Another day, another tantalising glimpse of the new season. The OCC has released the league structure for the 2016 season, with the headline news being that there will be two more teams playng in 2016, with 130 teams entered. There are new teams from Carlow, Ashbourne, Balbriggan and Clondalkin, tempered by the removal of teams by Railway Union and Sandyford.
To cater for the increase of two teams, both Divisions 11 and 12 will be nine team divisions. There are not too many surprises revealed, with most teams being moved based on their successful promotion (or unsuccessful relegation) in 2015. There are some exceptions though. Carlow 1 move up seven divisions to Division 9 after their brilliant start to league life last year, with Ashbourne also promoted from Division 16, this time to Division 13. New club Clondalkin, playing out of Tymon Park in Dublin, enter the leagues in Division 11.
Several teams have received a new year surprise, being promoted despite not finishing in the top two in their leagues last year, with Castleknock 1 and Dundrum 3 both receiving good news, along with Adamstown 3, who were promoted two divisions from 12 to 10. There were also a few teams who avoided the drop, with Laois 2, Wicklow County 1, Longford 2, Leinster 6, Rush 4, Merrion 6 and Merrion 8 all getting a reprieve.
Fixture making will start in the coming days, when secretary of the Open Competitions Committee, Michael Sharp, will contact all clubs with details.
A full FAQ on the promotion and relegation procedure was prepared by Michael Sharp in 2012, and can be read here
Division 1. Clontarf 1, North County 1, Merrion 1, Pembroke 1, YMCA 1, Railay Union 1, The Hills 1, Phoenix 1
Promoted from Division 2 - The Hills 1 & Phoenix 1
Other ins and outs - none
Division 2. Cork County 1, Malahide 1, Leinster 1, Balbriggan 1, Rush 1, Terenure 1, Dublin University 1, North Kildare 1
Relegated from Division 1 - Cork County 1 & Malahide 1
Promoted from Division 3 - North Kildare 1
Other ins and outs - Merrion 2, Clontarf 2 and YMCA 2 all declined to play in Division 2. Dublin University 1 not relegated after finishing bottom of Division 2 in 2015
Division 3. YMCA 2, Merrion 2, Clontarf 2, Laois 1, Leinster 2, Pembroke 2, Malahide 2, North County 2
Relegated from Division 2 - YMCA 2
Promoted from Division 4 - Malahide 2 & North County 2
Other ins and outs - see Division 2 notes
Division 4. Phoenix 2, The Hills 2, Civil Service 1, Dundrum 1, Railway Union 2, Greystones 1, YMCA 3, Merrion 3
Relegated from Division 3 - Phoenix 2 & The Hills 2
Promoted from Division 5 - None (Phoenix 3 finished as Division 5 champions but could not be promoted due to Phoenix 2 being in Division 4. Similarly Merrion 4 finished as runners up, but with Merrion 3 already in Division 4, they could not be promoted)
Other ins and outs - none
Division 5. Phoenix 3, Merrion 4, Malahide 3, Pembroke 3, Leinster 3, Mullingar 1, Knockharley 1, Clontarf 3
Relegated from Division 4 - None
Promoted from Division 6 - Knockharley 1 & Clontarf 3
Other ins and outs - none
Division 6. Railway Union 3, Terenure 2, North County 3, Longford 1, Adamstown 1, Rush 2, Merrion 5, Castleknock 1
Relegated from Division 5 - Railway Union 3 & Terenure 2
Promoted from Division 7 - Merrion 5 & Castleknock 1 (After finishing 3rd)
Other ins and outs - none
Division 7. Sandyford 1, Pembroke 4, Dundrum 2, North Kildare 2, Laois 2, Wexford Wanderers 1, Bagenalstown 1, YMCA 4
Relegated from Division 6 - Sandyford 1
Promoted from Division 8 - Bagenalstown 1 & YMCA 4
Other ins and outs - Railway Union have withdrawn their 4th team from the league. Railway Union 4 will now play where Railway Union 5 were in 2015, namely Division 10, Laois 2 were not relegated after finishing 7th in Division 7 in 2015
