A season of contrasts for the Castle Avenue side - the glory of cup success coupled with the ignominy of relegation.

It's quite amazing to think that a team with players of the quality of Andrew Poynter, Alex Cusack and Bill Coghlan could suffer relegation, but that's what exactly happened.

An examination of the statistics show the reasons why - Cusack didn't play enough due to a combination of injury and international commitments, their professional didn't score a sufficient volume of runs, and their bowling unit failed to take enough wickets, seriously lacking in penetration.

Coghlan was far and away the leading run scorer making a total of 650 runs at an average of exactly 50, and in the process scored the only hundred in the league or cup.

The club's other hundred was made by Robert Forrest who made an unbeaten 154 against Cork Harlequins in the Irish Senior Cup. He scored 466 runs in total at 38.83, and will consider him unlucky not to have made the plane to Australia for the Under 19 World Cup.

Mitch Watterson totalled 414 runs at 29.57 but for a player of his quality, will consider that a failure.

The bowling stats represent a tale of woe - the highest wicket taker being Joe Morrissey with just 19 at 18.42.

Ropu Islam claimed the only five wicket haul of the season but even with that managed just 13 at 22.38, while next best were Matt Mangan with 12 at 31.25, and Andrew Poynter who took 10 at 26.20.

A season of ultimate disappointment though despite cup glory. The Castle Avenue side has proven prolific collectors of trophies in recent years and I fully expect them to regroup and come back even stronger in 2013.