Division 9 stats
Leading all time run scorer (2011-2016) - Eoin Lenehan (Greystones) - 1071 runs @ 44.62
Most runs in a Division 9 season - Eoin Lenehan (Greystones) - 545 runs (2015)
Highest score - Danny Hogan - 151* - Terenure 2 vs North County 4 - Inch - 14 Sept 2014
Leading all time wicket taker (2011-2016) - Patrick Mount (Mullingar) - 52 wkts @ 15.62
Most wickets in a Division 9 season - Asad Ali (Carlow) - 30 wkts (2016)
Best bowling - John Andrews - 7-16 - North County 4 vs Ringcommons 1 - Inch - 7 Sept 2014
Most matches - Lineesh Ramachandran (Phoenix/Sandyford) - 48 - 2011-2016
Highest team score - 339-6 - the Hills 3 vs Phoenix 4 - The Vineyard - 24 July 2016
Lowest team score - 15 all out - Dundalk 1 vs Swords 1 - Newbridge Demesne - 17 July 2016
Many of our league reviews so far have predicted that teams will finish in approximately the same order as they finished last year. Teams that were relegated from above should stay too strong, those that are promoted from below will find it too tough. But Division 9 looks as if it could be a bit different. And so at the risk of looking stupid come September, our Division 9 preview has some slightly left field predictions.
Back in 2014, Civil Service 2 were at 60th in the league, something like mid table in Division 8. But the two seasons since then have seen falls, and it will need a reverse if Service are to have a decent season. Last year's position would be 6th this year. They have a good 4-2 record against Malahide, but that is the only positive return (they haven't yet played Railway Union 4 or Slieve Bloom 1). Whether there will be enough new players - either from their youth system or from elsewhere - is unknown. Back in 2014, they were the 18th best 2nd team. If they finish below Dublin University 2, they will be down to 20th. And we think that will happen, with Service finishing in 8th.
As the risk of sounding like a scratched record (or perhaps a glitching mp3) Malahide are one of many clubs whose lower teams have been dropping down the leagues as newer clubs come on the scene. The decline of Malahide 4 has been gradual, averaging perhaps two places a year. The bad news with that is that two places worse than last year would be 7th this year. Malahide have had a fairly quiet winter in terms of player movement (that can be a good thing!), and so 7th sounds about right.
Phoenix 4 provide something of an easy opportunity for the tipster. They have finished between 68th and 70th in each of the last three seasons, and there is little evidence to suggest anything different this year. The do look like a mid table team - they'll be confident against Civil Service 2 (having beaten them in their only previous meeting) but scared of Malahide 4 (losing four of their five matches). Phoenix 4 have been accustomed to league titles, with their last being this title back in 2014. That won't be repeated, but they should avoid relegation - 6th.
With Trent Johnston helping Dublin University 2 behind the scenes in 2014, they reached a high of 57th. Their fall since TJ returned down under has matched Civil Service 2, and the two sides are likley to be well matched again. It must be said that Trinity have been slightly higher than Service, and in fact, a repeat of last year's finish would see Trinity finishing top of Division 9. But to be honest, they don't look like a table topping team. They have only played two of the teams before - Wicklow County 2 and Civil Service 2, and against both, they have shared the two matches. Of course there could be a group of new students, but we'll assume there isn't, and they'll finish 5th.
Last year's Division 10 for Railway Union 4 also happened to be the lowest the team has finished in the league in recent seasons. They were predicted to romp to that title - and did. So there should still be lots of potential, and the chance of further potential. There seems to be lots of postive vibes coming out of the club, although the big negative is the ongoing work in Park Avenue which will mean home games being played elsewhere - at least for the first half of the season. That is tough, and all the recent examples of sides having to play away from home would suggest a difficult season. They still will be top half, but in our opinion only just. 4th.
The fall and rise of Carlow 1 has been extraordinary. The club has published a short film today detailing their recent history, and it is well worth a few minutes of your time. This is only their third year back in the Leinster leagues, and after finishing in 121st place in their first year, they were 67th last year. Obviously that progression can't continue - the best they can do is 65th. Our one prediction will be that they won't do any worse than last year. That would be 3rd, but they may well do better. The matches against the two teams that we tipping for the promotion spots will (obviously) be vital.
Slieve Bloom 1 have progressed solidly since their initial foray into league cricket in 2013. That may sound like faint praise, but is a massive compliment. The new changing room complex will transform the new ground in Meadowlands, and there has to be a chance that on field improvements will follow. Rumours from their irrepressible spokesman Mick Schnackenburg suggest a good few new players, and their record is excellent - they have only lost one match to any of their opponents in this league (to Railway), and have winning records against all of them. It is probably not the time to be re-mortgaging the house and putting it on Bloom to win the league, but a small each way bet is tempting. Perhaps the runners-up spot?
And that leaves Wicklow County 1. It is not a romantic choice. They have some quality players and they have never been lower than 64th in the league since 2013 - which is higher than 1st place. And there is little more to say really. In this case, just because they were relegated in 2016 doesn't mean that the club will fall apart and plummet down the leagues. In our eyes they are favourites to bounce straight back up.
The season starts on Sunday 23rd April. Carlow 1 travel to College Park to take on Dublin University 2 and Railway Union 4 go to the Park to play Phoenix 4. We're tipping two away wins.