With five teams in with a shout of a spot in the Division One final, there should be excitement aplenty on the final day of the National Hurling League this Sunday.
By Ciaran Brennan
It’s another weekend of ifs, buts and maybes for all GAA fans as the final round of the Allianz Hurling League takes place on Sunday, with 2.30 pm throw-ins at grounds across the country.
And with so many issues undecided, there will be an arousal of statistical interest, climaxing at around 3.45 with the frenzied gush of results.
The stattos among us would have us believe that the possibilities and permutations are endless.
But as a meat and two veg man, I’d prefer to keep it simple. So, bearing that in mind, let’s have a look at the fixtures.
Kilkenny look home and hosed. But who will join them?
Top of the table Kilkenny host joint-bottom Offaly at Nowlan Park in Division One. Surely there can only be one result here. You can make all the arguments you like about Offaly fighting for their lives and decent form in tight matches etc., but the fact is that Kilkenny won’t let slip this opportunity to advance to another competitive match, another League final, will they?
Then, if we are saying that Kilkenny will be in the final – and we are, who’s going to join them there?
There’s an admirable and recently found consistency about Anthony Daly’s team which sees them sit comfortably at the top table.
Tucked neatly behind the Cats on the League table in joint second place are Galway and Dublin. Now this is where the waters get a bit murky.
Galway travel to Waterford, which is a sticky enough fixture in itself. But when you throw into the mix the possibility that a win for Waterford could see the Déise advance to the final if other results go their way, the stakes are raised ever so slightly.
One of those results needed by Waterford is for Dublin to be beaten on their visit to Cork.
Dubs at home at the top table
Funny isn’t it? In almost any other circumstance this has always been a home banker. But now Dublin are three points better off than the Rebels and looking for points to advance to a national final.
There’s an admirable and recently found consistency about Anthony Daly team which sees them sit comfortably at the top table. And if they bring that game to the Munster capital it will be enough to secure the win. All they can do then is hope that other results fall their way.
But there is an elephant in the room. And it’s called Tipperary. With a stunning victory over Galway last time out, Tipp catapulted themselves into the ring for a final place. Their probable home victory over relegation threatened Wexford will mean that any slip up by Galway and Dublin will see Tipperary in the final with Kilkenny (now where did I see that before?), and will also consign Wexford to Division Two.
Tough call
It’s a very tough one to call, but if we go on the basis of overall form through the League, not withstanding their horror show last time, we give Galway a tentative vote to do just enough and join Kilkenny in the Division One final.
In Division Two, Limerick are already home and hosed, and expect Clare, with victory at home over Carlow, to join them in the final.
Meanwhile, things have moved along to final stage already in Division 3A where Derry will meet Wicklow at Longford, in Division 3B, it’s Mayo versus Roscommon at Carrick-on-Shannon, and in Division Four, South Down will take on Tyrone.
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