Hurling and football league permutations with two rounds remaining

For your musings, some early permutations with plenty still to play for.

FRIENDS REUNITED? Limerick players Seán Finn, right, and Kyle Hayes celebrate winning a free against Shane Barrett of Cork last season. The rivals may meet in the league final. Picture: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

National Football League Division 1

Final

Beat Roscommon on Sunday week and Donegal will qualify for their first Division 1 final in 19 years. That result combined with a Mayo win over Kerry in Tralee the evening before will make it a Donegal-Mayo final.

Relegation 

Should Monaghan lose to Galway in Inniskeen on Sunday week, they will be relegated to Division 2. That along with a Dublin win over Armagh the evening before will also send down The Orchard County.

Division 2

Promotion

The top four of Derry, Meath, Cork and Louth are the contenders – Tyrone require a whole host of things to go their way to be in the shake-up. If Cork, Meath and Derry keep winning it will come down to score difference for the two promotion positions - and Cork would likely miss out. Cork are away to Tyrone in their final game.

Relegation

Cavan can consign Offaly to the drop at the same time give themselves a chance of survival if they win in Tullamore on March 15. Kildare’s finish is trickier and Cavan have the head-to-head advantage over them but the Lilywhites are a point better off.

Division 3

Promotion

Flawless Down have all but confirmed they will be back in Division 2 in 2027. A point from their last two games will ensure they do and even at that they might not need one. One of Wexford, Clare, Westmeath and Laois should join them.

Relegation

To survive, Fermanagh need to win their final two games and hope for a combination of results elsewhere. Just above Fermanagh, Limerick should reach five points at least, but Laois and Sligo have the jump on them right now.

Division 4

Promotion

Defeats for Carlow and Wicklow have opened the race wide open. Just two points separate four counties and London may feel they have a say as well.

National Hurling League Division 1A

Final 

One point will seal a second successive final appearance for defending champions Cork. Even if they don’t, their scoring difference and head-to-head record is so good that they are unlikely to be caught. Equal what those do behind them and Limerick will join Cork in the final.

Relegation

Offaly’s stay in the top-flight lasted a season and their final round game away to Cork is a dead rubber for them. In what is their final game, Waterford simply must beat Tipperary in Walsh Park this Sunday to avoid joining Offaly in Division 1B next season.

Division 1B

Promotion

Clare can already look forward to Division 1A but Dublin will be hoping they give Wexford in Ennis this weekend as good as they gave them there in the opening round. A Wexford win or a draw would all but see them make a sharp return to Division 1A.

Relegation

Down are pointless and need the full complement from their final games against Dublin and Antrim to have a chance of staying in the division. Antrim must beat Down in their last fixture and then hope Carlow don’t climb above four points.

Division 2

Promotion

With four wins from four, Laois look on course for Division 1B hurling. One of Meath, Kerry and Westmeath should be joining them.

Relegation

Mayo look stuck in a rut and one of Derry and London face the chop too.

Division 3

Promotion

Two from Donegal, Roscommon and Wicklow, it would appear. Tyrone can get to seven points but it probably won’t be enough to challenge.

Relegation

One of Armagh and Fermanagh will certainly go down and both are likely to fall.

Division 4

Promotion

Sligo and Longford face each other in the final round by which stage they could both be celebrating and it may be a dry run for the final.