meet at the top of the draw, with Knockharley 3 traveling to North Kildare 4. North Kildare were semi finalists; Knockharley semi finalists in 2014, and despite the two sides never having met, they have a similar enough record. In what is probably the first of eight coin tosses in this preview, North Kildare may just edge this one.
Tyrrelstown 1 have been in the Minor 2 Cup for several seasons as a non-league team, but with the addition of league status, now have the added pressure of being amongst the favourites. They are something of the form team in the competition, being the only one of the sixteen to have reached the last four in both of the last two seasons. They also beat Merrion 8 (although only by 9 runs) the last time they played, and should advance towards the latter stages again.
Ringcommons 2 make their cup debut this season, hosting a team that was in the same position in 2016 - Carlow 2. On the basis that it can normally take a team a season of two to gel and get used to teh competitive cut and thrust of competitive cricket, Carlow may advance, but Ringcommons winning wouldn't be much of an upset!
Two of the heavyweights in this competition have been drawn against each other, and whilst both would have been fancied to reach the last four, it cannot be. Leinster 6 last won a cup competition in 2012, but it was three cups higher - the Intermediate Cup. Rush 4 won the Minor Cup in 2010, and these two are the only two teams in this year's Minor 2 Cup to have any cup success in the past 13 years (Civil Service 4 won the Minor Cup back in 2003). The Development league has affected both teams - Leinster 6 have dropped several divisions with the club moving one team from Open Comps to Development, whilst Rush 4 are now playing in the Development league and not the Open Competitions league. All very confusing, but the fact that Leinster will be playing every week in competitive matches, may just count in their favour.
Two teams with pretty poor cup records meet in St Finian's College, with Mullingar 3 hosting Bagenalstown 3. Bagenalstown 3 have yet to win a cup match in their two years in competitions and although they are improving, this one may just favour the home side.
Two completely new sides to Leinster cricket face off in Tymon Park, with Clondalkin 2 playing AIB 2. As can be expected, there is nothing to go on here, and so with Clondalkin 1 playing at a higher level than AIB 1, we'll call this one as a home win as well.
Balbriggan 4 entered Leinster cricket for the first time in 2016, and whilst they didn't match the exploits of the higher Balbriggan teams, it was still a promising start. Civil Service 4 have an ok record, and this is another one that could go either way. Possibly an away win with Civil Service advancing.
The final match of the draw has Adamstown 5 of Division 16, taking on Phoenix 6 who are now a non-league team, playing instead in the development league. That gives Adamstown something of an advantage, and should see them through to the next round.
Our semi final picks are Carlow 2, Mullingar 3, Tyrrelstown 1 and CIvil Service 4 - with Tyrrelstown picking up their first ever piece of silverware in the final. That final is to be played in Druids Glen, the home of Greystones CC on Sunday August 27th.