Checkpoint 1: Review of OC Leagues

As we are about a third of the way through the season it is past time we looked at how the various Open Competition leagues are progressing below Division 3. 

The table below sets out the top and bottom two positions in the leagues from D3 - D17 and gives at a glance an indication of what clubs / teams are doing well. But of course there is a lot more of interest behind the tables. Because of the uneven number of matches played we have converted points to percentages. This is for illustrative purposes only - it is points that wins leagues. 

Division 3: Last season it was Pembroke and Merrion who were competing for honours right up until the last climatic game between the two clubs which Pembroke won in dramatic fashion off the last ball at the end of the season. The story looks like repeating itself, but this year it is YMCA who are slugging it out with Pembroke. Last weekend’s loss by YMCA [not reflected in the league tables yet] to seventh placed Railway Union will not have helped their cause. 

Division 4: There are now five teams in D4 with three wins or more, and all have lost at least one game. With a big win over YMCA 3 still to be recorded, North Kildare may have taken a decisive step in the battle for promotion. Third placed The Hills 2 also lost at the weekend. The relatively low percentage for YMCA 3 lying second [which will drop further when the official results are taken into account] suggests that this division could see a very close competition for the promotion places. 

Division 5: Really anyone’s league at this point. Taking last weekend’s results into account, all nine teams have won two or more matches and all have lost at least one. DLR County [who won at the weekend] will take over the top spot next week and Merrion 4s are also moving up the table with only four games played and a percentage of about 70%. 

Division 6: Pembroke 3 are unbeaten in the league this season and have a comfortable lead at the top of the table. After that there are a lot of teams bunched together but the greatest threat may come from Adamstown 2 which has currently 3/4 wins. 

Division 7: Another DLR County team doing well at the top of D6. but they are being pressed by Bagenalstown who have played fewer matches and are undefeated. 

Division 8: The table complicated by the way that Dublin University points are calculated. DU lead the table with 124.4 points but on 3/5 wins they are unlikely to retain their position after their shortened season comes to an end. Five other teams have recorded three wins with Wicklow just out in front. 

Division 9: Another undefeated table topper in the form of Adamstown 3 [5/5]. They are being chased hard by The Hills 3 [who have another unrecorded win to go up and who should top the table when this is confirmed].

Division 10: And another DLR County team doing well and topping their table. They are undefeated [with a walk-over not reflected in table]. They have opened up a clear gap over their nearest rivals Malahide 4 and Clontarf 5. But with four teams only having played two or three games it is still time for someone to emerge to challenge them. 

Division 11: Two teams are forging ahead in D11 and remain undefeated. Castleknock lead [and have another win to be recorded] but it may all come down to the match ups between them and Balbriggan 3. The first of these encounters is not until the 5th August - so if both teams maintain their current form it may be a while before we see a favourite emerging for the title. 

Division 12: With one of the lowest leader / runners up percentages in the league, there is every reason to believe that this could be a very tight title race. Six teams have two or more wins and Civil Service 3 and Sandyford 2 have fewer games played than the leaders but one less loss. So everything to play for here. 

Division 13: A couple of cards missing here. Also Gorey and Pembroke 5 have wins to be recorded. But the team to watch is Leinster 5 who officially stand at 4/4. 

Division 14: Another division currently headed by a student team, but is unlikely to stay at the top of the table for much longer. Finglas and Terenure 3 have emerged form the pack with 3/4 wins. 

Division 15: With four wins [from five] DLR County 4 lead the division but they are being hard pressed by Clondalkin 2 and Wexford Wanderers 2 both of whom have played four and lost one. 

Division 16: Balbriggan 4 have opened a gap at the top of the table with 4/6 wins. With some teams at the start of their their campaign with only two or three games played, it is difficult to say where the challengers are likely to come from. 

Division 17: And finally the new league this year. Swords 3 and Tyrrelstown 3 occupy the top two places but there are result cards not submitted which could impact the placings. Also Athlone is down as in 7th place but also undefeated - with only one match played! We will have to await a further checkpoint review to see how this league is going. 

Looking at the OC Tables as a whole, it is clear that some clubs are going well with a number of teams in contention for honours. All the DLR County teams are vying for titles and they have the best overall record across the leagues at present. The higher Pembroke teams are doing well and Adamstown should have a good return on their efforts if they can maintain current form.