With some games played today and a better weather forecast for the Bank Holiday, it is to be hoped that we can get a full round of matches in tomorrow. The Middle Cup final between Merrion III and Terenure II takes place in Rush [see article by Michael Sharp] but most attention will focus on the action in the top two leagues which start up again after their short mid summer break.
To remind everyone the two leagues are interestingly poised with YMCA and Merrion [D1] and Malahide and Cork County [D2] battling it out for the respective titles. That is not to say that Clontarf in D1 and Leinster in D2 are completely out of it but it will require an unexpected series of results to bring either back into contention.
In D1 it is more a case of avoidance of tripwires for the leading contenders than anything else. YMCA will be expecting to account for Terenure and Merrion for Railway. Any slipup could severely dent title hopes. The most interesting match is probably that between Clontarf and The Hills. Clontarf still have an outside chance of making a late run for the title and The Hills should be feeling more comfortable after a poor first half to the season, but have a difficult run in and don’t want to get dragged into a relegation battle. In the final match between Pembroke and North County it is the latter who are under the greater pressure and need to keep getting points to stay ahead of 7th placed Railway Union.
So weather and ground conditions permitting, the matches for tomorrow are:
Fixture Prediction
Terenure v YMCA Away Win
Railway v Merrion Away Win
The Hills v Clontarf Home Win
Pembroke v North County Home Win
In D2 Malahide have a comfortable 45 point lead over Cork County, but such has been the dominance of the two clubs in this league that it would be expected that Cork could make up the difference with the two matches they have in hand. The two teams can be expected to secure home wins against Pembroke II and Leinster but the second game could easily provide an upset.
Phoenix should be too strong for Merrion II at Anglesea Road and will be anxious to reverse the result between the two teams from earlier in the season. At this point Phoenix should have been safe but the loss to Pembroke II last weekend means that they really would prefer not to lose the game tomorrow. They are still comfortably ahead on points but if Merrion were to win here and again against Pembroke IIs it could be uncomfortably tight.
The final game sees Balbriggan take on Rush in a mid-table local derby. The last time the two teams met Balbriggan had a massive 200 run victory.
Fixture Prediction
Cork County v Pembroke II Home Win
Malahide v Leinster Home Win
Merrion II v Phoenix Away Win
Balbriggan v Rush Home Win
Teams:
Leinster C Mallon, B Azhar, J Carroll, G Delany, P Johnston,, J Kerrison, R Kenealy, D Lucas, R Forrest, H MacDonnell, JP O’Dwyer.
Any other teams please send in.