NOW that Leinster Lightning has completed its first season of games at home -- with a full programme still to come away from home -- it is becoming clear to even the most passionate die-hards that by far the largest proportion of cricketing talent in the island resides in the eastern province. While lessons are still being learned from the early games, a slightly worrying pattern has started to develop,
Even though the North-West and NCU selected the best of the professionals playing in their regions -- which Trent Johnston and his selectors declined to do -- the Lightning has completely outplayed the Warriors and Knights over each of the games to date, excluding the narrow win in the 50 over game at The Hills.
The tournament has been well-received so far, and its stated aim of providing the opportunity for the best to play the best has largely succeeded, and as a step towards a domestic first-class competition it will have ticked most of the boxes.
Watching the NCU lose by an innings in College Park this week, the gulf between the weekend club player and the men who play cricket virtually full time was obvious. The Lightning men are almost all extremely fit and agile, while many of their opponents flagged when the pressure came on in the field.
A Scottish football-style one-horse race is the last thing Cricket Ireland needs as it builds towards its goals, and winning at a canter is not much good to Leinster's players either.
And a three-team competition isn't ideal of course, so how about for next season the Lightning forks into two sides? The old Guinness Cup model served the province well for many years and the broad, majestic Liffey provides a natural boundary -- as well as one well-worn by bar stool comedians over the years.
Round up the best of Rush, The Hills, North County, Balbriggan, Clontarf, Malahide and Phoenix -- and pit them against the pick of Leinster, Merrion, YMCA, Terenure, Railway, Pembroke and Trinity (which of course used to be North Leinster in the days before the balance of power swung north in the LCU).
We can't call them North Leinster (that would mean three teams out of four with North in their name!) and Fingal is stretching it a bit to encompass Dublin 3 and the Phoenix Park. But I'm sure Joe Clinton could come up with a suitably historic appellation.
That side would be spearheaded by John Mooney and include six more of the team who played yesterday. The southern XI would be led by Kevin O'Brien and wouldn't have a problem finding a side which would include the best concentration of upcoming talent in the country.
The overwhelming strength of Leinster and its centrally-contracted players has actually acted as a block to the best of its youngsters - for example Tyrone Kane, who only made the side when John Mooney was suspended, would walk into either of the northern sides. The NW Warriors coach Bobby Rao has insisted his team take a developmental approach, although its hard to see who besides a few legends in their late 40s would find their way into his team.
All in all a four-team event would make for more evenly balanced competition - and for what its worth I think the Leinster sides would still win most of the trophies.
I would be interested in reading what other followers have to say.