As the evenings draw in and cricket once again has to compete for attention with the hype that is start of the Premier Soccer and rugby seasons, there are still many loose ends still to tied up before we can draw the curtain on the Open Competitions 2018.
Oven the next few days we will carry out a quick review of where clubs and teams stand in relation to the various league competitions. We start with D2.
With plans for 2019 circulated to clubs there is only one thing still to be decided in D2, who will take the play-off spot and have a chance of promotion to the Premier Division in 2019. Malahide have already secured the automatic promotion spot and the only remaining interest for them is whether they can emulate the performance of Merrion in 2017 in going through the whole league season winning every match. There are few that would bet against them and of course this does have a bearing on who takes the second place position.
With two rounds of matches to play there are three teams [Railway, Rush and Balbriggan] within 9 points of each other competing for the play-off spot. Railway, who have stayed below the radar for most of the season, have moved quietly up the table and now occupy second place. They are best placed to take the play-off spot as they are the only one of the three with a match against an opponent outside of the top four teams. If they can win this [v Cork County at home] then they just need to defeat Rush in Kenure in the final game. Even this final win may not be necessary if other results fall their way.
Rush have the advantage that they control their own destiny. With games against their two rivals the equation is simple - they have to win both and then they go second. They also have home advantage so they are very much in the running.
Balbriggan are the third team and despite only being a few points adrift they have much the most difficult path. First of all they have to defeat Rush [tomorrow] and then they face Malahide in the final round. With Malahide already league champions it is possible that Balbriggan could spring a surprise. But even with the two wins they likely will still need someone to beat Railway.
So in summary, Rush face two finals and they have to win both, Railway [assuming Rush win this weekend] will probably play Rush in a shoot-out for the title in the final weekend and Balbriggan will need to defeat Malahide in the final game [and Rush this weekend] to make it to second place.