By John Harrington

It’s all to play for this weekend in the Allianz Hurling League with the final round of group matches taking place across all divisions from 1A to 3B.

It’s worth knowing that where two teams finish the group phase level on points, the team that won the head-to-head match is ranked ahead.

If that match was a draw, then points difference is used to rank the two teams. Where three or more teams are level on points, points difference is use to rank them.

Division 1A

Tipperary are already assured of top-spot in Division 1A and a quarter-final berth regardless of how their match against Cork on Sunday goes, but the other three Division 1A Quarter-Final places are still up for grabs.

Clare, Cork, and Waterford currently complete the top four. They all have four points each, and are separated by scoring difference. Clare’s scoring difference is +1, Cork’s is 0, and Waterford’s is -8.

That means Sunday’s game between Clare and Waterford is a straight shoot-out with the winner guaranteed a quarter-final berth. A draw might also be enough for both teams depending on how other results go.

Cork are at home to Tipperary and will qualify for the quarter-finals with a win.

They’ll hope the fact that the Premier County are already guaranteed top-spot will mean they will field a more experimental than usual selection.

But with both counties also due to play another in the Munster Quarter-Final, it’s unlikely Tipperary will want to hand any psychological advantage to their rivals.

Sunday’s remaining Division 1A match is another crunch-encounter as Kilkenny on three points travel to play a Dublin team on two points.

Even though both teams currently occupy the relegation play-off spots, a win for either could be enough to secure a quarter-final berth depending on how other results go, though Dublin’s scoring difference of -15 puts them at a disadvantage.

The bottom two teams in Division 1A after Sunday’s matches will go head to head in a relegation play-off to determine which team drops down to Division 1B.

Division 1B

In Division 1B, Wexford are already guaranteed top-spot regardless of how their match against Laois goes on Sunday because they’ve already beaten the two teams who could conceivably join them on eight points – Galway and Limerick.

That means Wexford are guaranteed to play the fourth-placed team in Division 1A in the Division 1 Quarter-Finals.

The match between Galway and Limerick is a straight shoot-out for second-place in Division 1B. If it’s a draw and both teams finish on seven points each, Galway take second place because of their superior scoring difference.

The second-placed team in Division 1B will play the third-placed team in Division 1A in the Quarter-Finals.

If either Galway or Limerick lose Sunday’s match they’re guaranteed third spot regardless. The third-placed team in Division 1B will play the second-placed team in Division 1A in the Quarter-Finals.

The meeting of Kerry and Offaly on Sunday will be decisive in terms of who finishes in fourth place in Division 1B and takes the fourth quarter-final spot on offer.

Both Kerry and Laois are currently level on two points each but Kerry sit above Laois in the table because they beat them when the teams met.

Offaly have lost all four of their matches thus far, but if they beat Kerry on Sunday they could sneak into the quarter-finals on scoring difference.

Currently the scoring differences of the bottom three teams is – Kerry (-46), Laois (-53), and Offaly (-41).

So were Offaly to beat Kerry and Laois to lose to Wexford, then all three teams would finish on two points each and Offaly’s superior scoring difference would see them finish in fourth place and take the quarter-final spot.

If Laois defeat Wexford and Kerry lose to or draw with Offaly, then Laois will progress to the quarter-final. If Laois defeat Wexford and Kerry defeat Offaly, then Kerry will  progress because of their head to head record against Laois.

Whatever two teams come out on the wrong side of the arithmetic and finish in fifth and sixth in Division 1B will face off against each other in a relegation play-off with the loser relegated to Division 2A.

Division 2A

The top two teams in Division 2A will contest a Final which will determine which team wins promotion up to Division 1B.

Going into the last round of fixtures, Antrim and Carlow are very well placed to be those two teams.

Antrim are top on seven points and Carlow are second on six points, and both finish up with home games on Sunday. Antrim have the trickier looking task as they host Westmeath, while Carlow are up against second from bottom Armagh.

Kildare are currently in third place on five points and still have a slim chance of crashing the party if they defeat London and get to seven points.

If they finish level on seven points with just Antrim they won’t get into the final because Antrim would go through on the head to head as they beat Kildare in the group phase.

But if they end level on points with Carlow then it will come down to scoring difference because the two teams drew in the last round so the head to head rule does not apply.

Another, albeit unlikely, scenario would be for Antrim, Carlow, and Kildare to all finish on seven points at which stage they would be separated by scoring difference. Antrim’s is currently +16, Carlow’s is +20, and Kildare’s is +6.

Westmeath also have a mathematical chance of making the Division 2A Final. Were they to beat Antrim, Carlow lose to Armagh, and Kildare draw with London, then Westmeath would finish in second-place on six points and ahead of Kildare and Carlow on scoring difference.

The bottom placed team in Division 2A will drop straight down to Division 2B, and that will be either Armagh or London who both have just one point each.

Because their match against one another ended in a draw the head to head rule does not apply and they’ll be separated by scoring difference. Currently Armagh’s is -32 while London’s is -38.

Division 2B

Wicklow and Meath have both won all four of their matches and already qualified for the Division 2B Final. Their meeting this weekend is a dress-rehearsal for that game. The winners of the 2A Final will be promoted to Division 1B.

The bottom two teams in Division 2B - Mayo and Roscommon who are both pointless - will contest a relegation play-off with the loser dropping down to Division 3A.

**Division 3A **

The top two teams in Division 3A will contest the Final and the winners will be promoted to Division 2B.

Monaghan on eight points and Donegal on six points currently occupy those top two positions, but Tyrone on four points are still in with a fighting chance.

Their clash with Donegal today (Wednesday) will be pivotal in this regard. If Donegal win, then they and Monaghan will contest the Final.

If Tyrone win, then the Final pairing will be decided by Sunday’s final round of Divisional matches with Monaghan hosting Tyrone and pointless Louth hosting Donegal.

There will be no relegation from Division 3A this year.

Division 3B
Longford and Warwickshire are already through to the Division 3B Final. Later this year the CCCC will review the make-up of Division 3 of the Allianz Hurling League going forward.