Slightly later than normal, the Open Competitions Committee has announced the league structure for the 2017 season.
An always complicated process, has been made a bit harder by the gradual expansion of Ireland and Leinster Lightning's playing program, as well as the new Development league, which meant many clubs asked for their teams to be moved up or down the leagues to compensate.
There is also the brilliant news that yet more clubs are growing. Gorey enter Leinster compeittion for the first time, with a team being entered in Division 14. Tyrrelstown have entered teams in cup compeitions for the last few seasons and this year they enter the league for the first time, with a team in Division 15. And the new leagues reveal a massive boost for Ringcommons - their first team are promoted four divisions to Division 7, and they have entered a second team for the first time.
Although the new Development League is not being run under the auspices of the OCC, several clubs have decided to enter a team into that league rather than the regular competitions. Leinster, Civil Service, Phoenix and Greystones fall into this category, with North County being the one team to drop a team for other reasons.
Another exciting season is in prospect, with cricket in Leinster continuing to grow. The Division 1-2 fixture list will be published this week), with other fixtures appearing in March.
A full FAQ on the promotion and relegation procedure was prepared by Michael Sharp in 2012, and can be read here
Division 1. Clontarf 1, Pembroke 1, North County 1, The Hills 1, YMCA 1, Phoenix 1, Cork County 1, Leinster 1
Promoted from Division 2 - Cork County 1 & Leinster 1
Other ins and outs - none
Division 2. Railway Union 1, Merrion 1, Dublin University 1, Balbriggan 1, Terenure 1, Malahide 1, Rush 1, North Kildare 1
Relegated from Division 1 - Railway Union 1 & Merrion 1
Promoted from Division 3 - none
Other ins and outs - A combination of some club second teams not wanting to be promoted, and the OCC not wanting to promote them, means no teams are promoted from Division 3. Rush 1 and North Kildare 1 not relegated from Division 2
Division 3. YMCA 2, Merrion 2, Clontarf 2, Pembroke 2, Leinster 2, Malahide 2, Phoenix 2, The Hills 2
Relegated from Division 2 - None
Promoted from Division 4 - Phoenix 2 & The Hills 2
Other ins and outs - see Division 2 notes
Division 4. North County 2, Laois 1, Railway Union 2, Civil Service 1, Dundrum 1, Merrion 3, Knockharley 1, Phoenix 3
Relegated from Division 3 - North County 2 & Laois 1
Promoted from Division 5 - Knockharley 1 promoted as Champions. Merrion 4 finished as runners-up but were prevented from being promoted due to Merrion 3 being in Division 3. Phoenix 3 promoted as next best team.
Other ins and outs - none
Division 5. (Nine team division) YMCA 3, Greystones 1, Merrion 4, Leinster 3, Clontarf 3, Pembroke 3, Longford 1, Adamstown 1, Balbriggan 2
Relegated from Division 4 - YMCA 3 & Greystones 1
Promoted from Division 6 - Longford 1 & Adamstown 1
Other ins and outs - Division 5 increased from eight to nine teams. Balbriggan 2 are the ninth team, promoted as Division 8 champions
Division 6. Mullingar 1, Malahide 3, Rush 2, Railway Union 3, Castleknock 1, Merrion 5, Terenure 2, Sandyford 1
Relegated from Division 5 - Mullingar 1 & Malahide 3
Promoted from Division 7 - Sandyford 1
Other ins and outs - Terenure 2 not relegated from Division 6 after finishing bottom. Laois 2 not promoted as Division 7 runners-up
Division 7. Laois 2, North County 3, Bagenalstown 1, North Kildare 2, Dundrum 2, Wexford Wanderers 1, YMCA 4, Ringcommons 1
Relegated from Division 6 - North County 3
Promoted from Division 8 - None
Other ins and outs - Only one team relegated from Division 7, Pembroke 4. They are replaced by Division 11 champions Ringcommons 1.
Division 8. (Seven team division) Pembroke 4, Leinster 4, Knockharley 2, Adamstown 2, Clontarf 4, The Hills 3, Swords 1
Relegated from Division 7 - Pembroke 4
Promoted from Division 9 - The Hills 3 & Swords 1
Other ins and outs - Balbriggan 2 promoted to Division 5. North County 4 dropped to Division 12. Division 8 becomes a seven team league.
Division 9. Dublin University 2, Wicklow County 1, Carlow 1, Phoenix 4, Malahide 4, Civil Service 2, Railway Union 4, Slieve Bloom 1
Relegated from Division 8 - Dublin University 2 & Wicklow County 1
Promoted from Division 10 - Railway Union 4 & Slieve Bloom 1
Other ins and outs - None
Division 10. Greystones 2, Dundalk 1, Adamstown 3, Castleknock 2, Longford 2, Mullingar 2, Clondalkin 1, Cabinteely 1
Relegated from Division 9 - Dundalk 1 & Greystones 2
Promoted from Division 11 - Clondalkin 1
Others ins and outs - Cabinteely 1 promoted from Division 12 after finishing second.
Division 11. Clontarf 5, Rush 3, Merrion 6, The Hills 4, Lucan 1, North Kildare 3, Ashbourne 1, Terenure 3
Relegated from Division 10 - None
Promoted from Division 12 - None
Other ins and outs - Ashbourne 1 promoted as Division 13 champions. North Kildare 3 promoted from fourth place in Division 13. Terenure 3 stay in Division 11 after finishing eighth.
Division 12. Leinster 5, Merrion 7, Phoenix 5, Civil Service 3, Sandyford 2, North County 4, Swords 2, Balbriggan 3
Relegated from Division 11 - None
Promoted from Division 13 - Swords 2
Other ins and outs - Leinster 5 relegated from Division 10. North County 4 relegated from Division 8. Malahide 5 and Leinster 6 moved to lower divisions
Division 13. (Seven team division) Pembroke 5, Greystones 3, Malahide 5, Halverstown 1, Bagenalstown 2, Dublin University 3, Wicklow County 2
Relegated from Division 12 - Malahide 5
Promoted from Division 14 - Wicklow County 2
Other ins and outs - Pembroke 5 relegated from Division 11. Greystones 3 promoted from fourth in Division 15
Division 14. (Seven team division ) Gorey 1, Laois 3, Adamstown 4, Railway Union 5, Castleknock 3, Clontarf 6, AIB 1
Relegated from Division 13 - Laois 3
Promoted from Division 15 - Clontarf 6
Other ins and outs - Gorey 1 enter the league for the first time. AIB 1 promoted as Division 16 champions. Civil Service 4 relegated to Division 16
Division 15. (Seven team division) Carlow 2, Knockharley 3, North Kildare 4, Mullingar 3, Merrion 8, Ringcommons 2, Tyrrelstown 1
Relegated from Division 14 - Knockharley 3
Promoted from Division 16 - Merrion 8
Other ins and outs - Tyrrelstown 1 and Ringcommons 2 enter the league for the first time
Division 16. (Seven team division) Leinster 6, Civil Service 4, Adamstown 5, Bagenalstown 3, Balbriggan 4, Ashbourne 2, Clondalkin 2
Relegated from Division 15 - None
Other ins and outs - Clondalkin 2 enter the league for the first time. Leinster 6 relegated from Division 12. Civil Service 4 relegated from Division 14.