The draw for the first round of the Irish Senior Cup :
- Malahide v Instonians
- YMCA V Coleraine
- Railway Union v Bready
- Pembroke v Brigade
- Woodvale v Balbriggan
- CSNI v Leinster
- North Down v Eglinton
- Fox Lodge v The Hills
- Donemana v Carrickfergus
- Newbuildings v Waringstown
- Cork Harlequins v Merrion
- Ardmore v Cork County
The four semi-finalists from 2022 – CIYMS. Clontarf, Lisburn and Phoenix- all receive a bye into round two.
Who are the top sides in the competition?
This season 2023 will be the 40th season of the ISC since it started in 1982. The competition was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID pandemic.
A total of 63 clubs (20 NWCU, 19 NCU, 16 LCU, 8 MCU) have participated in the 39 seasons so far playing 2530 matches.
Three LCU clubs Leinster, Merrion and Pembroke have played every season (39) and Clontarf, Phoenix, The Hills and YMCA just one less on 38. In the North West Brigade have played 39 while Donemana and Strabane have played in 37 seasons. In the NCU North Down are on 38, Lisburn, North of Ireland / Belfast Harlequins/ Civil Service North and Waringstown are on 37.
16 winners have come from NCU , 15 from LCU and 8 from NWCU
Waringstown are the leading winners with 6 victories in the Cup and North County 5 times. North County’s 5 wins came in seasons 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008.
Seven clubs have never lost a final - CIYMS (1/1), Downpatrick (2/2), Lurgan (3/3), North County (5/5), Pembroke (1/1), Phoenix (1/1), St Johnston (1/1).
Most matches played Merrion 101, Donemana 99, Warinstown 98
LCU Clubs have overall suceess rate of 52.81% wins in 977 matches followed by NCU 52.01% in 744 matches and NW 48.77% in 730 matches Waringstown have the best individual success rate of 68.37% in their 98 matches, Limavady 66.23% in 77 and North County 66.20% in 71.
The first round darw ensures a distribution of matches in each Union - success can just be down to current Premier League form and the luck of the draw..