Division 11 stats
Leading all time run scorer (2011-2016) - Ali Hashmi (Lucan) - 1129 runs @ 35.28
Most runs in a Division 11 season - Ali Hashmi (Lucan) - 553 runs (2014)
Highest score - Tariq Islam - 239* - Laois 3 vs Bagenalstown 2 - Togher - 15 May 2011
Leading all time wicket taker (2011-2016) - Manjinder Singh (Lucan) - 52 wkts @ 17.88
Most wickets in a Division 11 season - Simon Rice (Greystones) - 34 wkts (2013)
Best bowling - Simba Mujeni - 8-6 - Knockharley 2 vs Bagenalstown 2 - McGrath Park - 4 June 2011
Most matches - Shafqat Ayub (Clontarf) - 44 - (2012-2016)
Highest team score - 409-1 - Laois 3 vs Bagenalstown 2 - Togher - 15 May 2011
Lowest team score - 20 all out - North County 5 vs The Hills 4 - Milverton - 29 July 2012
Ringcommons 1 and Clondalkin 1 ran away with Division 11 in 2016, but this year's episode looks a much closer affair. Six of the teams were in Division 11 last year, with newcomers Ashbourne 1 and North Kildare 3 joining Clontarf 5, Rush 3, The Hills 3, Lucan 1, Terenure 3 and Merrion 6. Where Ashbourne and North Kildare fit into the general scheme of things will be crucial in how things pan out come the autumn.
Terenure 3 came bottom of the pile last year, and will have to beat both new boys, as well as putting in a much improved performance against the exisiting teams if they are to avoid relegation this year. As they have never played Ashbourne 1 or North Kildare 3, there ia a bit of guess work involved, and it may well be that they win the odd game. But generally there is little to make us believe that the team will be massively improved on last year, and it could well be another 8th place.
North Kildare 3 have improved ever so slightly since their lowest point in the league (104th in 2014), but are up against it in 2017. The last two seasons have seen them finish at 101st in the league, and they need to finish in 86th just to avoid relegation. They only have played Clontarf, The Hills and Ashbourne before, with two matches shared against Ashbourne, their best return. It's going to be tough, and could be a real battle with Terenure to see who comes bottom.
Ashbourne 1 face a similar problem to North Kildare. It is one thing gaining promotion, but another problem entirely to rais your game by several levels just to survive. But Ashbourne probably have a better chance than the others. The club is growing steadily, and is attracting new members. They finished 122nd in their first season and 98th in their second. Another 12 places are needed to finish 6th, and whilst that is another big jump, we'll give Ashbourne the benefit of the doubt, and predict 6th place.
Lucan 1 have been steady for the last few seasons. Their problem is currently due to a lack of development within the club, and the absence of a youth structure. That makes it difficult to improve as a club, and it looks as if they have found their level, finishing between 84th and 87th in each of the last three years. 5th place would be 85th, and so it looks like another mid table finish for 2017.
After dropping in the leagues from 2011-2014, The Hills 4 have had something of a resurgence, moving up another five places. So we are confident enough to say that their league position won't worsen from 2016. A few well publicised improvements further up the teams in the club may help the 4ths a little bit, but no more than Clontarf, Merrion and Rush will experience. So another solid season for The Hills' lowest team - which is exactly what a club needs. 4th place - no silverware, but no panic either.
This column has droned on and on for several years regarding the strength of Merrion's lower teams. But one little nugget has been over looked - Merrion 6 dropped in league position every year from 2011-2015, and last year's 86th was their first year on year improvement. And as you'd expect from a sixth string, Merrion's consistency is a problem, with the results against their two main rivals providing an excellent illustration. In five matches against Rush 3 over the last six years, they have been excellent, winning four. But against Clontarf 5 , a team that seems to be at the same level as Rush 3, Merrion have been awful, winning only one from six. So 3rd place is our guess.
Rush 3's last league title was back in 2003, and this year will give as good a chance to end the 14 year wait as any other year. Apart from that poor record against Merrion 6, they look a solid team, winning five of their nine most recent matches against Clontarf 5. As a club Rush have been massively consistent over the last few years, although that is not always a compliment. There hasn't been much improvment in the league position of any of Rush's teams - although that is better than many clubs who have declined. The mini league with Merrion and Clontarf will be crucial. We think it will be a runners up spot for Rush, but it could be 3rd - or 1st.
Those of you who are concentrating, will have worked out that our prediction for the top five this year is equivalent to the finishing position of the same teams last year. And that means that Clontarf 5 are our tip for the top. The club's overall organisational excellence has slowly delivered the top first team in the province (in the Open Comps anyway, they are still some way off the pace in the women's game) - and now the rest of the teams in the club are taking the first team's lead. Back in 2011, the fifth teams of Merrion, Malahide, Leinster and Pembroke were all ahead of Tarf In that time, YMCA and Railway Union have also had their moments, but it is now Clontarf who are the main pursuers of Merrion 5 - albeit a long, long way behind. As we have already said above, the matches against Merrion and Rush (and to a lesser extent The Hills) will be crucial - but Clontarf will just about come out on top.
Clontarf will get an eary chance to press their credentials, staring the league on Easter Saturday with a trip to Lucan.