For those of you who are looking for a radical prediction as to who we think will win the 2017 Tillain Cup, then you may have to look somewhere else. Cricket Leinster's second string T20 competition has, like all the other competitions at this level, been dominated by Merrion 2, Clontarf 2 and YMCA 2 for the past few seasons, and 2017 is no different.
The last five winners of the Tillain have seen those three teams, along with North Kildare 1 and Balbriggan 1 lift the trophy, and with those two first teams having gone on to higher competitions, it is down to the three second teams to lead the way.
Thirteen teams are in the draw, with ten of the teams meeting in the first round. Railway Union 2 will host Civil Service 1 at the top of the draw, in a match that may as well be decided by the toss of a coin. Both have won the Tillain once (Railway in 1987, Service in 2005), both have pretty dire T20 records recently, and intriguingly, each have won four matches in the last eight times they met. The teams shared the two league games in 2016, and this really could go either way. We'll call it for Railway purely because they are drawn at home.
Pembroke 2 travel to Phoenix 2 in the next match. Phoenix 2 are newly promoted to the league, but bring a poor T20 record, losing the last four matches they have played. On the other side, Pembroke have been the nearly team of the competition, falling at the final hurdle in each of the last two seasons. Phoenix will spring a few surprises this season, and Pembroke's T20 form has been much better than in the longer form. So an upset isn't out of the question, but Pembroke should advance.
Leinster 2 have received a bye, and will face the winners of The Hills 2 and Merrion 2. Merrion last won this competition in 2013, but haven't been at their best in the last three seasons, only winning two of their six matches. But the one stat that dominates the discussion surrounding this match is that Merrion 2 have beaten The Hills 2 in the last five matches they have played. Recent signings announced by the Skerries side suggest they will be strong enough in all teams this season, but until more details are known, we'll plump for Merrion to win this one.
The next first round match sees Malahide 2 host Clontarf 2, and nearly everything points to an away win. The one thread that Malahide will be hanging on relates to a league match last season when Clontarf were bowled out for 102 in an early season league match. Clontarf have been awesomely consistent in this cup, winning last year, getting the semis in 2015 and the final in 2014. It is difficult to see anything other than a Clontarf win, where they will face YMCA 2 in a real clash of the Titans.
YMCA have shared their last ten meetings against Clontarf 2, and this could be a cracker. Of course Malahide could be YM's opponents, where they will have to confront an awful record having lost their last eight matches against YM.
The final part of the draw will see the winners of North County 2 and Dundrum 1 play Laois 1 in the quarter finals. North County won the Tillain in 2009 and 2010, but have since slipped away - despite getting to the semi finals last year. That is a much better record than Dundrum, who have lost their last three T20 matches. Laois have a similarly poor T20 record, but enjoy playing against North County and Laois, and could well find themselves in the semi final.
We're predicting that Laois will be in the last four alongside YMCA 2, Merrion 2 and Pembroke 2, where Merrion will beat Clontarf in the final in Civil Service.