Division 11
2014 Champion - Longford 2 (predicted to be relegated!)
2014 Champion predicted - Malahide 5 (finished 5th)
2011-14 Top run scorer: Jason Magee (The Hills, 2012-14) 814 @ 38.76
2011-14 Top wicket taker: Graham Mooney (Diarmuid Power, 2011-13) 41 @ 15.10
Division 11 has the honour of kicking off the 2015 season this Saturday, when Clontarf 5 welcome Lucan 1 to Castle Avenue. To find out whether we think this one will be a possible title decider, or whether it will have implications at the other end of the table, read on!
The first problem eoncuntered in this season preview, is that if every team finished in the same position as last year, there would be seven teams in the top five places. The vagaries of the league re-organisation mean that a few teams are going to do as well (if not better) than in 2014, and still be relegated. It follows that some teams may be a little disappointed with out predcitions, but c'est la vie.
We will start with a Pembroke 5 team who have slowly slipped since being ranked 75 in 2011 (81st position will be Division 11 champions in 2015, 88th will be last). Their league history reflects that slippage - their last league title was Inter A way back in 1997. To succeed this year, an improvement is needed, and not to put too finer point on it, they may well struggle against teams that are better. Their only winning record concerns their tussles with Civil Service 3 - Pembroke have won three of their last five matches. Apart from that, it is only parity on recent encounters (although they have not yet played Lucan 1). Sixth or seventh looks likely - we're going for 7th.
Clontarf 5 have had something of a roller-coaster existence recently. Champions of Division 12 in 2011, they had a poor season last year, and find themselves mre or less the same level as they were three seasons ago. Rumour has it that long term captain Tom James has put his feet up for a well deserved rest, and that the 5ths have made a big money overseas signing to bolster the side. They should be able to hold their own, and we're predicting 5th place this year.
Lucan 1 have burst on to the scene, and after finishing 93rd in 2013, had their best year last season with 87th in the league structure. However, the same again would only bring 7th place, and they may struggle the extra depth that the other teams in the division have. It will be a completely new experience for Lucan - of the other seven teams, they have only played Castleknock 2 before - losing the one match. A couple of major new players could render our prediction void, but all things being equal, Lucan may come back down to earth with a bump, and we're predicting 8th place.
Rush 3 are a remarkably consistent team, finishing beyween 79-83 in each of the last four seasons - indicating a top three place. They're capable of beating all the teams (the only team - (apart from Lucan) that they have not tasted victory over is YMCA 5, although the two teams tied in their only match). So with that in mind it is a little difficult to go for anything other than another top three place. The only problem may be that they don't have the star quality of some of the other title contenders, so third spot may be as good as it gets.
Civil Service 3 won this title back in 2011, and will be there and there abouts again this year. They have a similar record to Rush 3 (a fact mirrored by them sharing the four matches the two teams have played). But their record against a few of the teams is a bit worrying - they have only beaten Merrion 6 once in five matches, and have lost more than they have won against Pembroke 5. That propensity to lose matches they perhaps shouldn't means we are earmarking 6th place for Service.
YMCA 5 are another of the new boys in town, finishing in 81st place in their first year back in league cricket in 2014. Their history goes a lot further back though (as does their wait for a trophy) - they won Junior B back in 1986. In some respects, they look like a mid-table team, being not strong enough to beat the strongest teams, but too strong for the weaker ones. As always with a YMCA side though, there will plenty of depth to call upon, and it is just possible they may pull clear of the chasing pack, and grab runners-up spot.
Castleknock 2 are one of the few sides we have covered in these previews to have consistently improved year upon year. Starting from 109th in 2012, they finished 86th and 80th in the next two years. As 81st would bring the league title, they must have a chance, but losing records against Merrion 6, and Civil Service 3 shows that they may fall short of the top. We'll go for 4th.
That just leaves one more team, and with only one spot left to fill, it means we are predicting Merrion 6 to be 2015 Division 11 champions. They are multi decorated at this level, with five league titles, the last of which was Division 9 in 2010. They have fallen a bit since then, but they haven't finished lower than 79th in the league at all since 2011. Apart from Clontarf 5 and Pembroke 5 (who they are 1-1 and 2-2 respectively) they have won more matches than they have lost against the other opponents. Finishing as champions will be their worst finish since our records began in 2011, but that isn't a bad consolation prize.
Let the battles commence.