Division 6 stats
Leading all time run scorer (2011-2016) - Shamas Sarfraz (Longford) - 1290 runs @ 33.95
Most runs in a Division 6 season - Khizer Khan (Railway Union) - 479 runs (2013)
Highest score - Imran Mohammed - 160 - Railway Union 4 vs Longford 1 - Newtownforbes - 22 April 2014
Leading all time wicket taker (2011-2016) - Anthony Burke (Sandyford) - 78 wkts @ 14.91
Most wickets in a Division 6 season - Aaron Joseph (Phoenix) - 31 wkts (2014)
Best bowling - Susheel Kumar - 7-13 - Railway Union 4 vs Castleknock 1 - Castleknock College - 14 June 2014
Most matches - Patrick Monks (Rush) - 59 - (2011-2016)
Highest team score - 345-8 - Railway Union 4 vs Sandyford 1 - Park Avenue - 14 June 2015
Lowest team score - 33 all out - Knockharley 1 vs Longford 1 - Knockharley - 14 Sept 2014
From the outside, Division 6 looks like a league that no one wants to be in. 1st, 2nd and 3rd teams residing here should really be playing at a higher level if a club has aspirations to improve. Seven teams fall into that category, with the only one who wants to be here (and in fairness has no choice!) is Merrion 5. Of the other seven, only two will have the opportunity of promotion to the promised land of Division 5, and for two teams, there will be the nightmare of dropping eveb further down the ladder.
Hopefully these reviews provide a bit of entertainment to readers before the season begins, and are meant to be taken as that, with the very real possibility that the predictions are hopelessly wrong. But it isn't much fun writing teams off, so apologies if it seems that way However, it is very hard to predict anything but a tough season for Terenure 2. They finished bottom of Division 6 last year, but stayed put. Their record against the other teams in this division is pretty poor - nine wins from thirty three matches. It's difficult to see where the required wins are going to come from. They haven't beaten newly promoted Sandyford 1 in the the last six years; they did share the two matches against Merrion 5 last year; and although they have a good 5-2 record against Castleknock 1, they have lost the last three matches against them. Hopefully we are wrong, but it looks very much like 8th place for Terenure 2.
The rest of Divison 6 looks very tough to call. Each team has positives or faults that mean it could plummet or soar. Merrion 5 have been one of the wonders of recent years. They have improved in the league every year since 2013, and 2016 was their best finish since our records began. But there is no denying that for a 5th team to be so high is contrary to the Laws of Gravity (Chapter 27, part 3, sub section ii - which deals with a very obscure part concerning particles falling through leagues). They finished a massive 33 places ahead of the next best fifth team in 2016 (YMCA 5). Of course, they could confound predictions again. But if they do that, they are going to have to beat some fancied teams. Could Merrion 5 beat Mullingar 1? Or Rush 2? Or Malahide 3? It is possible, but there is not much logic in saying it will happen. So for that reason. we'll predict 7th place.
Our intital prediction for Sandyford 1 had them finishing somewhere in the top half. They responsed well to relegation in 2015, bouncing straight back up as Division 7 champions. After a few seasons of their home games being massively disrupted by Longtitude in Marlay Park, a new ground has been provided in a different park of the park which should give stability. But as with Merrion 5, when it comes to it, someone has to finish in the bottom half, and Sandyford 1 look more likely than any of the others. They have a great record against Castleknock, so that may provide an opportunity to rise higher, and have shared the ten matches against Rush 2 that they have played over the last six years. But recent history is against them, and they will need to finish in the same position as in 2015 in order to be safe. That is what we are predicting - 6th.
It is a bit of a roller coaster in Railway Union at the moment. We've predicted many of their teams to do well, but that is at the same time as rumours within the club that are less positive. Despite the numerous ups, last year's 44th was the lowest Railway Union 3 have finished in the league - and playing matches away from Park Avenue for the first part of the season isn't going to make it any easier. They should be too good for the teams we have already mentioned, but don't have a great record against Merrion 5, and it's difficult to make a case for them challenging for honours. 5th.
It is somewhat fashionable to write off Castleknock 1. They have not had the success of other clubs of a similar vintage and size such as Adamstown, Greystones and Longford, and have settled into Division 6/7 without looking like going further up... or down. To emphasise the point, they are the only team in this division not to have a league title this century. But although their finishing place in 2014 and 2015 would be bottom of the league, 2016 's 45th was their best since being 44th in 2013. The matches against the other mid-table teams such as Railway and Merrion will be crucial, but win their fair share of those, and a top half position is possible. 4th.
And that leaves our top three clubs, which not surprisingly consists of the two teams relegated from Division 5 last year, aling with the highest finisher from those still in Division 6. The only problem is working out in which order they will finish. Mullingar 1 were in Division 4 not too long ago, but quickly fell through the Division 5 trapdoor. But despite that fall, they still look too good for most of Division 6. They are 2-2 against Malahide 3, and 0-1 against Rush 2 - suggesting that they won't dominate those games, and for that reason, they may miss out on promotion. 3rd.
Back in 2011, Malahide 3 were the best third team in the province, but they have fallen down the pecking order, finishing seventh in that particular mini league in 2016. But despite that, they look like a team that is more suited to Division 5 cricket than Division 6, and should have enough quality to challenge at the top. Away from Division 6, the pecking order of third teams provides an interesting snapshot of cricket in Leinster. A gap is starting to develop between Phoenix, YMCA, Clontarf, Leinster, Pembroke and the rest. Malahide don't want to fall away from that group.
And that leaves Rush 2. They have been challenging at the top of Division 6 for years, and 2017 should be their year. 2016 was their best finish since our records begain in 2011 (43rd) and the same again would be 2nd. But with one last push and a bit of luck they are easily good enough to be top, and to win their first league title since 2006. As with Malahide, Rush 2nds need to be keeping up with other 2nd teams, and they have now been passed by Balbriggan. 2017 should provide the opportunity for them to move up.
The first matches are next Sunday, when Rush entertain Sandyford and Castleknock host Merrion.