The race for the title took another twist as Clontarf imploded at North County while Pembroke fought back to beat Phoenix by one run in a thriller.

Clontarf were skittled for just 66 on a damp Balrothery pitch - Fionn Hand (4-4), Terry Richardson (3-22) and Eddie Richardson (2-18) doing the damage.

Alex Cusack (3-16) struck early blows but Andrew Sheridan's 37 not out sealed the win.

Pembroke looked to be heading for defeat as Nicolaas Pretorius hit 89  from 97 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes) to lead Phoenix to 160 for 3 chasing 197.

However Pembroke knew that Phoenix had a soft underbelly and so it proved as Paul Lawson and Josh Little each took three wickets - Little bowling Brawders in the last over to seal the one run win.

Railway Union stay bottom as they could only manage 82 against YMCA - Simi Singh (4-18) and James Parkinson (3-14) doing the damage.

YMCA juggled their line-up and almost messed it up - losing six wickets before getting over the line.

Merrion - without John Anderson - posted 193 at The Hills, but it proved woefully inadequate as half centuries from Cormac McLoughlin-Gavin and Hamid Shah sealed the 8 wickets win.

Bottom slot could well now be decided on Tuesday when Merrion take on Railway in a crucial T20 replay. A win for Merrion would condemn Railway to automatic relegation.

In the second division Leinster stay top after a dramatic tie with Malahide, while Cork County stay in the promotion hunt after a comfortable win at North Kildare.

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