The tape has only just been raised on the new season but the hurdles are coming thick and fast and such is the nature of the unrelenting schedule, it would be very easy to fall off the horse and then struggle to remount, even at this early stage of proceedings. Nothing is won in May but you can certainly find yourself out of contention and lagging behind fairly abruptly.
After two weekends of league action, the five-round race for All-Ireland glory starts this weekend, when all aspirations can be just as easily left in the starting blocks: the results far supersedes the means in cup games.
Conversely, the first cup outing of the year affords those who have made a slow start to disregard all precursory stumbles and set themselves on the way to the showcase event of the domestic calendar in late August.
The home straight may seem like an eternity away, but a little over three months from now, one side - from either north or south of the border - will find themselves in the winner’s paddock collecting the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup. However, all the legwork will need to be done in the intervening period before any thoughts can turn to crossing the line ahead of the rest.
Such is the variable nature of cup competitions and the perpetual swing in ascendancy, no team - save for the North County team that dominated six years ago - has managed to successfully defend the Irish Senior Cup. It’s symptomatic of the fluctuating essence of cricket as a whole and our domestic game but it doesn’t bode well for the holders, Clontarf.
‘Tarf lifted the trophy for the first time in 2013, defeating Merrion in the final at Malahide, and begin the defence of their crown by welcoming Lisburn to Castle Avenue on Saturday. A comfortable opening weekend win over Terenure was followed by defeat to North County last time out but the expected return of Andrew Poynter and Alex Cusack will boost their resources considerably. The former, in particular, will be champing at the bit to get onto the field after acting as drinks carrier on Tuesday.
Phoenix make the trip north to Londonderry to face two-time winners Brigade in the first round. Phoenix have won one, lost one thus far but will miss underage internationals Rory and Tom Anders for this game. Leinster, meanwhile, have endured a frustrating start to the season with two of their games, both against Cork County, washed out and their sole outing ending in a defeat to Pembroke seconds. They’ll be hoping to get up and running this weekend though when they embark on their third road trip of the campaign, this time to Strabane where Fox Lodge are the opponents. Leinster won this competition in 2009 but things have changed in Rathmines since then but a cup run may just rekindle their spark.
Merrion have been the bridesmaids of the Irish Senior Cup in recent years, having lost the last two finals but they’ll be confident of going one better this time around after a strong start to their league season. Dominic Joyce’s side have strength in depth and are brimming with quality throughout but they’ll be fully aware that form is disregarded in cup competitions. Muckamore provide the opposition on Saturday for the 2009 winners. Meanwhile, Terenure travel to Waringstown.
YMCA, who have never lifted this prestigious trophy, can call upon Trent Johnston for their clash with Downpatrick at Claremont Road. The former Ireland all-rounder is hoping to spearhead a cup winning assault and his presence boosts their batting ranks considerable. YM have started with two wins and may just be the dark horses in 2014. Elsewhere in Leinster, North County - who have won this trophy four times - meet Ardmore, The Hills host Glendermott at Milverton and Pembroke welcome Cork Harlequins to Sydney Parade.
The fixture of the weekend, however, is at Park Avenue where Railway Union come up against Instonians. With Leicestershire not in Championship action this week, the hosts have pulled off a coup in securing the services of Niall O’Brien for this fixture. His last appearance for the club was back in 2007 against North County, when his 89 couldn't prevent Railway slipping to a defeat on run-rate in a rain-affected Irish Senior Cup semi-final. The 32-year-old last played a Leinster league or cup game nearly ten years ago.
Kevin O'Brien returns to captain the side while Pat Collins completes a formidable looking top-order. Instonians, meanwhile, will have Andrew While and James Shannon in their ranks.
The National Cup also gets underway this weekend with eight Leinster Cricket Union competing for the title that Malahide lifted last year. All the action around the country gets underway, weather depending of course, at 12.30pm.
Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup Round One Fixtures
Cork County v Donemana
Pembroke v Cork Harlequins
Railway Union v Instonians
YMCA v Downpatrick
North County v Ardmore
The Hills v Glendermott
Waringstown v Terenure
Muckamore v Merrion
Lisburn v Clontarf
Lurgan v Strabane
CSNI v St Johnston
Fox Lodge v Leinster
Brigade v Phoenix
Eglinton v North Down
Coleraine v CIYMS
Bready v Ballymena
National Cup Round One Fixtures
Midleton v Ballaghaderreen
County Kerry v County Galway
Athlone v County Clare
County Sligo v Limerick Raiders
Dundrum (LCU) v Holywood
Civil Service wo Dundrum (NCU)
Laois v Sion Mills
Balbriggan v Newbuildings
Carrickfergus v North Kildare
Templepatrick v Mullingar
Derriaghy v Creevedonnell
Cliftonville v Bonds Glen
Ballyspallen v Malahide
Killyclooney v Rush
Drummond v Bangor
Burndennett v Woodvale