With the 2015 season starting a fortnight this Saturday, it is time to start our previews of the Open Comps league season. With two new leagues this season, we have a massive sixteen league divisions to get through, so today sees the first of those previews, as eight new teams come into the Cricket Leinster league structure.
With a good bit of league reorganisation over the winter months, we will often be referring to a team's position in the league structure. There will be 128 teams taking their position in the league structure this year, and some will be able to improve on their 2014 position - despite playing in a "lower" division than in 2014.
Confused? Read on, and we will attempt to explain all!
Division 16
2014 Champion - This is the first year for the new Division 16
2014 Champion predicted - N/A
2011-14 Top run scorer: N/A
2011-14 Top wicket takers: N/A
No word sums up the feelings around Division 16 more than excitement. Three new clubs that have never competed in league cricket before - Ashbourne, AIB and Carlow; four teams that are from clubs that are expanding - Adamstown 5, Greystones 4, Bagenalstown 3 and North Kildare 4; and one team that is re-entering the league after a long period away from the league - Civil Service 5 who were last in the league in 2011.
All these teams will be getting used to the trials and tribulations that a league season brings; the highs and lows that come with sharing several months of the year with a collection of individuals that you come to love (or hate!). It promises to be a lot of fun, but crucially we have no real idea as to how it will all pan out. Only Civil Service 5 have any meaningful previous form (and that was four years ago), and none of the teams have played each other before.
But a lack of form is no reason to stop speculation, so here is or lowdown and how we think the teams may perform.
Bagenalstown have been putting in a lot of hard work in recent seasons, growing their youth and women's teams, and this year sees the fruitition of that work. Bagenalstown 2 have had a disappointing few years, so it would be difficult to see Bagenalstown 3 racing to the league title. However, that is not what this division will be about, and a bottom half position will be a fantastic result.
Carlow 1 will have one of the best appointed new grounds in the province, using the facilities in Carlow RFC on Oak Park Road. Their youth teams dipped their toe into organised cricket last season, and this is the next step. The highlight of the season could well be the two Carlow derbies against Bagenalstown.
Greystones Cricket 4 is just the latest development in a club that has seen many such steps in the last few seasons. With the new ground at Greystones - Driuds Glen coming on stream by the second half of the season, it is an exciting time to be part of the club. Whether the new 4th team will be successful on the pitch is impossible to know, but with the club's pedigree, it is difficult to see them coming below half way.
Civil Service 5 last played in 2011, when they finished in 104th position in the league. Were they to finish champions in Division 16, they would be 121st, so they are some way below that 2011 mark. There are likely to be a good few players with previous league experience, and 4th or 5th should be easily possible.
Adamstown are yet another club that has been growing rapidly - in 2012 they had only two league teams. Now there are only six clubs in the province that have more. Because of that rapid growth, it is difficult to work out how Adamstown 5 will perform, but with so many talented cricketers in the club, it would be no surprise if they had a good season. Fourth at the very worst.
North Kildare 4 are in much the same boat as Civil Service, Greystones, Adamstown and Bagenalstown - developing clubs that are expanding to cater for increasing demands. In much the same way as Civil Service 5, there will be a good few cricketers with previous league experience playing, and how they perform will be vital. A top 3 finish is a possibility.
AIB have "rebranded" this year, and have dropped the Taverners tag, as they aim to become a fully fledged league club. They have plenty of experience, with AIB 1 playing in the Minor Cup and Russell Court Trophy since 2012. Minor Cup finals in 2012 and 2014 show their potential, and although it is not thought that their league team will be as strong as their cup team, they could well finish at least second.
That just leaves one club, Ashbourne 1, who will be our favourites to take the Division 16 crown. With a big catchment area in east Meath, and a solid club set up they should go far. Players such as Terry Bruton (formerly of Knockharley) will provide the backbone of the team, and with their new ground in Ashbourne Community Centre shaping up nicely, it could be a great first year in league cricket for the club.
The first match will see Greystones 4 travel to McGrath Park to play Bagenalstown 3 on April 25th.