The OCC has released the Division 1 fixture list for the 2013 season, and as always there will be flutters of excitement in the collective cricketing bellies of Leinster.
With the first league weekend of the season now less than four months away, clubs will be now thinking about that crucial first weekend, and how they can ensure they get off to the best possible start.
The two newly promoted sides have been handed home draws in week 1. Phoenix will mark their first game back in the big time with a tussle against YMCA, whilst Pembroke will host North County. Defending champions Leinster will make the short trip across Ranelagh to play Merrion, with Railway Union travelling to North County.
Both Phoenix and The Hills have been handed two home matches to start the season off, as week 2 sees Phoenix at home to Railway Union, and The Hills at home to Merrion. Conversely, North County will make their second trip to Sandymount to play YMCA. In the other match, Leinster will host Pembroke.
This is the first season whereby dates of all fixtures have been set by Cricket Ireland, as they gear up for the launch of the full interprovinvial series. With club and provincial dates designed not to clash, clashes - both for players and spectators alike should be non-existent.
And what of the last weekend of the season? Are there any potential title deciders there? With Division 1 being so tight in recent years, any of the four matches could be title or relegation deciders. But for the record, on September 7th, YMCA play Pembroke, Phoenix take on The Hills, Merrion play North County and Railway Union host Leinster.
The full Division 1 fixture list is below. Division 2 fixtures will be published tomorrow, December 31st
| Round | Date | Division 1 | |||
| 1 | Sat 27 Apr | Phoenix 1 | v | YMCA 1 | |
| Pembroke 1 | v | North County 1 | |||
| The Hills 1 | v | Railway Union 1 | |||
| Merrion 1 | v | Leinster 1 | |||
| 2 | Sat 04 May | YMCA 1 | v | North County 1 | |
| Phoenix 1 | v | Railway Union 1 | |||
| Leinster 1 | v | Pembroke 1 | |||
| The Hills 1 | v | Merrion 1 | |||
| 3 | Sat 18 May | Railway Union 1 | v | YMCA 1 | |
| North County 1 | v | Leinster 1 | |||
| Merrion 1 | v | Phoenix 1 | |||
| Pembroke 1 | v | The Hills 1 | |||
| 4 | Mon 03 Jun | Merrion 1 | v | YMCA 1 | |
| Leinster 1 | v | The Hills 1 | |||
| Railway Union 1 | v | Pembroke 1 | |||
| North County 1 | v | Phoenix 1 | |||
| 5 | Sun 16 Jun | YMCA 1 | v | Leinster 1 | |
| Merrion 1 | v | Railway Union 1 | |||
| The Hills 1 | v | North County 1 | |||
| Phoenix 1 | v | Pembroke 1 | |||
| 6 | Sat 22 Jun | YMCA 1 | v | The Hills 1 | |
| Pembroke 1 | v | Merrion 1 | |||
| Phoenix 1 | v | Leinster 1 | |||
| Railway Union 1 | v | North County 1 | |||
| 7 | Sat 29 Jun | Pembroke 1 | v | YMCA 1 | |
| The Hills 1 | v | Phoenix 1 | |||
| North County 1 | v | Merrion 1 | |||
| Leinster 1 | v | Railway Union 1 | |||
| 8 | Sat 13 Jul | YMCA 1 | v | Phoenix 1 | |
| North County 1 | v | Pembroke 1 | |||
| Railway Union 1 | v | The Hills 1 | |||
| Leinster 1 | v | Merrion 1 | |||
| 9 | Sat 20 Jul | North County 1 | v | YMCA 1 | |
| Railway Union 1 | v | Phoenix 1 | |||
| Pembroke 1 | v | Leinster 1 | |||
| Merrion 1 | v | The Hills 1 | |||
| 10 | Mon 05 Aug | YMCA 1 | v | Railway Union 1 | |
| Leinster 1 | v | North County 1 | |||
| Phoenix 1 | v | Merrion 1 | |||
| The Hills 1 | v | Pembroke 1 | |||
| 11 | Sun 11 Aug | Leinster 1 | v | YMCA 1 | |
| Railway Union 1 | v | Merrion 1 | |||
| North County 1 | v | The Hills 1 | |||
| Pembroke 1 | v | Phoenix 1 | |||
| 12 | Sat 17 Aug | YMCA 1 | v | Merrion 1 | |
| The Hills 1 | v | Leinster 1 | |||
| Pembroke 1 | v | Railway Union 1 | |||
| Phoenix 1 | v | North County 1 | |||
| 13 | Sat 31 Aug | The Hills 1 | v | YMCA 1 | |
| Merrion 1 | v | Pembroke 1 | |||
| Leinster 1 | v | Phoenix 1 | |||
| North County 1 | v | Railway Union 1 | |||
| 14 | Sat 07 Sep | YMCA 1 | v | Pembroke 1 | |
| Phoenix 1 | v | The Hills 1 | |||
| Merrion 1 | v | North County 1 | |||
| Railway Union 1 | v | Leinster 1 |