Last Week's Royal Liver Cup final against Limavady at Beechgrove in Derry caused the postponement of Leinster's Senior League Section A match against Clontarf, a vital relegation battle which will now go ahead at Rathmines tomorrow, and thus bring the season to an unexpectedly tense and close finish.

To survive in Section A, Leinster will have to do considerably better than they did against Limavady. By a coincidence, the new all-Ireland champions are in Dublin today, to take on Merrion in the final of the Beckett Cup, at Anglesea Road.

Clontarf's hopes of avoiding the drop have not been helped by the departure home to South Africa during the week of their talented all-rounder, Andre Botha. His skills with bat and ball seem likely to be missed, though the return of regular wicket-keeper Ronan O'Reilly is a considerable bonus.

Leinster show just one change, compared to the side vanquished by Limavady. Paul Cron, who is not eligible for the national club competition, returns instead of Tom McDonnell - a bit ironic, for McDonnell's defiant half-century at Beechgrove made him Leinster's second-highest scorer, behind Joe Byrne's undefeated 61.

So far, Clontarf have won only three of their 11 Section A matches, for a total of 135 points, while Leinster's two victories leave them on 112 points, at the bottom of the table. With Merrion and The Hills already promoted to Section A, and Railway Union now consigned to Section B, tomorrow's match is certain to be a cliff-hanger, as both clubs struggle to avoid the relegation drop.

Merrion won 10 of their 12 Section B games, with no result in two, a consistently good campaign which should boost their confidence against Limavady this afternoon. A home win would be quite an achievement against a team which has won this season's North West League and Cup, as well as the all-Ireland Cup, and which will have the considerable services of Decker Curry and Gordon Cooke, among others.