Preview: Allianz Hurling League Division 1:
It’s the final regulation round of the Allianz Hurling League across all three divisions this weekend with the promotion, relegation, and semi-final pictures all coming into focus.
There’s a lot to play for, and below we delve into the various permutations across all three divisions.
How they stand in Division 1 Group A of the Allianz Hurling League.
DIVISION 1
Sunday, March 19
Allianz Hurling League Division 1 Group A
Clare v Cork, Cusack Park, Ennis, 1.45pm
Westmeath v Galway, TEG Cusack Park, 1.45pm
Limerick v Wexford, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 1.45pm
There are semi-finals in the Allianz Hurling League Division 1 with the top team in Division 1A playing the second team in Division 1B and vice versa.
Cork have already booked their place in the semi-finals regardless of how they fare in their final group match against Clare in Cusack Park because they’ve won all four of their matches to date.
Limerick are best placed to join them with three wins from four matches, and a draw or a win against Wexford will guarantee their progression.
Galway and Clare are still in with a shout of making the semi-finals, but they’ll need results to go their way.
If Limerick lose to Wexford and Galway beat Westmeath and Clare beat Cork, then Limerick, Clare, and Galway will all finish on six points and score-difference will decide which team progresses to the semi-final.
In that scenario Clare would be odds on because their scoring difference currently stands at +36 while Limerick’s is +22 and Galway’s is + 3.
If only two teams finish level on six points then their head to head record will decide who goes through to the semi-finals. Because Limerick have beaten both Clare and Limerick, they would progress if only one of them finishes level with them on six points.
Westmeath are already resigned to playing a relegation play-off against Laois even if they beat Galway in their last game because they lost to the only other team who could finish with just two points, Wexford.