Merrion have reached the summit. For the first time in their history (probably!), they are ranked as the best team on the island, finally overtaking Waringstown.
Last week's washout in the NCU meant that Waringstown could only sit idly (bowl outs are not included in the rankings), as Merrion beat Railway Union, YMCA and Ardmore on successive days. Although we have not been keeping a week by week record of these rankings over the years, Waringstown have finished the season as the best team, every year since 2010 (when Railway Union were top).
Of course it may be the case that Waringstown finish 2014 in top spot as well, but for now, they are back to second. It is worth looking at the respective records of the two clubs over the last three years (the period that the rankings take into account)
| Merrion | Waringstown |
June 10 2011 - June 9 2012 | Won 9 Lost 7 | Won 25 Lost 4 |
June 10 2012 – June 9 2013 | Won 13 Lost 5 | Won 12 Lost 10 |
June 10 2013 – June 9 2014 | Won 17 Lost 4 | Won 18 Lost 5 |
Waringstown's great 2011 season, when they won the NCU Challenge Cup and the Bob Kerr Irish Senior Cup is slowly disappearing from the rankings, and whilst their form is still excellent, it has enabled Merrion to catch them. Merrion meanwhile are steadily improving, and whilst their 2011/12 record was nothing to write home about, they are virtually unbeatable, and crucially are playing against a higher standard of opposition week in, week out.
Due to the wash out north of the border, there have not been too many other changes. Clontarf's two wins over Pembroke and Fox Lodge were enough to leap frog them over The Hills (wins over North County and Bready). Strabane dropped a place after losing to St Johnston, whilst Railway Union dropped three places after their loss to Terenure.
That win for Terenure, saw them swap places with Cork County - who lost to Pembroke. Bonds Glen's excellent week saw them beat Sion Mill and Creevedonnell, and they moved up two - with Dublin University passing them in the other direction after losing to Leinster.
Congrats to Merrion on their achievement. It will be fascinating to see how long they stay on top