Final round of Hurling League set for lots of drama

Published: Wed 28 Feb 2018, 9:48 AM

Five slots (Clare, Wexford, Limerick, Galway and Offaly) in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 quarter-finals have already been filled, leaving three more to be decided in the final round of games next Sunday.

They will also decide who meets in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A relegation play-off, as well as completing the various final pairings and relegation details in the other divisions.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1A: CLARE AND WEXFORD IN QUARTER-FINALS

Sunday (14:30): Kilkenny v Wexford, Nowlan Park; Tipperary v Cork, Semple Stadium; Waterford v Clare, Walsh Park.

Clare and Wexford (six points each) have qualified for the quarter-finals ahead of the last round of games next Sunday. Otherwise it’s all to play for, with Tipperary, Kilkenny (both on four points), Cork and Waterford (two points) all vying for the other two quarter-finals and battling to avoid a relegation play-off.

Where teams finish level on points, placings are decided on the head-to-head result for two teams or the points difference if more than two counties are involved.

Wexford are seeking their fourth successive win over Kilkenny having beaten them in last year’s Allianz Hurling League quarter-finals (2-18 to 0-19), in the Leinster semi-final (1-20 to 3-11) and in this year’s Walsh Cup final (frees shoot-out).

Cork are chasing their third successive win over Tipperary, having beaten them in Allianz Hurling League (0-26 to 3-16) and Munster championship (2-27 to 1-26) last year. Waterford, who picked up their first points with a win over Cork last Sunday, host Clare, whom they beat by 2-21 to 1-22 in last year’s Allianz Hurling League.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B: GALWAY AND LIMERICK IN PROMOTION SHOOT-OUT

Sunday (14:30): Galway v Limerick, Pearse Park; Laois v Dublin, Portlaoise; Offaly v Antrim, Birr.

It was always likely to come down to the Galway-Limerick tie to decide the promotion issue and that has indeed proved to be the case. The big clash takes place in Pearse Stadium next Sunday. Both sides are on full points (8) but Limerick have a superior scoring difference, so a draw would be enough for them to clinch top spot.

Galway beat Limerick by 1-21 to 1-11 in last year’s Allianz Hurling League semi-final. Irrespective of the result, both counties will be in the quarter-finals. So too will Offaly who are on four points. They face Antrim, who have lost all four games so far.

The last quarter-final place will go to Dublin or Laois, who meet in O’Moore Park. Dublin beat Laois by 2-28 to 1-15 in last year’s All-Ireland qualifiers.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2A: WESTMEATH BOOK PLACE IN THE FINAL

Sunday (13:00): Westmeath v Kerry, TEG Cusack Park; Meath v Carlow, Pairc Tailteann; London v Kildare, McGovern Park, Ruislip.

Westmeath are through to the final after four games as they prepare for their clash with Kerry (six points). Carlow, who play Meath are also on six points. Meath still have an outside chance of reaching the final but it’s far more likely to be Kerry or Carlow.

Kerry beat Westmeath by two points in last year’s Leinster championship.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2B: MAYO THROUGH TO THE FINAL

Sunday (14:30): Armagh v Donegal, Athletic Grounds, Down v Mayo, Ballycran; Wicklow v Derry, Joule Park, Aughrim.

Having won all four games to date, Mayo are through to final and could also have a major influence on who they meet.

Down, who play Mayo on Sunday, are on six points, followed by Wicklow and Donegal, who are both on four points. Wicklow host Derry, who have yet to pick up a point while Donegal are away to Armagh, who have won one game.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A: THREE IN CONTENTION FOR FINAL PLACES

Sunday (13:00): Roscommon v Warwickshire, Dr. Hyde Park; Monaghan v Louth, Castleblayney; Longford v Tyrone, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Warwickshire (7 points) lead Roscommon and Louth by two points heading into the final round. It makes the Roscommon v Warwickshire clash very important, as is the Monaghan v Louth game. Roscommon and Warwickshire did not meet in last year’s Allianz Hurling League as the former were in 2B and the latter in 3B. Monaghan beat Louth by two points in last year’s Allianz Hurling League.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3B: LANCASHIRE BOOK PLACE IN THE FINAL

Sunday (14:30): Leitrim v Cavan, Ballinamore; Fermanagh v Sligo, Enniskillen.

Lancashire, who have won all four games, are through to the final, where they will be joined by Leitrim (4 points), Sligo or Cavan (2 points each).

