The top two at the close of play on August 3rd will play against each other to decide one Grand Finalist. As things stand that would see Merrion host The Hills, however that is the match on the final day of the season.
With third placed Malahide and fourth placed Pembroke, both just 14 points behind The Hills and 17 behind Merrion, defeat for either side above them in the table will see them jump into the top two with a big victory of their own on the final day.
The importance of being in the top two is that it provides a second chance in the playoffs. The loser of the playoff between first and second in the table, plays the winner of the playoff between third and fourth in the Premier League semi-final With just one round of matches left in the LHW Financial Planning Premier League, everyone has begun to look at the Playoffs and speculate as to what will happen next. Who will play who? Where will those games be played? Who’ll win the Premier League?
With my history of predictions, I’ll leave the last question alone for the time being. However, the permutations for the other questions are a little easier to lay out.
Looking at the Premier League table, there are clear demarcations between the top four and the bottom four. The teams that will finish fifth to eighth have been decided, although the order may change a little on the final day.
Rush will finish in eighth and be away in the Plate semi-finals to the team who finish fifth. At this point that is YMCA. Coincidentally, they face each other on the final day of the season and a YMCA win at Kenure will lead to a semi-final between the same two sides at Claremont Road.
Phoenix, just two points behind YM, could overtake them with a home win over Malahide but as things stand, they will be hosting Leinster in the second Plate semi-final.
Now we come on to the top four and the IPL/NFL style playoffs that will bring us to the Grand Final in Merrion on September 7th.
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The loser of the match between the third and fourth placed sides doesn’t get a second chance and is eliminated from the competition. Therefore, Malahide and Pembroke will be going all out on Saturday week to pressure both The Hills and Merrion for those crucial top two positions.
Top four individual club permutations;
Merrion – Beat The Hills and top table for home match against second placed team
The Hills – Beat Merrion, top table and be at home for match against second placed team
Malahide – Beat Phoenix and The Hills lose to finish second
Pembroke – Beat Leinster and The Hills & Malahide lose to finish second
Plenty to play for at both ends of the table and plenty of interesting cricket to come between now and the end of the season.
LHW Financial Planning Premier League
Saturday August 3rd, 2019
All matches begin at 12pm
| Rush v YMCA |
| Phoenix v Malahide |
| Pembroke v Leinster |
| Merrion v The Hills |