Division 15 stats
Leading all time run scorer (2011-2016) - Abdul Khan (Clontarf) - 363 runs @ 40.33
Most runs in a Division 15 season - Shahid Khan (North Kildare) - 353 runs (2016)
Highest score - Michael Hughes - 121 - Dundalk 1 vs Balbriggan 3 - Jack Harper Memorial Ground - 1 Aug 2015
Leading all time wicket taker (2011-2016) - Aidan McDermott (Clontarf) - 24 wkts @ 14.42
Most wickets in a Division 15 season - Munir Khan (Civil Service) - 20 wkts (2015)
Best bowling - Munir Khan - 8-5 - Civil Service 4 vs Rush 4 - Civil Service - 28 June 2015
Most matches - Aidan McDermott (Clontarf)- 17 (2015-2016)
Highest team score - 282-9 - North Kildare 4 vs Phoenix 6 - Castleknock College - 17 July 2016
Lowest team score - 28 all out - Dundalk 2 vs Clontarf 6 - Dromiskin - 31 May 2015
Division 15 throws up something of a clash of the old versus the new for 2017. Ringcommons have added a second team to their all conquering first team of the last five years; Dublin 15's Tyrrelstown enter the leagues for the first time after several years in cup competitions, and Carlow 2 start their second season after a promising debut last time out.
Against that are four teams who have been slipping over the last six seasons - Merrion 8, Knockharley 3, North Kildare 4 and Mullingar 3. Over 42 matches this summer, we will see whether new will come out on top, or whether the established order can reassert themselves.
Previous matches between these seven teams are few and far between, but the games that Mullingar 3 have played against the others don't bode well. They have lost their last four matches against Knockharley 3, four of the last five against Merrion 8. The only credit in their account is a two wicket win over North Kildare at the end of last season. A repeat of last year's league position would see them bottom of the league, and with Tyrrelstown and Ringcommons looking strong, they are going to have to beat teams like Merrion 8 if they want to finish higher.
Merrion 8 gained promotion from Division 16 last year, although that hides the fact that it was the lowest league position that the team had ever finished - 121st. They face may of the problems that Mullingar face - they look to be weaker than the established clubs and the new clubs could be too good for them. Merrion finished above Mullingar 3 in 2011, and above North Kildare 4 in 2015, but apart from that, they have always finished lower than the four other teams with league experience. So it looks like 6th place is as high as Merrion will get this season.
North Kildare 4 are in to the third season of their most recent league existence, and the signs have been encouraging. 123rd in 2015 was improved to 115th last season, which equates to 5th in Division 15 this year. There are a few worrying signs though - the loss to Mullingar at the end of last season doesn't suggest a team which will run away with the league, and at this early stage, it doesn't look as if North Kildare as a club will be a lot stronger than in 2016. So last year's 5th looks to be the likeliest position come September.
Of the seven teams in Division 15 this season, none have ever managed to lift a league trophy. To match last year's league position of 111th Knockharley 3 will have to break that duck, although there is not much evidence to support it. They have been between 105th and 111th every year for the past six seasons, but 2015 and 2016 have been towards the bottom of that spectrum, and advanes made by the two higher teams in Knockharley have not been replicated for the third string. Mid table is no disgrace, but it will signal another drop in league position.
Tyrrelstown 1 have been quietly going about their business over the last few years, making sure they are ready to hit the ground running. Their new ground in Dublin 15 has been in an advanced stage of planning for three years, and will hopefully be up and running soon. They have reached the semi final of the Minor 2 Cup for the past two years, and look a solid outfit on the pitch. Whether they will run away with the league it is difficult to tell, but there is no reason why they cannot be contenders. Third is the most likley, although don't be surprised if they get promoted at the first attempt.
Ringcommons 2 make their debut, and if their multi trophy winning first team is anything to go by, will be a real handful for opposing teams. As we have repeated again and again, a first season of league cricket can sometimes be tough, and whether the club can adapt to have to find 22 players week in, week out remains to be seen. Expect a strong challenge though - perhaps runners up spot.
That leaves Carlow 2 who finished in 114th place in the league last year - their first season in the league. A top three place is needed to beat that, and they should be able to acheive it. The matches against Ringcommons could be brilliant, and we're predicting Carlow's second league title - to go with the Division 15 that their first team won in 2015.
And if our predictions our right, the very first game of the season is a massive one - Ringcommons 2 host Carlow 2 on April 30th