For the second year in a row the NCU Challenge Cup Final will be a contest between a famous club of Belfast Old Boys and one of Ulster's most successful clubs. It will be Instonians rather than Civil Service North and North Down rather than Waringstown who will contest the 2009 Challenge Cup final at Strangford Road, Downpatrick.

Instonians are no longer a closed club as a glance at the diverse make up of its team will confirm but the strong connections with Royal Belfast Academical Institution remain and will ensure there will be plenty hoping for a positive cup final result for the club.

Instonians last appearance in the Senior Cup Final was 11 years ago in 1998 and John Stevenson is the only survivor from that cup campaign. His absence from the final that year probably cost Instonians victory as he set up their semi-final win with a superb century. Now, more than a decade later, Stevenson remains one of the most consistent performers in league and cup. He is still scoring hundreds and with an average over 40 with the bat this year the club will be hoping he will perform in the big showpiece occasion.

Along with Stevenson, Rory McCann the Ireland A wicketkeeper batsman and exciting young prospect James Shannon (currently with Worcestershire CCC) will provide the batting back up to Ireland international Andrew White, overseas professional Divan Van Wyk and fellow South African Eugene Moleon who is now resident here.

The latter 3 will also provide the bulk of the bowling. They will be backed up by impressive all rounder Neil Hamilton, left arm seam from former Woodvale player Stephen Bunting and left arm spin from Strabane man, Jack Blakiston-Houston.

Unlike the wee man from Strabane made famous by Esther Rantzen on TV show ‘That's Life', Jack Blakiston-Houston does not speak at 100 miles an hour and is easily understood. I got my first look at the Ireland U-19 player at the British High Commission versus Grasshoppers match in Delhi in February. How often can you say that? The young man has impressed many shrewd observers of slow bowling with his variation and flight and has a bright future. He still lacks a little consistency and his game will be put under real pressure by the powerful North Down batting line up.

Andrew White will not be the only former North Down player who faces his old team mates as Daniel Graham in his first season away from the Comber club will get the opportunity to showcase his talent. Graham made an important contribution in the semi-final at Wallace Park when the Old Boys were wobbling scoring 31 not out which included two towering sixes.

Having already used 22 players in league and cup the remaining places in the cup final line up is anyone's guess at the time of writing. I suspect Kirk, Sheard and Gilmer will make up the rest of the squad but the remainder could as easily be decided by putting the names in a tombola and drawing out the lucky players. Who knows it might even include Billy ‘Bumper' Dale, the self proclaimed legend who is old enough to have played in Instonians last Cup triumph in 1964. Don't worry Billy if you don't make it there's always next year.

The probable North Down line up took me around 5 seconds to name. Sorting out the batting order is likely to take Peter Shields a lot longer. To keep everyone happy he has juggled it around this season and probably it has been mostly to his own detriment.

Surprisingly Ryan Haire's opening partner has turned out to be Ian Robertson or Johnny Terrett rather than Jo Montgomery or Neil Russell. Terrett the former Cliftonville man is showing signs that he is returning to somewhere near his best after a couple of poor seasons. It only goes to prove that it is easier to play in a good team than a bad one.

North Down will definitely pick 6 bowlers, opener Ryan Haire, Iain Robertson and keeper Shields. This leaves Russell, Montgomery, Terrett and Australian born Andrew Sutherland, fighting for 3 batting spots in the starting line up.

Overseas Professional Iain Robertson after a slow start is now reaching top gear just in time for the final. The Kiwi has been in great form with bat of late and is likely to have a major say in the Cup's destination.

His spin bowling pairs up well with both Marty Moreland and former Ireland international Ralph Coetzee who is South African born. Ryan Haire can bowl some leg-breaks or off-breaks if the occasion demands. Even Dana couldn't match his ‘all kinds of everything'!

North Down has plenty of seam options with Ireland internationals Gavin McKenna and New Zealand born Peter Connell. They are ably supported by former club professional Taimur Khan, originally from Pakistan now classed as a local.

The North Down team is vastly experienced and there are no weak links in their side. They will go into the final as overwhelming favourites. Both sides had straightforward passages to the final. North Down's most difficult match was their second round victory over Bangor whilst Instonians have only lost 7 wickets in their 2009 cup campaign.

The form book is uncertain. The sides met each other recently in not one but two dress rehearsals. Instonians comfortably won the league encounter and the following day North Down comfortably won the Ulster Cup semi-final. Instonians remain on course for the double whilst the North Down team remains on course for a treble. Something has to give. It is going to be really difficult to pick a winner although my head is saying North Down. Instonians really need to play well but have the players to put the favourites under severe pressure.

We've got former internationals, current internationals and future internationals. We've got talented locals. We've got 3 South Africans, 2 New Zealanders, an Australian, a Pakistani and a wee man from Strabane. Who needs ‘Kolpak' when you've got the NCU Cup final?
Ironically it could be a local Newtownards lad who represented North Down boys who ultimately wins the cup. If Andrew White has his way it will be and will end a 45 year old wait for Instonians. It's going to be a classic!