Division 15 stats
Leading all time run scorer (2011-2015) - Colm Reilly (Balbriggan) - 335 runs @ 47.86
Most runs in a Division 15 season - Colm Reilly (Balbriggan) - 335 runs (2015)
Highest score - Michael Hughes - 121 - Dundalk 1 vs Balbriggan 3 - Jack Harper Memorial Ground - 1 Aug 2015
Leading all time wicket taker (2011-2015) - Munir Khan (Civil Service) - 20 wkts @ 7.00
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 - Dave Nugent (Civil Service) & Syfuzzaman Khan (Civil Service) - 12 - 2015
Highest team score - 270-6 - Dundalk 2 vs Balbriggan 3 - Jack Harper Memorial Ground - 1 Aug 2015
Lowest team score - 28 all out - Dundalk 2 vs Clontarf 6 - Dromiskin - 31 May 2015
Preview
Whereas our Division 16 review was based on little more than a blindfolded pick of cards from a pack, Division 15 has a lot more history behind it, and hence our predictions have a bit more thought behind them - although it is more drunken poker with matchsticks rather than World Series of Poker.
There look to be at least six teams (in our humble opinion) who have a least some chance of winning the league, and throw in the dark horse of a brand new team, and there is the making of a tight season.
Rush 4 are one of only two teams amongst the eight to have any type of league table (Clontarf 6 are the other), the last of their three titles being the equivalent of Division 10 back in 2003. The last few seasons have seen a bit of a slip down the pecking order that is cricket in Leinster, and from a height of 99th in the province in 2011, they have slowly slipped to 120th last year. That would imply a finish toward the bottom of Division 15 - 120th is 6th place. Against that, Rush have come up with some good results against decent opposition, beating Clontarf 6 twice last year, along with a T20 win against fancied Mullingar 3. There will be some wins along the way, but if the pattern of recent years continues, it could well be 8th place for Rush.
North Kildare 4 dipped their toes into league cricket last year, and would have been over the moon with a third place in Division 16, leading to promotion. They were the only team to beat the all conquering Carlow 1, so there are possibilities. But as with any promoted team, there needs to be another improvement in order to stay up. They don't have too much history against any of the other teams (they beat Dundalk 2 in the Minor 2 Cup last year), and will have a real fight to avoid relegation. Perhaps 7th.
This is where Division 15 gets tough. Dundalk 2 had a topsy turvy season last year, finishing strongly to finish 3rd in the league. So will they find that form, or the form that has seen them drop down the league order each year since their inception in 2012? We're going to plump for the latter - Division 15 looks quite strong, and although they could finish anywhere in the top six, we've pencilled in 6 next to Dundalk's name.
Clontarf 6's long wait for a league title goes back to 1997. On the other hand, at least they can say they have won a league, which is more than six of the other seven teams in the league. Recent form would tend to suggest inconsistency. Winning records against Mullingar 3 (2-0 since 2011), Dundalk 2 (5-2), Phoenix 6 (2-1), but losing ones against Greystones 3 (0-2) and Rush 4 (1-3). Their league position has been stuck at 117th for the last two years, down from a high of 95 in 2011. That would be equivalent to 3rd place, but in the dogfight that is the top of Division 15, they may well slip to 5th.
Phoenix 6 debuted in 2014, and then improved their league placing by 5 places last year - a rare team that is heading in the right direction. The same finish as last year would see them in the top two. Phoenix club as a whole seems to be on the up this year, with a sizable handful of new signings further up the club, which will have knock on effects, even for the 6ths. So Phoenix are definitely contenders, but with a few other strong sides around, they will do well to get promotion. We're predicting fourth spot, but there will be less than a win between them and second.
And on to the leagues dark horses, Carlow 2. Their 1st team debuted in Division 16 last year, and thrashed most opponents, romping to a league and cup double. They have been promoted to Division 9 for their efforts. So will their second string do likewise? It is unlikely. Their 1st team success was built on the back of some very good players, and strength in depth could be a problem. However, it would be unwise to write them off, and although promotion will be out of their reach, a top half finish is possible, and we'll plump for third.
Mullingar 3 are the highest ranked team in the division (on paper anyway). They have been consistency personified, finishing between 110 and 114 every year since the 2011 season. There is no real reason why anything should change in that respect, and despite being relegated last year , there is no need to panic. Even if they win the league, it would be their worst league position since our analysis started (top spot in Division 15 will be 115th in the league). The one downside is that they don't look a powerhouse. As mentioned above, they lost to Rush 4 last year, and have poor records against Greystones and Clontarf. Runners up spot is our prediction.
And that means that for the second year running, we are predicting Greystones 3 to win the Division 15 title. Last year was a bit of a disaster, finishing 6th, which was their lowest ever league position. But the oft quoted effect of finally having their own ground for the entire season has to help. They have beaten Mullingar in two of their last three matches, have beaten Clontarf in both of their previous two matches. This is one prediction that could come back to haunt us, but as stated, the top six will be bunched together, and Greystones 3 look as likely as anyone else to come out on top!
The first game will tell us plenty, as new boys Carlow 2 travel to north County Dublin to take on Rush 4 on April 23rd. A big home win for Rush, and we'll have to amend our preview!