Division 7 stats
Leading all time run scorer (2011-2015) - Eugene Brennan (Wexford Wanderers) - 945 runs @ 28.64
Most runs in a Division 7 season - Nathan Beuck (Greystones) - 495 runs (2013)
Highest score - Sanjay Saharan - 196 - Merrion 5 vs Malahide 4 - Bird Avenue - 6 June 2011
Leading all time wicket taker (2011-2015) - Alan Murphy (Wexford Wanderers) - 75 wkts @ 15.05
Most wickets in a Division 7 season - Susheel Kumar (Railway Union) - 27 wkts (2012)
Best bowling - Nabeel Anjum - 7-49 - Wexford Wanderers 1 vs Clontarf 4 - Castle Avenue - 24 May 2015
Most matches - Alan Murphy (Wexford Wanderers) - 54 - (2011-2015)
Highest team score - 425-3 - Greystones 1 vs Balbriggan 2 - Marlay Park - 14 Sept 2013
Lowest team score - 37 all out - Wexford Wanderers 1 vs Castleknock 1 - Wexford RFC - 29 Aug 2015
This preview of the 2016 Division 7 season starts with a simple request. If anyone is making a good case for winning Division 7, can they please make themselves known?
Eight teams start, and in our opinion, all eight could have a convincing set of reasons in favour of coming in the bottom half of the table. Obviously that isn't to happen (unless there was a really odd set of coincidences), so we do our best here to put those eight teams in some sort of order.
Wexford Wanderers 1 have been stalwarts of this division since being promoted as Division 8 champions in 2010, a fact nicely illustrated by their players holding the record for most runs (Eugene Brennan), most wickets (Alan Murphy) and most matches (Alan Murphy again). Not surprisingly, that longevity in Division 7 has meant some very consistent league placings, with the team finishing between 51st and 55th every year since 2011. That equates to somewhere between 3rd and 7th. A few of the other teams that we may have expected to tussle for relegation have improved a bit, and unless Wexford can also improve, they may slip down the table. And after just escaping relegation last year, we think it may come about in 2016, with an 8th place finish.
Laois 2 have fallen every year since 2011, and although there doesn't appear to be any real reason, you can't argue with that trend. It some respects, that falling has been down to the phenomenally high level that the team were playing four or five years ago, and since then they have been finding their level. Good records against some of the "top" teams such as Sandyford 1 (3-1), Pembroke 4 (3-2) and Dundrum 2 (3-1) reveal what is possible, although it should be added that many of these victories were during Laois 2's pomp. The falling in league position should level off this year, but a repeat of last year's league position would be 7th place and relegation.
Dundrum 2. The poster boys of lower division league cricket; who have improved from a position of 65 in 2011 to 52 last year, moving up the leagues remorselessly. But the continuing doubt around their home ground for the year, coupled with the departures of a few key players may well meant the fairy tale has come to an end. There are enough key players still in place (such as Jinto Mathew), that relegation should be out of the question, but this season may be something of a struggle, a state of mind that the players will not be accustomed to. 6th place.
YMCA 4 have managed to better themselves every year since 2011, setting a new personal best after every season's work was completed. But the very simple fact is that in order to avoid relegation, they are going to have to do the same yet again. They finished 58th in the league in 2015, and need at least 54 this year. We're not predicting a madly successful season, but perhaps there will be a gentle increase. With very little in the way of previous matches against their opposition - two wins in three matches against Bagenalstown, and a loss in the one match with North Kildare, there isn't much to go on, but we'll predict 5th.
Sandyford 1 should walk through Division 7 this year, the big boys from Division 6 stepping down a level. The lowest they have finished in the league sine 2011 is 47th, and top is 49th. But they may not have it their own way, and a few player departures may stretch the club a bit. On top of that, they don't have the best record against all of the teams they have played before (for example losing to Dundrum 2 on both the previous occasions they have played). Not a disastrous season, and whilst it may be a top half finish, we'll go for 4th.
If you had to rate the counties of Leinster in terms of the rate cricket was improving, Carlow may come out on top. Bagenalstown have been bubbling under the surface for the last couple of years. Last year's Division 8 title was the start, and a few interesting new members may just provide the impetus they need. Let's not beat around the bush - Bagenalstown 1 need their best finish since 2012 just to avoid relegation, and that won't be easy. But in a league where they will not be much of a gap between bottom and top, Bagenalstown have a chance - third place may be in their grasp.
We don't wasn't to be unduly harsh to Pembroke 4, and there is a certain amount of being damned by faint praise. Pembroke 4 don't look like anything particularly special this season; but league cricket is a very simple scenario. You need to be better than as many of the other teams as possible. And Pembroke are. They won't look particularly fondly on any of their opponents though. The number of them whom Pembroke can say they have a winning record is precisely zero. But the 50th place of last year can be repeated this year, and that will be 2nd
And so to something of a surprise tip for the Division 7 crown. Last year was actually the North Kildare's worst season for a while, and that was after we had predicted them to win the league last year! But as long as we predict them to lift the title every year, we will eventually get it right! Their normal position (ie excluding last year) has been in the top three, and a good few new players have been attracted to the club over the winter with the lure of Division 2 cricket. North Kildare 2 to win their first league title since 2006.
The first matches are next Saturday, when Dundrum 2 travel to Bagenalstown, and Sandyford 1 travel to Laois.