Cork set to have home advantage

Cork’s Division 1 quarter-final with Tipperary is expected to take place at a Cork venue next Sunday.

As both teams have played the same number of home round games (three), the decision is supposed to be made by coin toss. However, the counties’ 2012 Division 1 semi-final took place in Thurles and Tipperary are now expected to return the favour.

In that case, Páirc Uí Rinn or maybe Páirc Uí Chaoimh would be options, with the possibility of a double-header as the footballers are set to face Tyrone in Páirc Uí Rinn at 3pm next Sunday.

Cork had already ready qualified for the last eight but their victory over Wexford confirmed they will return to Division 1A just 11 months after they were relegated.

Tipperary scrapped into the quarter-finals and avoided relegation on the basis of “total scores for” thanks to a three-point win over Dublin and Kilkenny’s beating of Waterford. All three — Tipperary, Dublin and Waterford — had finished on four points.

Eamon O’Shea’s side had needed to beat Dublin by at least three points and hope the Cats did the same in Nowlan Park.

Score difference comes into play when more than two teams finish on the same number of points. Waterford’s -27 total confirmed their place in the relegation play-off but the margin of Tipperary’s win meant they finished on the same -10 difference as Dublin.

However, Tipperary were deemed to have finished higher in fourth place based on their 9-85 total scored, 17 points more than Dublin’s 5-80. It means Dublin will face Waterford next Sunday to see who remains in Division 1A next season.

The venue for that clash will be confirmed by a coin toss at a Central Competitions Control Committee meeting today, as will the location of the Clare v Laois and Galway v Limerick quarter-finals.

As Kilkenny enjoyed one more home match than Wexford, they will travel to Wexford Park for their knock-out derby. Offaly must visit Antrim for their Division 1B play-off having had the same advantage. The losers of that fixture face either Kerry or Carlow in a relegation/promotion final.