With two out of the three preliminary rounds of the LHK Insurance [Alan Murray] League completed two teams have qualified for the Quarter Finals - Leinster and Merrion. Five other teams are within one victory of qualification - Clontarf, The Hills, YMCA, Phoenix and Pembroke. Next best placed is North County. There are four teams currently on two points - and these would have to win both games to come ahead of Phoenix and North County and to come level with the four teams on 6 points [though in some cases they are well behind on NRR].
So going into the final round of matches it is looking like seven Division 1 sides and Merrion [with Cork County losing out]. Not too many surprises there. As it is an open draw for the QFs it does into matter where teams finish in the top eight. So next week attention will be focussed on North County [and to a lesser extent Phoenix]. Phoenix will need to win one of their two matches [v The Hills and Merrion], not too easy a task. North County may need to win both of their games against Cork County and YMCA.
Of course, were one of the teams in top half of the table [excepting Leinster and Merrion] to lose both of their matches badly then it is just possible that one of the teams currently on two points might pip them on NRR. Look out for Terenure or North Kildare to spring a surprise.