The Leinster Senior Cup - sponsored by Conqueror - reaches its second round stage today and, with four matches on offer, you don't need to be a mathematical genius to figure out that these are, in effect, the quarter-finals.
Of last year's final pairing, North County are still in the running, and going on recent form, nobody would be surprised if they go all the way this time around.
Malahide are another team to watch, having eliminated the holders Clontarf in the first round, while also reaching the quarter-finals of the Irish Senior Cup.
Skipper Dave McGeehan is naturally well pleased with the progress of his side, but says he won't be taking anything for granted, despite home advantage, when they take on Pembroke today.
"Our chances certainly look good and in terms of playing ability, I think we measure up well. But they've a lot of experience in their side, with players like Trevor Dagg, Brian O'Rourke, Richard Hastie and the Byrne brothers on board."
The fact that two days after they had lost to Malahide in the first round of the Irish Senior Cup, Clontarf pulled off an emphatic eight-wicket Lewis Traub League victory over Pembroke at Sydney Parade should be encouragement for McGeehan and his men. Pembroke show only one change today from that defeated side, as Joe Byrne comes in for Martin Tucker.
The Merrion-YMCA game at Anglesea Road should be another interesting confrontation. Both clubs got a bye into the second round, and Merrion's impressive and steadier form in all competitions so far this summer should make them favourites to nail down a semi-final place.
In today's other second round Cup matches, North County, with Andre Botha, Paul Mooney and Conor and Dara Armstrong in splendid form, will be favourites against Railway Union at Balrothery, while CYM's home advantage at Terenure may just give them the edge over Rush.
The draw for the Conqueror Cup semi-finals will be made live on NEAR FM 101.6 tomorrow, in the community radio's sports slot between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Meanwhile, Clontarf's Cricket Week, marking the club's 125th anniversary, starts tomorrow with a "schoolboys' blitz" involving hundreds of youngsters. The highlight of the week will be the match between the Leinster Cricket Union President's (Tom Prior) Overseas X1 and Ireland which will be played at Castle Avenue on Wednesday.
The Ireland side has been drawn entirely from the 14-man squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup Qualifying tournament in Toronto, the only absentees being Derek Heasley, Decker Curry and Jason Molins. Kyle McCallan and his men will be well tested by an overseas team which includes the likes of Andre Botha, Jeremy Bray, Matthew Love, Chris Torrisi and Brad Spanner.
Other attractions during the Cricket Week are: Monday - Clontarf 3rd X1 v Midland League X1; Tuesday - Enda McDermott's (Clontarf CC president) X1 v The Free Foresters; Thursday: Clontarf v Leprechauns; Friday - Gladys Shaw's (Clontarf Ladies CC President) X1 v Invitation X1.
