This weekend sees the start of cup final season. The seven cup finals ranging from Senior to Minor, with everything in between, start this Saturday with the LHW Senior Cup final being help in Malahide.
The north Dublin club have their sesqui-centennial this year, and one of the many showpieces in Malahide this year is this match. It will be the 5th time that Malahide have hosted the Senior Cup final, and the last occasion (2003), was slightly bizarrely, the only time that North County have lifted the Senior Cup.
Merrion have lifted the trophy twice before, however the last time was 1960 (1940 being the other instance). The action starts at 11am.
On Sunday, the Storm Cricket Trophy final (formerly the Senior 2 Cup) will be played in YMCA's ground Claremont Road in Dublin 4. Once again Merrion will be also be contesting this final, this time against Clontarf 2nds.
The finalists of the Middle Cup final are also now known. The match, to be held on Monday 1st August in North Kildare CC, will be between Pembroke 3 and (you've guessed it) Merrion 3
The teams involved in all the other finals are not yet known, although we are down to the semi final stages in all cups. The Middle 2 Cup final is to be held in Knockharley CC on Sunday 7th August. The quartet hoping to be there are Pembroke 4/Clonee 1 and Merrion 5/Clontarf 4.
The Intermediate Cup final is to be hosted by Phoenix CC on Saturday 6th August. As things stand, Dundrum 2 and Phoenix 4 will be fighting it out his weekend, along with Wicklow County 3 and Leinster 6 (and incidentally this is the only cup this year that Merrion CC can definitely not win!)
Saturday 13th July will see the Junior Cup final in Cabra. The semi finals are to be played on July 30th, between Merrion 7 and Knockharley 2 and North County 5 and Laois 3.
Finally, the Minor Cup final will finish it all off, being played in it's traditional home of Rush CC. The final will be held on Saturday 20th August. This cup has not quite completed it's semi final stage yet, with Clontarf 5 playing holders Rush 3 this weekend for the last semi final spot. Leinster 7, Clontarf 6 and Merrion 8 are already there.
Plenty of exciting cricket will be on show over the next few weeks, with the finals spread around the province. Get to your local ground and show your support