The time has flown since the last mid-season checkpoint on the various OC league competitions. Although very few things are determined, the shape for the run in to the end of the season for teams seeking promotion and trying to avoid relegation is becoming clearer. 

 

With all the cup competitions and the ICC T20 Qualifiers it has been a quiet month in D1 [in total only eight completed matches] and the competition has still to reach its halfway point. There is no change at the top with North County one win ahead of Clontarf and Merrion. YMCA have fallen away a little and Railway swopped wins with  Cork County and have created a little space between it and the three bottom teams. Pembroke are in the uncomfortable position as bottom of the table but have a match in hand over the rest. At the top of the table the key battleground may be the two fixtures that have to be played between Clontarf and Merrion. If one or other of these teams could come away with two wins they would be in a strong position to challenge North County. Railway probably only need a couple of wins in their final seven matches to be safe. There are 24 matches scheduled or refixed for the next month and for Cork County, Malahide and Pembroke this is the crucial time. Last season at this point the championship was between YMCA and Merrion and Terenure were all but relegated. This year the league is much more open. 

 

The same cannot of course be said for D2. Here The Hills continue [in similar fashion to Clontarf in 2014] their march to the league title and promotion. Trinity are firmly ensconced at the bottom of the table with YMCA II just hanging in. Discounting the loss to The Hills [who are beating everyone], Phoenix’s victory over Rush has seen them emerge from the pack as the strongest challenger for the second promotion spot and they are now sitting sitting third a few points behind Terenure with a game in hand. 

 

D3 is proving one of the most competitive leagues this year. Merrion II are out in front with seven wins out of nine matches but six of the remaining teams have between three and five wins and some have games in hand. The biggest movers during July, with three wins out of four, were Leinster who are now in second place. Clontarf have also strengthened their challenge with a full point win over the leaders last weekend. The dark horses are probably Laois, who beat Clontarf comfortably at the start of the month but haven’t played since. They have played three fewer games than the leading clubs and are well positioned to make a charge for the title. [In a result not yet officially recorded, Laois lost to Phoenix II in a re-fixed match]. The Hills II are struggling and have yet to record a victory this year. They look destined for the drop to D4 but who will go with them is still anyone’s guess.  

 

Malahide II are strongly placed to win D4 with eight wins out of nine matches played and a 50 point margin at the top of the table. North County II and Dundrum are fighting it out for the second promotion spot with Civil Service and Railway Union II further back but not out of the reckoning. No change in the top three places during the month. Merrion III [without a win] look the most likely to get relegated but Greystones and YMCA III are also in the frame. 

 

 

* Terenure played one more game than rivals.

* Dundrum played one less game than rivals. 

* Clontraf played one more game than rivals.