The Irish Senior Cup threw up some tough trips for Cricket Leinster sides but overall it was a good draw conducted by Paul Reilly of sponsors Clear Currency.
With Christmas just a fortnight away, the draws for both the Irish Senior and National Cups are a sure sign that the 2019 cricket season is approaching on the horizon.
Last season’s semi-finalists Merrion and Clontarf, along with Leinster received first round byes in the Senior Cup, while The Hills, Phoenix, Malahide and Pembroke will play at home on May 25th.
Of these, Malahide have the immediate opportunity for revenge having been drawn at home to Muckamore in the first round for the second successive year and losing out by just one wicket in 2018.
North County and YMCA face tricky trips to the NCU. County, in particular, face a daunting tie at NCU Premier League champions CIYMS, who have bolstered their squad with Clontarf’s 2018 overseas star Obus Pienaar and the explosive Mark Adair from Holywood.
YMCA, who this week added a trio of Anders’ to their trio of Tectors, will face off against Carrickfergus at Middle Road. Meanwhile Rush, who completed a third National Cup triumph in four years in 2018, face a long trip to the North West to face Glendermott.
In the Irish National Cup meanwhile, there was a half and half split in home and away draws for the Cricket Leinster clubs.
The two highest ranked clubs, Balbriggan and Railway Union, were drawn at home but face tough outings against County Kerry and Cork Harlequins respectively.
North Kildare will welcome Newbuildings from the North West and Longford will host Downpatrick.
Terenure will travel west to face County Galway, Knockharley will hit the road to Cork to face Midleton, while both DLR County and Laois will make their way to Belfast.
DLR County take on Derriaghy while Cregagh is the destination for Laois.
With LCU sides travelling to and welcoming clubs from the North, North West, West and South of the country, there is a true national feel to the 2019 National Cup.
The First Round draws for both competitions are laid out below, along with the dates (and replay dates) for each round. This leads up to the finals weekend, with the Irish Senior Cup Final on August 31st and the Irish National Cup Final on September 1st.
| Irish Senior Cup | Irish National Cup |
| Instonians v Cork County | Killyclooney v Ballyhaunis (a) |
| The Hills v Ballyspallen | Co Sligo v Ardmore |
| Phoenix v Eglinton | Limerick v Ballaghaderreen |
| Malahide v Muckamore | North Kildare v Newbuildings |
| Coleraine v CSNI | Co Galway v Terenure |
| Carrickfergus v YMCA | Midleton v Knockharley |
| CIYMS v North County | Balbriggan v Co Kerry |
| Glendermott v Rush | Railway Union v Cork Harlequins |
| North Down v Donemana | Cregagh v Laois |
| Bready v Lisburn | Longford v Downpatrick |
| Pembroke v Brigade | Drummond v Laurelvale |
| Derriaghy v DLR County (a) | |
| First Round Byes | Ballymena v Bonds Glen |
| Leinster | The Nedd v Templepatrick |
| Waringstown | |
| Merrion | First Round Byes |
| Clontarf | Fox Lodge |
| Strabane | St Johnston |
Match Dates
Round 1 - Saturday 25 May 2019 (replays Sunday 2 June)
Round 2 - Sunday 16 June 2019 (replays Sunday 30 June)
Quarter-Finals - Sunday 14 July 2019 (replays Sunday 21 July)
Semi-Finals - Sunday 4 August 2019 (replays Sunday 11 August)
Irish Senior Cup Final - Saturday 31 August 2019
Irish National Cup Final - Sunday 1 September 2019