Allianz Hurling Leagues Previews
Cork v Dublin, Páirc Uí Chaoimh (B Gavin, Offaly) (TG4)
Sad, isn’t it, for Cork supporters, the one team in the division with nothing to play for this weekend. Having spent the league playing spin-the-bottle in team selection and losing against relegation-strugglers Wexford last time out, Cork have fallen out of top-two contention.
Not the case for Dublin, however. A win here, results elsewhere going their way and the Dubs will contest their first league final since 1946. That’s some carrot for the visitors but motivation alone won’t be enough.
Despite all the messing with the team selections Cork have been seriously competitive in every game, lost by just a point against Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford, drew with Tipp. This will be a contest.
Dublin
So much on the line for both these teams but for very different reasons. Having lost to fellow-relegation strugglers Offaly, Wexford gave themselves a lifeline in the last round with a win over Cork; continue that here, earn one point more than Offaly earn against Kilkenny, and they stay up. Unlikely, however, very unlikely. Tipperary coming into summer form already, a huge win over Galway last Sunday week is proof positive of their current rude good health.
Tipperary
Potentially the game of the round. Galway’s fate is in their own hands. Win and they’re in the league final, the destruction suffered against Tipperary two weeks ago irrelevant; lose and they are leap-frogged by Waterford, who will be hoping that both Tipperary and Dublin are beaten.
So much for both teams to play for then, and Walsh Park should be rocking.
Waterford
A lot of people believe that Kilkenny are home and hosed, league final place secured, a win here a foregone conclusion.
May not be the case, however. Offaly have been massively disrupted by injury all season, several starters under the surgeon’s knife, but they gave themselves a huge lift with the win over Wexford, then ran Waterford close last time out. They’re up against it, but there’s nothing foregone.
Kilkenny
Westmeath v Down, Cusack Park Mullingar, (D Hughes,Carlow)
Woeful Westmeath. Already relegated, no points, no manager now that Kevin Martin has stepped down, though former manager Seamus Qualter, already managing Roscommon, has stepped in to lend a hand. Down safe but with nothing to play for.
Westmeath
Limerick already qualified for the final but looking to maintain their 100% record, Antrim still with a top-two chance, though — as with so many others this weekend — they will be hoping for results elsewhere to go their way.
Limerick
Laois another side still in with a chance of making the final and a big win here, a big loss by Clare and Antrim, and they’re through. Kerry have been competitive at home, however, so nothing guaranteed yet.
Laois
Clare are the one team in this division who can dictate their own fate. Win and they will play Limerick in the final, regardless of anything that happens anywhere else. Carlow have only an outside chance, need a huge win here, then Antrim to lose, Laois to be contained by Kerry.
Clare
Derry v Wicklow, Pearse Park Longford (F Smith, Meath) Nothing between them in the league but Wicklow have been reinforced since then, Waterford’s James Quirke declaring for them, dual players Leighton Glynn, Stephen ‘Chester’ Kelly and Seanie Furlong also available.
Wicklow.
Mayo v Roscommon, Carrick-on-Shannon (P Green, Galway)
Roscommon the more traditional hurling county, but Mayo have been making progress in recent years — ships passing in the night?
Mayo
Division 4 final
South Down v Tyrone, Athletic Grounds Armagh, (O Elliott, Antrim)
Two Ulster teams, little between them in the regular rounds, Tyrone coming out on top. Should be tight again, same result.
Tyrone.
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