League Tables: Green - Confirmed Win / Orange - Projected Win / Yellow - Too close to call
Those familiar with US elections will know that there is intense competition between the network channels to be the first to call the various election races. Of course they sometimes get it wrong - as in the US 2000 Presidential elections when the networks prematurely declared Florida for Al Gore. On the other hand the exit polls were very successful in identifying the swing to Labour and a hung Parliament in the last General Election in the UK, even as the studio commentators struggled to accept the findings. In Cricket Leinster we don’t have the resources of the major networks - basically a calculator - but we are going to get in early and start calling the leagues. Of course we could be wrong.
In Division 1 and 2 we are on solid ground. The season is pretty much over and Leinster [RCD1] and Merrion [RCD2] can be declared the winners. Of course there is always the possibility of penalty points - but I think we can discount them at this stage.
D3 is too close to call. Leinster II had a large lead but two recent losses have dented their title hopes. Their revised percentage is now around 71%. Their closest rivals Pembroke II had a rained off game over the weekend so they have three to play and 7% points to make up. The Hills II are also making a move. They beat Leinster in a re-fix and over the weekend managed a DLS win over Merrion II. Leinster are still strong favourites but because they have a lot of NR games - another loss could bring their % down sharply.
In D4 we are going out on a limb and going to call it for Merrion III. Although North County had a full point win over the weekend they are still 15 percentage points behind Merrion. In all there are four relevant games to go and pretty much all four would have to go wins for NC and losses for Merrion in order to bridge the gap. The two sides meet up in Anglesea Road next Saturday so that may decide if there is to be an exciting finale to the season.
D5 is a 16 match league so there is still a way to go [YMCA III in third sport have five games left]. Clontarf III are in poll position but Longford have two home games in hand [and getting full teams to travel at this time of the year may be challenging] and could easily win both. Clontarf are favourites but may have to win their last two games.
We are calling D6 for Castleknock - they have two late season home games and even if Rush II win their last game, Castleknock have two chances to secure the title [NR would probably do just as well].
There are a few games to go in D7, and following their loss to Wexford over the weekend [and with an away trip to the same opponents next weekend] Bagenalstown are not looking as secure as they once were. North Kildare II have an easier run in but may need to win all three games and still hope that Bagenalstown loses at least one.
D8 is still to close to call, with four teams in the frame - Clontarf IV, Adamstown II, Swords and Pembroke IV.
So plenty of predictions - and without the benefit of exit polls - but perhaps it is just as well the bookies aren’t taking bets on the outcomes.