Saturday marks the start of Ireland’s premier club competition, the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup, with defending champions Waringstown hosting Bready as many of the countries big hitters face off against each other.
Losing finalists from 2015, Merrion, face a long journey to the North West to face Coleraine in the opening round as they look to go one step further than last year. It is not the ideal opening tie for the Leinster club, who would have far preferred a home tie at this early stage of the season.
They aren’t the only Leinster club facing a long journey, with Malahide also making the journey to the North West, where they will be underdogs against a strong Strabane team.
There will certainly be no shortage of time on the road, with no single province ties in the opening round, although Railway Union will travel south to face Cork County at the Mardyke. Kevin O’Brien may not be available for the Leinster side in what could be an interesting tie between two similar sides.
Phoenix have made some big signings over the winter with Allesandro Morris, Reinhardt Strydom and Nicolaas Pretorious all adding strength to the Phoenix side that will face St Johnston in the Park.
Another heavyweight tie sees Clontarf travel to Instonians as two teams expected to do well in the tournament will battle it out, while Civil Service North will travel down to north Dublin to face The Hills who have had an excellent start to the season.
All ties in the round are due to take place on Saturday, with a reserve day of May 22nd should any matches be rain affected. The draw for the second round of the competition is scheduled to take place during next week’s Hanley Energy Inter-Provincial Championship match between Leinster Lightning and Northern Knights at Clontarf.
Irish Senior Cup First Round Fixtures
Cork County v Railway Union
Strabane v Malahide
Coleraine v Merrion
Drummond v Carrickfergus
Brigade v CIYMS
Donemana v Derriaghy
Instonians v Clontarf
North Down v YMCA
Muckamore v Eglinton
Waringstown v Bready
The Hills v CSNI
Pembroke v Lisburn
Leinster v Fox Lodge
North County v Ardmore
Phoenix v St Johnston
Yes
Connaught
