A season of glory for the Rathmines side as they followed up their promotion from Senior Two with the ultimate prize - the Senior One title.

They slowly and quietly went about their business during the year, and despite having been tipped by many as favourites to go straight back down, defied the critics to emerge as champions.

They won a number of tight contests by small margins early on and as confidence grew in the camp they won the title with plenty to spare.
An examination of the statistics show their undoubted strength was as a bowling unit.

They were unhindered by representative commitments and this allowed them to play a settled side. Indeed ten players played in ten games or more, and in total just 18 were used. In effect that was really only 13 as five of those players made a solitary appearance.

Leinster had three of the top five bowlers in the league, and four of the top nine. Joel Leacock, Tim Law, Anton Scholtz, and Anton Scholtz were all consistent performers with Bajan Leacock taking 26 wickets at 14.77, while Law also claimed 26 victims - at a cost of 17.15.

Spin also contributed with Scholtz taking 14 at just 14.58, and their capture from Pembroke Moreton taking 19 at 17.63. Aussie Joe Carroll chipped in with 11 at 28.82.

The batting stats were nowhere as near as impressive, with only Leacock and Moreton passing the 300 run mark. There were just 10 half centuries during the course of the campaign with just the one senior hundred.

Leacock topped the aggregate tally with 334 at 27.83, just ahead of Moreton who made 322 at 29.27.

Hugh MacDonnell worked hard in the off season including wintering in Australia and performed reasonably well to record 295 runs at 29.50. It wasn't enough to earn him a place in the U19 World Cup squad, paying the price for a miserable qualifying series the previous summer.

Anton Scholtz chipped in with 263 at 21.92, while Joe Carroll scored the only hundred for the club in his total of 248 at exactly 31.00.

Kudos then to Leinster on their fully deserved championship crown. They won't be resting on their laurels though as they realize that having lost the surprise factor, they will become the side everyone wants to beat in 2013.

Batting
Joel Leacock 334 @ 27.83
Stephen Moreton 322 @ 29.27
Hugh MacDonnell 295 @ 29.50
Anton Scholtz 263 @ 21.92
Joe Carroll 248 @ 31.00 (only hundred)

Bowling
Joel Leacock 26 @ 14.77
Tim Law 26 @ 17.15
Anton Scholtz 24 @ 14.58
Stephen Moreton 19 @ 17.63
Joe Carroll 11 @ 28.82