Title race goes to the wire

IN ONE of those strange quirks of fate, six title and relegation rivals are directly pitted against each other in the final weekend of the season. Old Alexandra, Loreto, Maids, Clontarf, Hermes II and Genesis will all have their nerves severely tested as they take to the field for matches of huge importance tomorrow.

If results go their way tomorrow afternoon, Muckross could make up for the bitter disappointment of last Saturday's Irish Senior Cup defeat by retaining their Leinster League title.

The champions (44 points) play Railway Union at Park Avenue and by then, will know the outcome of the Loreto (43) v Old Alexandra (42) match at Belfield - a 0-0 draw there means a win against Railway will secure the title for Muckrss.

A victory or a score draw for Loreto tomorrow will set up a title decider on March 19th, when they play host to Muckross at Belfield in the final match of the season - anything less than a victory for Old Alexandra will end their slim hopes of pipping Muckross.

At the other end of the table, Maids and Clontarf, the bottom two, meet at Grange Road knowing that defeat for either side will result in relegation... if Genesis beat Hermes II in the top-of-the-table Senior B clash.

If Hermes II avoid defeat by Genesis, they will win the Senior B title but, with clubs allowed only one team in each division, they cannot be promoted.

Meanwhile, Loreto, Wexford and Enniskillen Collegiate enter today's final rounds of matches in the Kate Russell All-Ireland Schools' Championships in Thurles in a commanding position after winning one and drawing the second of their matches yesterday.