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE 2018: RESULTS & FIXTURES

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1A

Round 1: Cork 1-24 Kilkenny 0-24; Wexford 2-20 Waterford 0-19; Clare 1-21 Tipperary 0-19.

Round 2: Tipperary 1-20 Waterford 1-11; Clare 2-18 Kilkenny 1-18; Wexford 0-21 Cork 1-14.

Round 3: Tipperary 3-21 Wexford 1-21; Clare 0-23 Cork 0-19; Kilkenny 1-20 Waterford 1-12.

Round 4: Kilkenny 2-22 Tipperary 2-21; Waterford 1-20 Cork 1-15; Wexford 0-20 Clare 1-13.

Round 5: Mar 4: Kilkenny v Wexford; Tipperary v Cork; Waterford v Clare.

Relegation play-off: Mar 11

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

Round 1: Offaly 2-25 Dublin 1-15; Galway 1-19 Antrim 1-16; Limerick 1-25 Laois 0-18

Round 2: Galway 2-18 Laois 0-17; Dublin 0-23 Antrim 0-22; Limerick 1-24 Offaly 0-10.

Round 3: Laois 0-27 Antrim 2-16; Limerick 1-26 Dublin 0-17; Galway 2-19 Offaly 0-14.

Round 4: Limerick 3-21 Antrim 0-13; Galway 1-20 Dublin 1-14; Offaly 1-21 Laois 1-16

Round 5: Mar 4: Galway v Limerick; Laois v Dublin; Offaly v Antrim.

Relegation play-off: Mar 11

QUARTER-FINALS

Mar 11: First 1A v Fourth 1B; Second 1A v Third 1B; Third 1A v Second 1B; Fourth 1A v First 1B.

SEMI-FINALS

Mar 18

FINAL

Mar 24

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2A

Round 1: Westmeath 0-19 Carlow 0-15; Meath 1-17 Kildare 0-17; Kerry 2-30 London 1-13.

Round 2: Meath 1-24 London 1-14; Westmeath 1-20 Kildare 2-11; Carlow 1-18 Kerry 1-11.

Round 3: Feb 18: Carlow 3-23 London 0-15; Kerry 1-23 Kildare 0-10, Westmeath 1-19 Meath 1-18.

Round 4: Westmeath 2-12 London 1-10; Kerry 3-19 Meath 1-9; Carlow 3-15 Kildare 1-6.

Round 5: Mar 4: Westmeath v Kerry; Meath v Carlow; London v Kildare.

Final: Mar 11

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2B

Round 1: Down 2-17 Derry 1-14; Mayo 2-16 Donegal 1-9; Wicklow 4-20 Armagh 1-12.

Round 2: Donegal 4-17 Derry 2-9; Down1-24 Wicklow 0-16; Mayo 3-15 Armagh 2-13.

Round 3: Wicklow 2-21 Donegal 0-21; Mayo 0-13 Derry 0-10; Down 3-15 Armagh 0-13.

Round 4: Feb 25: Armagh 2-18 Derry 1-15; Donegal 0-17 Down 0-14; Mayo 1-22 Wicklow 2-16

Round 5: Mar 4: Armagh v Donegal; Down v Mayo; Wicklow v Derry

Mar 11: Final

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A

Round 1: Roscommon 3-17 Louth 1-6; Warwickshire 3-16 Tyrone 2-14; Monaghan 0-16 Longford 0-12.

Round 2: Warwickshire 1-14 Longford 0-11; Monaghan 0-16 Roscommon 1-13; Louth 4-12 Tyrone 0-20.

Round 3: Louth 1-16 Warwickshire 1-16; Roscommon 1-25 Longford 1-10; Tyrone 2-15 Monaghan 0-17

Round 4: Louth 4-17 Longford 5-7; Warwickshire 2-17 Monaghan 3-13; Tyrone 1-16 Roscommon 1-12.

Round 5: Mar 4: Roscommon v Warwickshire; Monaghan v Louth; Longford v Tyrone

Final: Mar 11

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3B

Round 1: Lancashire 2-25 Fermanagh 1-11; Leitrim 1-9 Sligo 0-8

Round 2: Lancashire 0-15 Leitrim 0-14; Sligo 2-19 Cavan 0-4.

Round 3: Feb 18: Leitrim 2-12 Leitrim 1-11; Lancashire 2-18 Cavan 1-12.

Round 4: Feb 25: Lancashire 3-15 Sligo 2-9; Cavan 3-8 Fermanagh 0-16.

Round 5: Mar 4: Leitrim v Cavan; Fermanagh v Sligo

Final: Mar 11