Let's hope that today's climatic conditions for the quarter-final stages of the Leinster Senior Cup will be better than those which washed out the first round of matches in the competition three weeks ago. Even though last year's winners and runners-up, Pembroke and The Hills respectively, have already been eliminated, this afternoon's line-up is attractive, with the Merrion-North County encounter at Anglesea Road arguably the match of the day.

The Dublin University and Railway Union game at College Park also has much to offer. Trinity's skipper Paddy Lee will be a busy man these next few days. As well as today's challenge, he also has tomorrow's Lewis Traub League semi-final against The Hills at Milverton to consider, not to mention the Alan Murray Cup quarter-final next Tuesday. A rewarding season beckons for Trinity, who have already won the Irish Universities Championship.

Meanwhile, the British and Irish Universities Championship takes place in Dublin next week. Joey Morrissey will captain the Irish squad, which includes senior internationals in Ed Joyce of Merrion and Middlesex, the Waringstown wicket-keeper Jonathan Bushe and the Ballymena pace-bowler Adrian McCoubrey.

The Universities Championship schedule is as follows: Tuesday, June 27th (11 a.m.): Ireland v Wales, College Park; England v Scotland, Sydney Parade. Wednesday, June 29th (11 a.m.): Scotland v Wales, College Park; Ireland v England, Castle Avenue. Thursday, June 29th (10.30 a.m.): Ireland v Scotland, Park Avenue; England v Wales, College Park.