The Middle Cup has been dominated by lower teams of Division 1 and 2 clubs in recent years - the last seven winners have been from Merrion (the 3rds in 2014 and 2016, the 4ths in 2017), Pembroke (3rds in 2011 and 2015), YMCA (3rds in 2012) and Malahide (3rds in 2013). Our crystal ball reveals that while that may once again be the case in 2018, the draw has meant that there is a good chance of a winner from other clubs.
The action kicks off on June 2nd, with two preliminary matches. Merrion 3 Division 4 host Railway Union 3 of Division 6, and there is little reason to think that the 2014 and 2016 champions won't progress to the next round, especially as Railway Union 3 have only won two of the last seven meetings between the teams. The winner will have a tough first round match, with the other Division 4 team in the draw, Clontarf 3. Tarf have a decent enough record in the competition, without quite doing well enough to lift the trophy. They were beaten finalists in 2015 and got to the semis in 2017. It will be a cracking first round match (should Merrion beat Railway!), and Merrion should have enough, especially at home.
Phoenix 3 are at home to Mullingar 1 in the other preliminary round match, with Phoenix aiming to get to the final which will be held on their home ground on September 2nd. Neither side has been particularly successful in knock out cricket, with Mullingar getting to the 2016 semi final on the back of one win on the pitch. Phoenix have only one one match on the last three years as well, but home advantage should be enough with Division 5 Phoenix overcoming Division 6 Mullingar. The winners face a very tricky tie away to Castleknock 1, newly promoted to Division 5. Castleknock had a good record in the lower Middle 2 Cup, and although they don't have enough to progress to the latter stages this year, they should be good enough to advance to the quarter finals.
Pembroke 3 will be the hottest of favourites when they host Terenure 2 in the first round. Terenure haven't won in the cup in the last three seasons, and have lost their last four matches against a Pembroke 3 side who are one of the best around. Middle Cup winners in 2015, runners up in 2016 and semi finalists in 2017, Pembroke will be there and thereabouts come the latter stages.
The final game in the top half of the draw has YMCA 3 of Division 5 travel to Wexford to take on Wexford Wanderers 1 of Division 6. YMCA were runner up last year - Wexford haven't won a cup game in the last three years (despite playing at a lower level). Against that, Wexford is a tricky place to play, YM were relegated from Division 4 two years ago, and Wexford promoted last year. Don't completely discount an upset, but the Dubliners should have enough.
Bagenalstown 1 have never played Adamstown 1, and this first meeting is intriguing. McGrath Park is another tough ground for away teams to triumph, and the pitch will be low and slow. Adamstown 1 are the better league team, but there is not too much between the respective cup performances. A real flip of the coin job. We'll plump for Adamstown, but a home win would be no surprise.
The 2013 winners, Malahide 3 have a home draw, but one of the toughest of opponents in 2017 Division 5 champions Longford 1 (pictured above). Unlucky to not be promoted to Division 4, Longford will be keen to prove Cricket Leinster wrong and could well be formidable opponents this year. Neither side's record is particularly impressive, but the fire in Longford's belly will take some stopping.
Two teams who have passed each other in the night are Leinster 3 and Rush 2. Leinster were long time inhabitants in Division 5 before a poor 2017 led to relegation, whilst Rush 3 are on the up and up after a long time in Division 6. Again there will not be too much between the teams, as neither has set the world on fire (Rush's 2015 semi final run is the last time either of these teams made the last four). Another flip of the coin job, with home advantage perhaps being enough for Leinster.
The final tie contains one of the most remarkable stories of 2017. Merrion 4 were not even the best team from their own club in the draw, but brilliantly won the Middle Cup after the Merrion third string had faltered. So they can't be written off, but the sensible pundit would think that a 4th team winning the Middle Cup was a one off. On top of that Merrion 4 have lost both of their previous two encounters against Balbriggan 2. Champions to first round losers doesn't seem likely either, and so Merrion 4 will at least keep the dream of back to back titles.
Our tips for the semis are Merrion 3, Pembroke 3, Longford 1 and Merrion 4, with Longford breaking the Dublin 4 domination to lift the Middle Cup