There was no shortage of excitement in the Leinster Senior Cup with Dublin University and Railway Union ousting out 2023 finalists The Hills and Clontarf, while Phoenix won a remarkable game against Merrion.

Jeremy Martins took five wickets and Cameron Rowe scored a rapid half century as Fingal thumped Dublin City. There was no play in the other scheduled game due to the ongoing students protest at Trinity.

There were wins for Railway Union, Rush, and North Kildare in the Championship, while there was no play in the Cork County versus The Hills match.

Stephen Doheny scored a century as Merrion beat Balbriggan, Reuben Wilson took four wickets to help Clontarf crush Leinster, while Ben White and Jack Lalor starred as Phoenix beat Malahide.

There were opening day wins for North County, Rush, Railway Union and The Hills in the Championship

Pembroke and Balbriggan won convincingly, while Leinster edged out Merrion.

Malahide have confirmed that Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin is joining them from The Hills.

Deryck Vincent revisits the controversial visit of a South African based side to Ireland in 1969.

Every now and again something happens, or takes place, which would warm the cockles of your heart.

The demise of YMCA has led to many players seeking pastures new, but the signing of Graham Ford as Head Coach by Malahide where he will hook up with his son Matt is perhaps the most significant.

Leinster will be led on the field by captain Bilal Azhar and he will be aiming for some more silverware in 2024 after their Irish Cup success last season.

Eoghan Delany is at the helm for the upcoming campaign and his side has been active over the close season.

It may only be a seven team Premiership, but it will certainly be ultra-competitive, and Phoenix aim to be right in the mix. Adam Chester is in the driving seat as they hope to mount a title challenge.

The hard work started last season for a North County side that is determined to mount a serious challenge for the Championship title.

It's a huge season for Rush, who go into the new season without the services of Neil Rock, having lost Stephen Doheny the previous season.

Terenure have been something of a cup team over the last few years, but captain Dónal Lynch is looking to add some consistency to mount a promotion challenge.

There was sad news on Thursday night when YMCA confirmed they wouldn't be able to participate in the premiership for the upcoming season.

There is plenty of positivity around Milverton as the new campaign approaches.

It's been a successful few years for Balbriggan who went agonisingly close to winning the All-Ireland T20 Cup last season.

It's a new era at Pembroke, with Theo Lawson having retired.

It's been a busy close season down at Park Avenue with three players in and out.

We start our previews of the domestic season with a look at the ins and outs at Merrion.

Sydney Parade will host the interprovincial season curtain-raiser with the opening T20 Festival taking place at Pembroke from Wednesday May 1st until Friday May 3rd.

The Story of Cricket in Laois by Jim Bennett will be launched on Friday Apil 19th at the Midlands Park Hotel.

Sports clubs are run by many different types of people. Some love the spotlight and do their thing in the full glare of the public. Others work behind the scenes, quietly beavering away, not drawing any attention to themselves but always getting the job done. Charlie Craig was one of the latter.

The Hills have confirmed that influential all-rounder Brandon Kruger is joining the club from Railway Union.

Clontarf have confirmed that Irish international Curtis Campher is joining the club from YMCA.

Merrion have signed Leinster professional Peter Francis, while Andrew Doheny has also joined from Rush.

Railway Union have been busy during the close season and are currently carrying out major improvements at Park Avenue.

Alan Lewis will be honoured with the Outstanding Contribution and Service to Irish Cricket award on Friday night.

Shane Getkate is looking forward to a return to Leinster cricket after spending a decade in the NCU.

YMCA members expect to hear later this week that their protracted battle to stay at Claremont Road has been lost, after the ground was put up for sale three years ago, and that the club that produced Ireland star Harry Tector will cease to exist.

It's all change at Phoenix for the forthcoming campaign with Irish international Shane Getkate moving to the Park.

Rush have signed New Zealander Ocean Bartlett for the 2024 season.

The annual club dinner scene made a welcome return last year, but it's not always just a case of turning up for some members, with an incredible amount of work going in behind the scenes.

Des Cashell, President of the Irish Cricket Union had assembled a star studded XI to play a Malahide XI to mark the opening of the extended and renovated grounds in Malahide including a new international standard cricket square.

Hard hitting batsman Younas Ahmadzai is returning to Malahide for the 2024 season.