When listing the achievements of clubs, it is all too easy to blithely assume that most clubs regularly pick up one trophy or another. In reality, it is the lucky few who experience success on those sultry summer afternoons, and for many players cup glory remains just a dream.
The Senior 2 Cup, is the second tier cup competition in the LCU's Open Competitions, and its role of honour could hardly be said to be a complete list of the province's clubs. Twenty one teams have won the competition since its inception in 1942 (Railway Union 2 were the first winners), and that list includes some long disappeared names such as 3rd OBU, Imperial Tobacco and Cremore, and some more recent departees such as Carlisle and Old Belvedere.
But as the power base of Leinster cricket has moved in the last thirty years, two teams have continued to dominate the Senior 2 Cup. Merrion 2 didn't even win their first trophy until 1992, but they made up for lost time, and between 2000 and 2011, they won five of the twelve competitions. Leinster 2 have won more than Merrion 2 (although the last of their eight wins was back in 1985), but one team has won more of both of these two - and continues to dominate.
Clontarf 2 have won the Senior 2 Cup twelve times, and have won five of the last ten titles (with Merrion, they have won ten of the last fourteen). This year Clontarf are attempting to be only the second team (after The Hills 2, 1997-99) to win a three in a row.
The Senior 2 Cup has an open draw, and as such we can't predict a route to the final, but here is a look at the seven ties that make up the first round of the 2015 Senior 2 Cup.
Civil Service 1 have the best draw of all - they were the one team to receive a bye. They last won the title back in 1969, and although they have got to the quarter finals in three of the last four seasons (as they will do this year), they have not progressed any further.
Although Division 4's Malahide 2 have won the Senior 2 Cup this century (back in 2001), their recent form has been poor - losing in the first round in each of the last four seasons. And to make matters worse, they have been drawn against one of the favourites, the only Division 2 team in the draw, YMCA 2. YMCA should have done better in the cup in recent years. They were runners up last year, and losing semi finalists in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The big prize has eluded them, and it has been a long wait since their solitary Cup back in 1991. They have played Malahide 2 three times in recent years, and have won each time, making YMCA 2 one of the favourites for the Cup.
Pembroke 2 have been a little unlucky in recent years, being knocked out by Balbriggan in a bowl out in 2011 and 2012. Since then though, they have been knocked out in the first round each year, and will have to up their game against a Railway Union 2 side which has the capacity to shock. Surprisingly, Railway 2 have only played their counterparts from across the road, twice in the past four seasons, and never in a match of more then twenty overs. In a similar manner to Pembroke, Railway could feel hard judged by the Cricketing Gods. They were drawn against Merrion 2 in the first round in 2011 and 2012, and in 2013 lost by 1 run to Clontarf 2 in an epic final. This one could go either way.
The big clash of the round is between two teams who we have already mentioned. Merrion 2 will travel to Castle Avenue to take on the reigning champions Clontarf 2. Their past glories have already been documented, whilst their recent meetings have been non-existent. Due to Merrion spending several seasons in Division 2, this will be the team's first meeting since 2012. Another one that could go either way.
An all Division 3 clash in Phoenix Park sees newly promoted Phoenix 2 take on Laois 1. Both sides have poor cup records, with Laois 1 losing in the first round in each of the last four seasons, and Phoenix's solitary win being a win over Leinster 2 in 2012 when they chased 333! The sides haven't met since 2012 (when Laois won by 194 runs), but that was a while ago, and although Laois will probably start as favourites, it will be of the very narrow variety.
The Hills 2's form in this competition is nothing to write home about, although that compares to Leinster's recent outings, which you'd try to sensor to stop any one else finding out about. Leinster have only two wins over the past four seasons, and in that time they haven't progresses past the quarter final. The Hills have to go back to their three in a row in the late 1990s for a taste of cup success. Twice they played Leinster last year, and twice they lost. This won could be a lot closer though.
Dundrum 1 of Division 4 travel to The Maws to take on North Kildare 1 of Division 3. That should be a home win - apart from the fact Dundrum have beaten North Kildare the last two times they have played, including last year's Senior 2 Cup first round. Dundrum got to the semi finals last year, and it will be interesting to see whether that was a one off.
The final tie is yet another one that the form book doesn't really help with. With Greystones 1 progressing up the leagues in recent years, they have never played the North County second string. However in matches between the two clubs. Greystones currently lead 6-0! Greystones 1 did beat North County 3 last year, but this is another step up, being Greystones' first year in the Senior 2 Cup. It should be a North County win.
So lots of tight matches in prospect, making it tough to work out the quarter finalists. We'll have a guess at Civil Service (at least that one is right), along with YMCA 2, Railway Union 2, Merrion 2 (Clontarf's run has to come to an end one day - they've won eight on the bounce), Phoenix 2, The Hills 2, Dundrum 1 and North County 2.