Division 5
2014 Champion - Malahide 3 (predicted 2nd)
2014 Champion predicted - Clontarf 3 (8th!)
2011-14 Top run scorer: Brian Gilmore (Malahide, 2012-14), 1253 @ 36.85
2011-14 Top wicket taker: Jim Walsh (Merrion, 2011-14), 57 @ 19.84
Division 5 is only a week away, but for the teams involved, the warm April afternoons must be massively frustrating. All cricketers are aching to get going when the skies are blue, and the ground dry. Railway Union 3 and Malahide 3 meet on April 26th, but the rest of the division must wait even longer - most clubs play over the May Bank Holiday weekend - apart from Mullngar 1 who wait until May 17. Another month!
With only one first team making up the action, there is perhaps not the same level of excitement to the neutral observer, but for all the interested parties who are far from neutral, here are our thoughts on who may finish where in 2015's Division 5.
Leinster 3 may be the most decorated side of the octet, with 10 league titles over their history, but don't let that hide the fact that recently they have been a long way from adding to that haul. They have been consistently in the mid to bottom half of this division over the last four years, with their highest ranking equating to 36th in 2011. With a record against some teams that is a little scary (2-7 vs Railway Union 3, 1-4 vs Malahide 3), they could struggle. Relegation looks a real possibility and we think they may come 7th.
Malahide 3 are the reigning Division 5 champions, and have always been a force around the old Senior 3/current Division 5. They have always managed to combine the wisdom of a few older players with the energy of youth, and should do the same again this year. Poor records against Railway Union and Mullingar are slightly worrying, and although they will be better than most, they will struggle against the very strongest sides. Third.
Merrion 4 continue to be the trailblazers for 4th teams in Cricket Leinster, and are a whole dividion higher than their nearest challenger - Railway Union 4. It would have been too easy to think that a fourth team couldn't keep up such a strong and consistent challenge over the years, but the reverse has been true. Every year since 2011, Merrion 4 have bettered the league position of the previous year. 47th in 2011, they finished 38th last year, and it would be a fool to say that they won't continue with that trend. However, there are a some good teams in this division, and although we think Merrion will improve, it will only be by one place, and we are predicting 5th.
Mullingar 1 will have got over the disappointment of last year's relegation, and should find Division 5 far more to their liking. There have been a few new faces registered by the club pre-season and should have a good season. They have consistently been the equivalent of the top one or two in this division, and look to be genuine contenders. We think they may miss out on top spot, but should be runners up at worst.
Pembroke 3 have been battling away at the very limit of a third teams potential in recent seasons. Divison 4 is more or less as high as it is possible to get for a 3rd team, and they acquitted themselves well. Like Mullingar 1, Pembroke 3 will enjoy the drop down a division, and look to be a cut above all the other teams. Even if they had their worst finish in five seasons they would be second, and we don't think that will be the case. Worthy favourites for top spot.
Phoenix 3 are the new boys on the block, promoted as Division 6 champions (unlike what you may have read elsewhere this week!). That may be where the good news stops though. They haven't played Mullingar 1 in recent years, but have bad records against he other six teams. Their finishing position in each of the last three seasons would have meant bottom spot in Division 5 this year. They need to improve by four places on last year to move out of the relegation places - that may be as good as it gets. We'll say 6th.
Railway Union 3 are the probably the Kevin Pietersen of Division 5. Absolutely brilliant at times, but wildly inconsistent and massively infuriating. 33rd in 2011, then down to 40th in 2012. Back up to 34th in 2013 and then 39th last year, which would spell relegation this year. But they have excellent records against nearly all the teams, so surely can't struggle this year? There will be enough bad performances to keep them away from the top places, but 4th is well within their capabilities.
Terenure 2 had their best season in years last year, as lots of new members coming into the 1st team made the 2nd team much stronger. 36th was nearly a whole division better than the previous year and promised much. However, many of those new members have subsequently departed, and it seems logical that performances will revert back to where they were pre-2014. That would be somewhere equivalant to the low 40s in the league ladder, and as 8th spot in Division 5 is 40th spot, we are going to have to allocate that to Terenure 2.