DUBLIN UNIVERSITY (TRINITY)

These are exciting times at College Park which is set to be the new home of Leinster Lightning in the longer format of the game. The ground has a long and proud tradition, and there's no doubt that it is one of the most beautiful and unique in Irish cricket.

Back to domestic matters and the club enjoyed a very successful 2012, finishing in third place in the league, with four wins and three losses in their seven games played.

Trinity are led by former Ireland Under 17 international Eoghan Conway. The Rush man had a great first season at College Park in 2011 with a run of high scores.

A major disappointment for the club was the decision of Cormac McLoughlin of the Hills to continue to play his cricket with the Milverton club, while highly rated leg spinner Alex O'Brien too has opted to stay with Merrion.

The fact that O'Brien has played once for Merrion each in 2011 and 2012 would make his decision seem a strange one, but having said that there's no doubt that for anyone with serious Irish ambitions, then Senior One is the shop window to be in. 

One seasoned observer noted: "Youn can't help but feel that young Alex could be missing a trick here, given his chance to play with and learn from Conor Hoey, the best Irish leg-spinner of the past half-century." Incidentally, the legendary Hoey currently has 250 wickets for the club, one behind the all-time record held by Sonny Hool.

The overseas professional is highly rated New Zealander Josh Tasman-Jones, 21, who's played under 21 for Auckland and played first grade there. Tasman-Jones turned down several high profile approaches from UK clubs due to his university commitments at home. He was looking for a short-term deal so Trinity was an ideal fit.

Trinity start today with probably their toughest game of the season when they travel to Castle Avenue to take on promotion favoutites Clontarf. If they can get anything from that fixture, it will certainly bode well for the weeks ahead.