Division 14 stats
Leading all time run scorer (2011-2015) - Adam Gilbride (Clontarf) - 839 runs @ 24.68
Most runs in a Division 14 season - Colm Reilly (Balbriggan) - 510 runs (2013)
Highest score - Jack Quinlan - 168 - Merrion 7 vs Wicklow County 2 - Anglesea Road - 6 July 2013
Leading all time wicket taker (2011-2015) - Tomas Mount (Mullingar) - 64 wkts @ 11.09
Most wickets in a Division 14 season - Tomas Mount - 28 wkts (2013)
Best bowling - Peter Crosse - 8-9 - Wicklow County 2 vs Mullingar 3 - Aravon School - 3 Sept 2012
Most matches - Frank Lonergan (Wicklow County) - 44 - (2012-2015)
Highest team score - 321-5 - Merrion 7 vs Wicklow County 2 - Anglesea Road - 6 July 2013
Lowest team score - 21 all out - Sandyford 3 vs Mullingar 3 - St Finian's College - 29 Aug 2015
Fate (or the hands of the OCC as it can also be known as), has thrown together eight teams in Division 14 who have very little past history. Who would have thought for instance that Pembroke 6 haven't played a single match against any team from Civil Service in the past five seasons?
There are also teams that for one reason and another have played at a much, much higher level in recent years, with Wicklow County 2 effectively being five divisions higher in 2012, Railway Union 5 four divisions higher last year, and Civil Service 4 and Pembroke 6 both playing at least one division higher in living memory. On the other hand Castleknock 3, Balbriggan 3, Adamstown 4 and Knockharley 3 have all been creeping up the league ladder, and Division 14 is where the two groups meet this season.
Civil Service 4 have been promoted as champions of Division 15 last year, and as with all promoted teams, they have much to prove. A large improvement is needed just to stay in the league. Whether that improvement is forthcoming in questionable. Service have a decent record against Balbriggan 3 (winning five of their last seven), but apart from that, it is difficult so see where the wins are going to come from. We're predicting a return to Division 15.
The good news for Balbriggan 3 was that last season saw their highest league finish in the last five seasons, when they came second in Division 15, and 114th in the league ladder. The bad news is that they will have to improve on their best by another two places just to avoid relegation. It is not impossible, but they have losing records against the three sides in this division that they have recently played (Civil Service 4, Wicklow County 2 and Castleknock 3). A 7th place prediction, and plenty of fuel to prove us wrong.
Who knows what to predict for Railway Union 5? A consolidation by the club has seen a 6th team dropped, with the 5ths now playing a division lower than Railway Union 6ths last year. So it is quite easy to say that they will do no better than the 6ths last year, and may just be a mid table team, or worse. On the other hand, this is a team that was finished mid table in Division 10 last year. It only needs a small number of the players from that team to be playing, and they should cruise this league. They are the unknown quantity ion this league, but there are a lot of teams that look as if they will be contending, so we shall predict Railway will come 6th - and risk a lot of egg on the face when they have the title wrapped up by the end of July.
Castleknock 3 are the nearest this league comes to a mid-table banker. Since winning the title in 2013, they have stayed at more or less the same level, finishing between 107th and 110th in the league ladder every year. Something similar this year is likely, and we'll plump for 5th place.
As with Railway Union in 2015/2016, Wicklow County consolidated in 2012, dropping a 3rds team from the league. That meant a drastic dropping in position for the 2nds, but since then they have slowly risen back up the ranks - presumably the scenario that Railway wish to emulate. Winners of this title in 2014, a top half finish for Wicklow County 2 would be a much greater achievement due to standards increasing in the interim. A poor record against some of the top sides (such as Pembroke 6 and Knockharley 3) would indicate they are a level below promotion, but 4th place is within their grasp.
Knockharley 3 have been the ignored little brother of the Knockharley club over the last few seasons. Whilst 1sts and 2nds have rocketed up the leagues, the 3rds have stayed where they are - and that is probably all they want or need to be honest. They have been between 105th and 107th in the league for as long as any one can remember, which would suggest top spot. But with other strong teams around, they may have to settle for a bit lower - perhaps 3rd.
For some clubs, consistency at this level would be perfect. For Adamstown though, the desire is probably for a bit more. Adamstown 4 are currently the 11th highest 4th team in the province and finished 18 places behind their nearest rivals The Hills 4 last year. So they could do with promotion this year. Whether that is likely will come down to the matches against their promotion rivals, as well as dark horses Railway Union. Adamstown travel to Knockharley on May 1st. They will need that win if they are going to get the runners up spot we think they might.
That leaves one more team, Pembroke 6. Of the five 6th teams in the league, Pembroke are the lowest, and may be despondent over their lowest recent finish last season - 103rd in the league. Pembroke won the equivalent of Division 9 as recently as 2001, and won Division 13 back in 2011. They have pedigree. And even if they finish four places lower in 2015 than they have in any year since our records began - they will still win Division 14. One regulation change that has not been discussed in depth is the OCC's much welcomed decision to only allow teams in lower leagues to select one player from the higher team in the club, as opposed to the previous two. This will lessen the advantage that bigger clubs have, but in a division where all the teams are 2nd teams are lower, it shouldn't be too much of a factor. The title will head for Sydney Parade.
The first match is on Sunday 17th April, when Adamstown host Railway Union