Division 8. Clontarf 4, Leinster 4, Knockharley 2, Balbriggan 2, Dublin University 2, Wicklow County 1, North County 4, Adamstown 2
Relegated from Division 7 - Clontarf 4
Promoted from Division 9 - North County 4 & Adamstown 2
Other ins and outs - Wicklow County 1 were not relegated after finishing 7th in Division 8 in 2015
Division 9. Civil Service 2, Malahide 4, Greystones 2, The Hills 3, Phoenix 4, Carlow 1, Dundalk 1, Swords 1
Relegated from Division 8 - Civil Service 2
Promoted from Division 10 - Dundalk 1 & Swords 1
Other ins and outs - Carlow 1 have been promoted from Division 16 after dominating that league in 2015, a seven division jump
Division 10. Mullingar 2, Slieve Bloom 1, Railway Union 4, Leinster 5, Longford 2, YMCA 5, Castleknock 2, Adamstown 3
Relegated from Division 9 - Mullingar 2
Promoted from Division 11 - YMCA 5 & Castleknock 2
Others ins and outs - Sandyford have withdrawn their 3rd team from the league. Sandyford 2 will play in Division 12, rather than being in Division 10. Adamstown 3 were champions of Division 12, and have been promoted straight to Division 10. Longford 2 finished 7th in Division 10 in 2015, but stay in Divisiom 10 for 2016, whilst Terenure 3 who finished 6th are relegated at the club's request
Division 11. (Nine team division) Terenure 3, Ringcommons 1, Clontarf 5, Lucan 1, Pembroke 5, Clondalkin 1, Rush 3, The Hills 4, Merrion 6
Relegated from Division 10 - Terenure 3 & Ringcommons 1
Promoted from Division 12 - The Hills 4
Other ins and outs - Clondalkin CC enter the leagues for the first time, with Clondalkin 1 being put in Division 11. Merrion 6 finished 8th in Division 11 in 2015, but are not relegated.
Division 12. (Nine team division) Sandyford 2, Civil Service 3, Cabinteely 1, Merrion 7, North County 5, Malahide 5, Leinster 6, Phoenix 5, Dundrum 3
Relegated from Division 11 - Civil Service 3
Promoted from Division 13 - Phoenix 5 & Dundrum 3 (Laois 3 not promoted after finishing 2nd in Division 13 in 2015)
Other ins and outs - Sandyford 2 move from Division 9 (See Div 10 notes). Halverstown 1 who finished 7th in Division 12 in 2015 are relegated, but Leinster 6 who finished in 8th are not.
Division 13. Halverstown 1, Laois 3, Swords 2, North Kildare 3, Dublin University 3, Leinster 7, Bagenalstown 2, Ashbourne 1
Relegated from Division 12 - Halverstown 1
Promoted from Division 14 - Leinster 7 & Bagenalstown 2
Other ins and outs - Laois 3 stay in Division 13 despite being runners-up in 2015. Ashbourne 1 are promoted to Division 13 after doing well in Division 16 in their first year.
Division 14. Pembroke 6, Knockharley 3, Adamstown 4, Wicklow County 2, Castleknock 3, Civil Service 4, Balbriggan 3, Railway Union 5
Relegated from Division 13 - Pembroke 6
Promoted from Division 15 - Civil Service 4 & Balbriggan 3
Other ins and outs - Railway Union 6 finished 7th in Division 13, but as Railway Union have dropped a league team, Railway Union 5 are now in Division 14
Division 15. Mullingar 3, Dundalk 2, Phoenix 6, Clontarf 6, Greystones 3, North Kildare 4, Rush 4, Carlow 2
Relegated from Division 14 - Mullingar 3
Promoted from Division 16 - North Kildare 4
Other ins and outs - Sandyford 3 finished 7th in Division 14, but have been withdrawn from the league. Rush 4 finished 7th in Division 15 in 2015, but were not relegated. Carlow 2 have entered the league for the first time.
Division 16. Merrion 8, AIB 1, Adamstown 5, Greystones 4, Civil Service 4, Bagenalstown 3, Ashbourne 2, Balbriggan 4
Relegated from Division 15 - Merrion 8
Other ins and outs - Ashbourne 2 and Balbriggan 4 enter the league for the first time.