These are tense times as the Leinster Senior League - sponsored by Whitney Moore and Keller - approaches its conclusion.

At the top of Section B, with promotion at stake, only seven points separate joint leaders Malahide and CYM, and Leinster and North County; Leinster have played 10 matches against nine by the other three. Malahide and CYM are on 130 points apiece, Leinster on 124 and North County on 123.

Malahide take on the defeated Cup semi-finalists, North County, today and face Old Belvedere tomorrow, both at home.

Victory in both may be enough to copper-fasten Malahide's promotion. Captain Dave McGeehan will be hoping CYM lose at home to Old Belvedere today and to Leinster tomorrow.

Clontarf still lead Section A with 179 points from 10 matches; all the others trailing them have either one or two games in hand. Last weekend, Clontarf pulled off a win over Pembroke on the Saturday and then defeated The Hills decisively the following day.

But the wheels came off in their home match against Merrion in mid-week, as Brad Spanner's 76 rescued the visitors after a disastrous start. Subsequently, Clontarf's beginning was no better; some resistance came from Andrew Cullen and Paul Ryan, but though Brian MacNeice and Brian Nolan fought a staunch rear-guard action, they failed to emulate the last-wicket rescue they had effected against Pembroke.

At the bottom of Section A, The Hills and Pembroke are both in potential trouble. Both clubs need to win over the weekend; The Hills, with home advantage, face a tough task against Merrion today, while Pembroke are away to near-neighbours YMCA tomorrow.