The performance of five Leinster teams in getting through to the Quarter Finals of this year’s competition prompted a wider review of the results down the years*.

The 36 year history of the competition breaks down into two 18 year periods with the second starting in 2000. It also nicely encapsulates how the balance between northern and southern teams have changed. The increasing prominence of Leinster teams post 2000 is a matter of record - but each decade has thrown up interesting shifts in the playing strength of clubs and provinces.

Although the competition rules have changed a little over the years, there can be no denying the shift in results since 2000 with Leinster clubs more than doubling the number of matches won. This is also reflected in the titles won - Leinster clubs secured only one before 2000 but 13 since.

The two most successful sides in the competition are Waringstown and North County with five wins each - but while Waringstown’s are spread over both periods North County’s dominance is in the first decade of the new century. The other big mover is Merrion, tripling the number of games won and getting to five finals [and winning two] between 2010 and 2016. In all 17 clubs have won the ISC at some point in time.

Waringstown are the current favourites [currently ranked number one team in Ireland] but if they are to win this year they would become only the second team to achieve back-to-back victories. That was North County in 2007 and 2008. The most successful Leinster side in making it through the first round since 2000 [which is always against opposition from other unions] is North County [16 out of 18] but Merrion will draw level when the 2018 results are taken into account. Although Merrion went down to the wire last week in their second round encounter versus CIYMS, their supporters might not have worried so much if they had known that history was on their side. Since 2000 Merrion have never failed to get past the second round once they had got there.

So which is the most successful Leinster side in terms of matches won over the whole period of the ISC. That honour goes to Merrion with 56 wins. North County is next with 47 [reflecting their fewer years in the competition]. Since 2000 North County have won the most matches [46] - but Merrion will at least move level with them when this year’s results are taken into account.

Finally, the 36 years of the ISC provides an interesting insight into the changing fortunes of individual clubs. Of the 17 winners, two from Leinster [Malahide and Railway] are [for 2018 at least] no longer in the Premier Division. Even more dramatic changes have taken place in the other unions - three times winner Lurgan are currently lying last in the second division of the NCU, where they are competing against Downpatrick [2]. In the NWCU St Johnston [1] no longer features in the Premier and Limivady, who held three titles between 1994 and 2004, is now a junior club.