In a bizarre twist of irony, Martin Ridgeway, whose splendid last-ditch catch when the scores were tied enabled YMCA to edge past Bready (having lost fewer wickets than the northern side) in the first round of the Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup last Monday week, has been omitted from the team for today's second round match against The Hills at Claremont Road.

Ridgeway, who had to move with the speed of a Linford Christie (well, almost) to pull off that spectacular piece of derring-do, can but ponder the vagaries of this sporting life as he steps down to make way for an extra bowler, in this case the Dublin University medium-pacer, Tony Cohen.

This is the only all-Dublin clash in this afternoon's programme of 16 matches in a competition in which, down the years, Leinster clubs have been rather less than successful. But Leinster, who did notably well to reach the final in the past two summers, have home advantage today, as they take on Ballymena at Rathmines.

Limavady, emphatic victors over Leinster in last year's final at Beechgrove, thanks to a superb innings from Decker Curry, face CYM at Terenure.

Elsewhere in the metropolitan area today, Carlisle, North County, Old Belvedere, Phoenix and Railway Union all host northern opposition in the second round. Carlisle should fancy their chances against Glendermott from Derry, who have been struggling in the North West League so far this season, while the other Leinster clubs will be hoping to make home advantage pay.

Merrion travel to take on Cliftonville, while Cork County, Rush, Pembroke and Clontarf are all away in the North West, to Brigade, Donemana, Eglinton and Sion Mills, respectively. Brigade have won all three of their North West League games so far, so that Cork County face a very difficult assignment, but Eglinton - without their professional Ridley Jacobs - may be given a good run by Pembroke.

The form of Rush in the Lewis Traub League does not suggest that they will unduly trouble Donemana, with James and Junior McBrine in excellent form this season. But Clontarf, even without Andre Botha, should be in with a shout against inconsistent Sion Mills.

Much will depend on the form of Bobby Rao. If Clontarf succeed in getting rid of him cheaply, then an away victory might be on the cards.

With the all-island competition taking precedence today, the Lewis Traub League goes into recess, as it were, this weekend. Dublin University, undefeated in all five matches, head Section A, while Leinster are at the top of the Section B table.

Deryck Vincent heads the Leinster batting averages with 45.33.