THE STATE OF PLAY - OPEN DIVISIONS 8 - 11
Next on our series of Open Competitions league updates, we have four very competitive leagues from 8 down to 11.
DIVISION 8
In Division 8, DLR County 1 have a commanding lead at the top and are two wins clear of Ashbourne 1, who only have one game to go; with a couple of scorecards outstanding, it is most likely that DLR can only be caught by Lucan 1, who have five games still to play and would require an excellent end to the season to finish on top. The Hills 3 are struggling at the bottom of the table, and with two games to go, it will be a difficult task to move off the foot of the table; Knockharley 2 are in seventh place but have five fixtures to fulfil, and will likely need two or three wins to avoid finishing in the bottom two.
DIVISION 9
Railway Union 4 lead the way in Division 9 in a jam-packed top half of the table with eight points separating first and fourth; Railway have three games to play while the majority of the chasing pack have only one fixture to play, which should have them in the box seat for the title. Adamstown 3 and Leinster 4 will both be hoping that Railway slip up in their remaining fixtures, Leinster 4 host Bagenalstown 1 and travel to Civil Service 4 to close their season while Adamstown 3 await the visit of Civil Service 4 to Airlie Park. Bagenalstown 1 currently sit at the foot of the table but have five games still to play; a strong end to their season could see them finish as high as first, depending on other results, Castleknock 2 linger in seventh place and will hope that Civil Service 4 in sixth slip up in some of their remaining games to try and climb above them in the table.
DIVISION 10
In Division 10, Malahide 4 and Tyrrelstown 2 will battle it out for the title; they face each other on Sunday in Tyrrelstown Park with any other result than a Tyrrelstown victory giving Malahide first place. At the other end, Clontarf 4 are confirmed to be in 8th place with one game to go. Four points separate 7th and 4th, with Finglas 1 and North County 4 having two games to play and Pembroke 4 and Balbriggan 3 one game each. Pembroke 4 travel to Castle Avenue on the last day of the season and will likely know what they need to do to avoid the bottom two.
DIVISION 11
Sandyford 2 are in a powerful position at the top of Division 11. They have completed their fourteen league games and are 92.5 points clear of 2nd place Dundalk 1. They can still be caught by Lucan 2 who have five games to go and would need 104.5 points from the remaining 125 that they can earn to usurp Sandyford 2 at the top of the table. At the other end of the table, Rush 3 sit eighth with three games to play and will need other results to go their way to avoid finishing last. Merrion 5 look confirmed to finish in the bottom two with a game to play, a full-point victory in their last fixture, only placing them 1.5 points above Wicklow County 1, who have three games to play. With several games still to be completed, it will provide an entertaining finish to the league season.