The NEAR 90fm Alan Murray Cup has started in dribs and drabs and with one group of the four already decided, the competition gets going in earnest tomorrow in four different locations around Dublin.
Group B is already decided with Leinster having won their three fixtures against Terenure, Phoenix and Rush. The three games between these sides, therefore, will be played out in Phoenix Park with none of the sides in with a chance of progressing out of the group.
The same is not true of Group A where all is to play for. Clontarf, The Hills and Merrion will duke it out at Castle Avenue in one of the tightest groups of the day. The fourth team in the group, Old Belvedere, have already lost to both Clontarf and Merrion, and are out of the running for a semi-final berth.
Group C takes a strange form, with two second teams - North County 2 and Hills 2 - making up the numbers with Pembroke and North County 1. You can't look past the two first teams here as both the Hills 1 and North County 1 are in action at the same time as their seconds teams.
Park Avenue plays host to home team Railway, YMCA and Malahide in the only three-horse race in the competition. This is the other tight group of the day, YMCA dangerous if their main players hit their straps. Railway will fancy their chances at home though, their power hitting among the best in the competition.
My prediction to go through? Apart from Leinster the group winners are tough to call, but my money is on Merrion, North County 1 and YMCA to top their groups.