With one weekend left, Division 1 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting finishes in years. With Phoenix playing Clontarf on Monday, it's too early to look at the relegation battle, but here is the definitive guide to who has to do what to win the Division 1 title.
Railway Union - Any win for Railway over The Hills next weekend will be enough for them to lift the trophy. If they lost, Railway would need 3 bonus points to stay above The Hills. However if North County gained 16 more points against Clontarf than Railway managed against The Hills, North County would leapfrog over Railway. Finally, if Railway got only two bonus points in losing, North County failed to win against Clontarf, and Merrion took maximum points against Pembroke, Railway and Merrion would share the title
The Hills - The Hills have to beat Railway Union to win the league as well as taking 3 bonus points. However, The Hills would also have to score 5 more points than North County manage against Clontarf
North County - North County need The Hills to beat Railway Union, and also to win against Clontarf. North County also need to get 16 more points in beating Clontarf than Railway do in losing to the Hills. Finally ,they must get no more than 4 points less than The Hills do - assuming The Hills beat Railway!
Merrion - Relatively straight forward. Merrion must get maximum points (25) against Pembroke. Then The Hills must beat Railway Union by between 40 and 59 runs or by three or four wickets. Then North County must fail to beat Clontarf. If all that holds, Merrion and Railway will share the title!
It promises to be a brilliant end to the season, and will leave many fingernails nibbled. Get the calculators ready and enjoy!
(PS - this assumes there will be results in all matches - rain will make it even harder to work out!)