Merrion's win over Waringstown in last September's Irish Senior Cup final was the 13th time in the last sixteen seasons that the competition's winner has come from Leinster, and the countdown to the 2017 season has now started, with Cricket Ireland announcing the draw for the first round.
The first news is that there has been some minor tinkering to the format for 2017. The representation of the NCU and the North West has been reduced to eight teams each - both unions were concerned that their lower placed teams had little chance. The reduction has meant that the four semi finalists fromt he previous year are given byes to the first round, so Merrion and YMCA (along with Waringtown and Instonians) are already through to the last 16.
That leaves eight more teams in Leinster who have been handed draws of varying fortune.
Seven of the ten Leinster teams in the draw are previous winners of the competition, with Pembroke being one of those who are still waiting for their day in the sun. The Sandymount club have to be one of the favourites for 2017, and have a trip to Connacht which isn't quite as easy as many would assume. County Galway have been quietly going about their business in recent years in the Munster competitions, and have a decent squad, with many players playing in Leinster Division 2 with Terenure. The venue of this match is still to be decided, as all Irish Senior Cup matches must be played on grass, which Galway's home venue is lacking.
Phoenix travel to surprise NCU runners-up in 2016, Carrickfergus. Much will depend on any changes in personel in the respective squads. There weren't too many players in the 2016 Carrickfergus squad that would be familiar to Leinster readers, with Jamie Holmes and Ryan Eagleson being perhaps the most recognisable. Carrick lost to Merrion in last year's second round, whilst Phoenix lost in the qurter finals to Instonians. A tough one to call at this stage.
North County will host CIYMS of the NCU, in a tie that can be described in very much the same way as the Phoenix/Carrickfergus tie. These two haven't met before, although CIYMS did beat a Fingal side last year - CIYMS beat The Hills by 5 wickets with Justin Kemp and Nigel Jones starring. There could be many changes to the CIYMS squad over the winter, so again, this tie is up in the air. County have a good chance though.
For The Hills, it is very much a case of welcoming back old friends to Milverton. CSNI will revisit Skerries after coming down the M1 once more, after losing in the 2016 1st round thanks to starring turns from The Hills' Mike Baumgart and Naseer Skoukat. The sides also met in the 2013 quarter final in Stormont, with CSNI coming out on top of this one. Another tight encounter is in prospect.
Only one Leinster side lost to a North West side in 2016, and that was Leinster who lost to Fox Lodge. The Rathmines side will to Derry to take on a Brigade side, who according to the Cricket Europe form, are putting together a decent squad for 2017. The teams famously met in the 1996 final, when Brigade travelled to Rathmines at beat Leinster by 8 wickets. A victory isn't beyond Leinster, but it is a tough draw.
Railway Union may have got relegated last year, but they remain a talented side, and wil fancy their chances of upsetting the odds away to Coleraine in the North West. Coleraine finished third last year in the Premier league, but have already lost a couple of players in the ferocious northern transfer market. The two teams met in the 2010 quarter final at the same venue. Railway went on to win the competition that year, and won thanks to 50s from Tom Fisher and Conor Mullen. Kenny Carroll missed out wuth the bat in the match, but was match winner with the ball, with 3-39 as Railway won by 19 runs.
The top 10 eligible sides in Leinster in the previous year qualify for the Irish Senior Cup. Balbriggan finished in 12th place in the league, but with Dublin University and Cork County both finishing above them (and not being eligible to take one of those ten places), Balbriggan will take their place in the competition for the first time. They will play Drummond who finished 7th in the Premier league in the North West last season. Drummond have only had Leinster opposition once in the past 20 years, losing to The Hills in 2003. That was (obviously) a long time ago - Patrick Byrne hit 108* and Mark Clinton, 82 as The Hills made 293. The top wicket taker for The Hills was a certaiN Barry Archer, who took two wickets and is still making occasional appearances for Balbriggan. What price a man of the match performance against Drummond for Archer in 2017?
The final tie is an intriguing match on paper as Clontarf host Donemana. It pits the Leinster champions against the North West champions, but Clontarf should be too strong, and will still be smarting from their loss to Instonians last year. Clontarf have won their last four matches against North West opposition, their last loss being to Brigad back in 2010. Surprisingly, the two teams have not met in the Irish Senior Cup in the last 20 years, but this one will be eagerly awaited.
1st Round of the 2017 Irish Senior Cup - 13 May :
Co. Galway v Pembroke
Bready v Cork County
Carrickfergus v Phoenix
Muckamore v Ardmore
Lisburn v Eglinton
North County v CIYMS
The Hills v CSNI
Fox Lodge v North Down
Brigade v Leinster
Coleraine v Railway Union
Balbriggan v Drummond
Clontarf v Donemana
Merrion, YMCA, Waringstown & Instonians have byes in this round.
Matches to be played on Saturday, the 13th May. If required, replays are to be played on the 28th May.