RSA Division 4
2012 Champion - Laois 1
2011-12 Top run scorer: I Walshe (North Kildare) 859 runs at 39.05
2011-12 Top wicket taker: M Singh (North Kildare) 42 wkts at 17.33
Division 4 is where the cricket gets (even more) serious. Teams need laptops and scorers. They need coloured clothing to play in the RSA National Cup. And the regulations are designed to mimic ODI's, so power plays, fiedling restrictions and Duckworth Lewis.
There is also a delicious mix of teams, with some thrusting ambitious first teams, some second teams from clubs who's second teams should be doing a bit better, and a couple of third teams who must punch above their weight to even get to this level.
Starting with those two 3rd teams - Clontarf and Pembroke. In my slightly squinting eyes, Clontarf look a tiny bit stronger than last year, and Pembroke a tiny bit weaker. But historically this Division has been one too high for even the very strongest third teams, and so both will consider it a success to avoid relegation.
There are only two second teams, Railway Union and Phoenix. Phoenix will be as good as 2012, if not a little better. As their youth players come of age, and coach Matt Lunson's work comes to fruition, they should be improving. They only just avoided relegation last year though, so whether they can make the big jump to Division 3 is questionable.
Railway Union 2 have narrowly missed out on promotion for the last two years. There have been more arrivals than departures, as Old Belvedere and Leinster players moved south and east and there should be enough talent there to finally gain promotion to Division 3.
That leaves the first teams. Mullingar have relied on a few players such as Rashad Ejaz over the last few years. If more perform, then they have an outside chance of being at the business end come the end of the season. Otherwise it could be a tough year.
North Kildare have been just behind Railway for the last few years, and will be just behind them again this year. They have the divison's top batsmen and bowlers, but just lack in strength in depth. A full season from Tom Satchwell would help, and if they can get one more quality player, they will be promotion material.
Civil Service were desperately unlucky to get relegated from Division 3 in 2012, and should have enough talent to go staright back up. I have a bit of a hunch though, that it won't be that easy. No news has emanated from the Park concerning new signings, so whilst they will definitely be top half, whether the return to the promised land happens this year or not remains to be seen.
So finally to Dundrum. Their rise through the ranks has been the stuff of fairy tales, and finally they are on the cusp of the big time, having been a Taverners side not so long ago. Each time a question has been asked of them in recent years, they have answered, and in players such as Alex Mathew, they have some of the most talented performers outside of Division 1.
But will that be enough? They will be up there. Railway Union will emerge as winners, with Dundrum, Civil Service and North Kildare jostling for promotion.