With the 2014 season now officially over, it can be announced that YMCA have finished as the top team on the island for 2014. Since the rankings began in 2011, this is YMCA's best finish, beating their 4th place in 2013. It is only the fifth time in those fourteen seasons that the top team has come from Leinster, the other occasions being North County in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and Railway Union in 2010.
Since the last article, both the NCU and NW seasons have reached exciting climaxes. In the NCU decider, Instonians beat Waringstown, a result that rocketed Instonians up the table, and enable them to reach number two in the rankings (as well as their first outright NCU league title for 52 years). Instonians finished in 3rd spot in both 2013 and 2012. It is also the first year that they have been the number one team in the NCU, with Waringstown (3 times) and North Down (10 times) sharing the honour over the previous thirteen seasons.
In the NW, a titanic league struggle was finally won by Strabane. However, indifferent form in the other competitions meant that they could never overtake the their rivals in the NW, with Coleraine finishing as the top North West side (9th overall), with Brigade (10th) and Donemana (12th) all finishing ahead of Strabane. It should be said however there is very little between these teams, and all four should be fighting for the honours again next year.
On a provincial level, Leinster had none teams in the top 20 for the first time since 2007. The North West finished with only five in the top 20, which was their worst return since 2003.
In the Top 10 breakdown, the NCU finished with one more team than in 2013 (four instead of three), that team coming at the expense of the North West.
Over the next few weeks, there will be plenty more analysis, as well as our review of which clubs are happiest, and which will be unhappiest with their work over 2014.