The 2016 National Cup was a celebration of Leinster cricket, Laois taking on Rush to make the first all Leinster final. Rush retained their 2015 title making it the second time that Leinster clubs have completed the Irish Senior Cup and National Cup double. Merrion and Rush matches Clontarf and Malahide's feat in 2013.
There have bee a few changes made by Cricket Ireland that will make the task for Leinster clubs a bit harder in 2017. Both the North West and the NCU have reduced their representation in all Ireland cups to 17 teams, with the National Cup being for their 9th to 17th ranked teams, as opposed to their 11th to 18th ranked teams in 2015.
Life is never quite as easy as that, and a quartet of NCU clubs have decided not to enter any of the Cricket Ireland competitiions (Woodvale, Donacloney, Lurgan and Ballymena), meaning that the Northern entry is a little diluted. However, the very best clubs in the National Cup next season, are better than the very best clubs in the same competition in 2016 - Strabane from the North West and Derriaghy from the NCU being the teams to look out for.
However, after that long and complicated explanation, it is slightly immaterial as Leinster clubs have avoided both Strabane and Derriaghy!
2016 champions Rush will start out the competition as hot favourites, and have not lost a match on the field in this competition since the 2013 semi final, when they lost by 8 wickets to Malahide (they lost in a bowl out to Killyclooney in 2014). Rush will host Ballyspallen who finished fifth in the North West Championship last season.
The losing finalists in 2016 were Laois, and they suffered the ignominy of suffering relegation to Division 4 as well. They will face the lowest ranked NCU side in the competition, Cregagh who finished third in Section 2, with the Belfast side travelling to Togher.
The highest ranked Leinster side in the National Cup is Terenure, who finished fifth in Division 2 in 2016. Last season saw Terenure's first matches in the competition, getting off to a winning start against Armagh before losing to Newbuildings, and they will travel to Holywood, County Down. Holywood have had mixed success against Leinster sides in the competition, beating North Kildare, losing to Laois and sharing two matches against Civil Service. Holywood finished in second place in Section 2 in the NCU in 2016, and should be outsiders, but it may depend on how many players Terenure have who are cup tied.
Malahide were the first Leinster winners of the National Cup, and will start another attempt to regain their 2013 title with a difficult away trip to Glendermott. Glendermott haven't had the best of luck (or form) in the two all Ireland competitions in recent years, playing mainly in the Irish Senior Cup, with their last victory being over Bangor in the 2011 Irish Senior Cup, with their last win over Leinster opposition being against Phoenix in 2010. Don't be fooled though - Malahide have a tough draw on their hands.
Knockharley will play their first ever match at this level when they welcome Cork Harlequins to Kentstown. It will be a fascinating encounter between the side who finished third in the Munster Premier league, and the run away winners of Leinster Division 5.
North Kildare face a tough match to start their 2017 National Cup campaign - but against familiar opposition. They played Bonds Glen in last year's first round, with the Kildare side winning by two wickets in Kilcock. Manjeet Singh and Imran ul Haq took three wickets a piece to limit the BGs to 118, before a collapse saw North Kildare slump to 97-8 before Clint Auret and Sean Dalton saw the home side home. Travelling to the North West will be a whole different ball game though.
Dundrum will face a tricky tie at home against Downpatrick of the NCU at a venue to be confirmed. Both sides lost to Rush in the 2016 competition, and whilst Dundrum have a proud record in the National Cup, they will have their work cut out in this one. Downpatrick finished third in Section 1 last season, and will be confident of progressing.
That leaves Civil Service who will face Munster opposition in Limerick. Munster/Leinster ties have been few and far between in the National Cup (previously, the provinces were kept apart in the first round), so there is not much to go on. Limerick are the lowest of the Munster sides in the competition, finishing fifth last season.
First Round of the 2017 National Cup, Saturday 13 May 2017
Sion Mills v Saintfield
Burndennet v Armagh
Killyclooney v Academy
Glendermott v Malahide
Bonds Glen v North Kildare
Laurelvale v Newbuildings
Derriaghy v St. Johnston
Cliftonville v Strabane
Rush v Ballyspallen
Laois v Cregagh
Dundrum v Downpatrick
Knockharley v Cork Harlequins
Holywood v Terenure
Limerick v Civil Service
Co. Kerry v Ballaghaderreen
Co. Sligo v Midleton
Matches to be played on Saturday, the 13th May.
If required, replays are to be played on the 28th May.