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The Irish Senior Cup and National Cup get underway tomorrow with 64 teams in action right across the country.

The Irish Senior Cup and National Cup get underway tomorrow with 64 teams in action right across the country.

Clontarf begin the defence of their 2013 Irish Senior Cup title with a tough opening encounter when they welcome Lisburn to Castle Avenue tomorrow. Following international duty during the week, ‘Tarf will have Alex Cusack and Andrew Poyter amongst their ranks as they look to follow on from a memorable season last year which saw they take the Leinster Division Two.

2010 winners Merrion, who have reached the final in three of the last four seasons also face a trip to the NCU where they will take on Muckamore, winners of the inaugural RSA National Cup in 2012. Dom Joyce’s charges will be looking to go one better this year and they’ve started the season well, sitting on top of Leinster Division One after two rounds.

Donemana, winners of the competition in 2000, make the long trek to the Mardyke to take on Cork County, one of two Munster sides in the competition. The other, Cork Harlequins travel to Pembroke.

The pick of the ties sees 2006 champions Railway Union entertain NCU Premier League joint champions Instonians, who made their solitary final appearance in 2011.

YMCA will be looking to rectify their failure to register an appearance in the final stages of the showpiece event, and they will be happy with a home tie against 1991 victors Downpatrick. While, newly promoted Ardmore face a daunting trip to North County, the most successful side in the competition’s 32 year history with five wins.

Another NW side with a difficult hurdle is Glendermott, who are in the road to Skerries to challenge 2012 winners The Hills. Waringstown, who won the last of their three titles in 2011, ending a 16 year NCU drought in the event, have home advantage over newly promoted Terenure.

Another three times winner from the NCU, Lurgan, face 1998 champions Strabane, while St Johnston, the first team from the NW to win the event back in 1987, take on CSNI at Stormont.

Fox Lodge entertain 2009 winners Leinster, while Brigade, victorious in 1996 and 99, face 1986 champions Phoenix. Staying in the NW, Eglinton entertain NCU kingpins North Down, who were triumphant in 1989, 93 and 95, but whose recent record in the competition doesn’t do themselves justice.

NW league champions Coleraine play host to CIYMS, while Bready, beaten finalists in 1995 face Ballymena, who made their sole final appearance back in 1998.

Also taking place tomorrow is the first round of the National Cup, with the stand-out tie being holders Malahide, who must travel to the NW, where they will play Ballyspallen.

Other fixtures which capture the imagination are last year’s beaten finalists Derriaghy who face Creevedonnell, and 2012 runners-up Balbriggan who have home advantage over Newbuildings.

Irish Senior Cup
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
Clontarf v Lisburn
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
Midleton v Ballaghaderreen
County Kerry v County Galway
Athlone v County Clare
County Sligo v Limerick Raiders
Dundrum (LCU) v Holywood
Civil Service (LCU) v 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

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