2026 Allianz Hurling League permutations

By John Harrington

It’s the final regulation round of the Allianz Hurling League across the five divisions on Saturday and many teams still have something worthwhile to play for, be that a place in a divisional final, promotion, or avoiding relegation.

It’s worth remembering that when teams finish with equal points for qualification for finals, promotion or relegation, the tie shall be decided by the following means and in the order specified:

(i) Where two teams only are involved - the outcome of the meeting of the two Teams in the previous game in the Competition;

(ii) Scoring Difference (subtracting the total Scores Against from total Scores For);

(iii) Highest Total Score For;

(iv) Highest Total Goals For;

(v) A Play-Off

The full Allianz League tables with scoring differences can be found at the following link - https://www.gaa.ie/fixtures-results/tables.

Allianz Hurling League Division 1A

Cork v Offaly, SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, 7pm - TG4 Youtube
Limerick v Galway, TUS Gaelic Grounds, 7pm - TG4
Tipperary v Kilkenny, FBD Semple Stadium, 7pm - TG4 Youtube

Offaly and Waterford are relegated to Division 1B for next year while the pairing for the Division 1A Final will be decided by this weekend’s fixtures.

Limerick and Cork currently occupy the top two positions on eight points each with Tipperary and Galway third and fourth on six points each.

Cork can qualify for the final if they draw with or beat Offaly, and based on the respective form so far of both teams in the campaign you’d fancy the Rebels to get the job done in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

A draw or win for Limerick against Galway would also suffice for them to qualify for the final.

If Galway win by any margin against Limerick and Kilkenny beat Tipperary, then Galway will finish above Limerick on the head to head rule and qualify for the final.

If Galway beat Limerick and Tipperary beat Kilkenny, then Limerick, Galway, and Tipperary will all finish on eight points each and scoring difference will decide which team progresses to the final.

Tipperary’s scoring difference is currently 30 points less than Limerick’s and 26 points less than Galway’s, and it seems unlikely they would beat Kilkenny by a sufficient enough margin to make up the short-fall.

So, the maths for Galway are simple enough. In a scenario where Tipperary beat Kilkenny they would need to beat Limerick by three points or more to be sure of qualifying for the final.

In a scenario where Offaly upset the odds by beating Cork and Galway beat Limerick, then Galway and Limerick would finish in the top two positions on scoring difference and contest the final.

Allianz Hurling League Division 1B

Carlow v Dublin, Netwatch Cullen Park, 5pm
Down v Antrim, Páirc Esler, Newry, 5pm
Wexford v Kildare, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 5pm

Clare are already through to the Allianz Hurling League Division 1B Final and Dublin are well positioned to join them there.

They’re currently on seven points after five matches as are Wexford, but Dublin’s much superior scoring difference means that if they beat Carlow in Netwatch Cullen Park they’re sure of qualifying for the League Final even if Wexford beat Kildare.

If Carlow beat Dublin and Wexford beat Kildare, then it’s Clare versus Wexford in the League Final.

If Carlow beat Dublin and Kildare beat Wexford, then Clare and Wexford will contest the League Final.

At the other end of the table Down are as good as relegated even if it’s still not a mathematical certainty just yet.

A scenario where they beat Antrim and Dublin beat Carlow would leave Down, Antrim, and Carlow all on two points with the two teams with the worst scoring difference relegated.

Currently Down’s scoring difference is -80, Carlow’s is -35, and Antrim’s is -27, so Down seem certain to lose out there.

If Antrim beat Down then they’ll retain their Division 1B status and Carlow will be relegated even if they beat Dublin and also finish on four points. This is because Antrim beat Carlow when they played in Round 4 and so would finish above them on the head-to-head rule.

Carlow need to beat Dublin and hope Down can pull off a shock against Antrim if they’re to avoid relegation.

Allianz Hurling League Division 2

London v Laois, McGovern Park, 1pm
Mayo v Westmeath, Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, 1pm
Meath v Kerry, St Loman's Park, 1pm

Laois are already through to the final and they’ll be joined there by either Kerry, Westmeath, or Meath.

Kerry and Westmeath are both on seven points but Kerry are in second spot because their scoring difference is currently 58 points better off than Westmeath’s.

That means that any sort of a win over Meath is likely to see them promoted even if Westmeath also win their final round game against Mayo.

For Meath to reach the final they would need to beat Kerry and hope that Mayo pull off an unlikely win over Westmeath.

Derry are already relegated and Mayo are as good as even if it’s not a mathematical certainty just yet.

To stay up in Division 2 the Westerners would need to beat Westmeath, for Laois to beat London, and between those two results overcome a scoring difference deficit between themselves and London that currently stands at 41 points.

Allianz Hurling League Division 3

Armagh v Fermanagh, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 2pm
Roscommon v Donegal, King & Moffatt Dr Hyde Park, 2pm
Wicklow v Louth, Echelon Park, 2pm

The meeting of Roscommon and Donegal is the decisive match of the round in Division 3 with the winner sure of playing in the final. A draw would also suffice for table-toppers Roscommon.

Wicklow, meanwhile, can clinch their place in the final by beating Louth.

Fermanagh and Armagh are already relegated.

Allianz Hurling League Division 4

Cavan v Monaghan, Kingspan Breffni, 2pm
Lancashire v Warwickshire, Páirc na hÉireann, 2pm
Longford v Sligo, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm

Division 4 is already done and dusted, with Sligo and Longford set to contest the final. Both teams also meet this weekend, with neither team likely to want to give too much away before the final.