THE play-off system has been shelved. With two rounds remaining, Clontarf are on 59 points, St Mary’s on 58, with third-placed Young Munster back on 48 points making it a two-club race with two rounds to play.

“I’d be in favour of a play-off system,” said St Mary’s coach Peter Smyth. “The regulations came out before this season – 18-game league, whoever finishes top wins it, so we knew the rules going into it. I just thought the whole play-off system brought a bit of colour to it. It was great for television, great for the profile of the competition. It kept at least six teams involved, pushing for the play-offs and three teams involved in avoiding relegation. It kept the whole division going.

“That report that came out by the union mentioned it will be reviewed again, so I don’t know if the play-offs will be back in vogue but I certainly thought it worked.”

– Gavin Cummiskey