Although there was only one match played, the 2018 season got off to a pulsating start. Before a very large crowd at Anglesea Road YMCA came out on top over Merrion in a dramatic one wicket victory. Despite it being early in the season just short of 500 runs were scored [though to be fair between the teams over a 100 came in extras]. A highlights package ‘Game of the Day’ has been prepared and will be / is [depending on when you read this] available on the website.
Although a single result, and certainly not one as tight as this one, should change predications about the outcome of the league campaign this year, the following were offered before the first round. We have four perspectives on this - as a reference point the current standing in the All Ireland Club Index, the views of captains of the Premier teams [they were asked to rank the other seven teams], representatives from the Irish Cricket Sportswriters Guild [does such a thing to exist] and the view from on high [elder statesmen but not including the author]
Predicted Rankings [Pre-Season]
| Index | Captains | Press | Senior |
| Clontarf | Clontarf | Clontarf | Clontarf / Merrion |
| The Hills | Merrion | Merrion / The Hills | |
| Merrion | The Hills | YMCA / North County | |
| YMCA | YMCA | Leinster / YMCA | |
| North County | Pembroke | Pembroke / The Hills | |
| Pembroke | Leinster | Pembroke | |
| Leinster | Phoenix | Phoenix | Leinster |
| Phoenix | North County | North County | Phoenix |
There was considerable variation in the rankings from the individual participants. Less so when asked about the likely three top teams in D2. A clear majority backed Malahide to finish top, followed by Rush and then Railway.