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Preview: Joe McDonagh Cup Round 5

Ben Conneely's Offaly will clinch a place in the Joe McDonagh Cup Final if they defeat Carlow. 

Ben Conneely's Offaly will clinch a place in the Joe McDonagh Cup Final if they defeat Carlow. 

Saturday, May 21

Joe McDonagh Cup round 5

Antrim v Kerry, Corrigan Park, 1pm

Offaly v Carlow, Bord na Mona O'Connor Park, 1pm

Down v Meath, Ballycran, 1pm

Antrim have already qualified for the Joe McDonagh Cup Final and the All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Finals.

Offaly can clinch second place if they draw with or defeat Carlow on Saturday. But if Carlow win that match and Antrim defeat Kerry, then Carlow will finish second above Offaly on the head-to-head rule.

If Carlow defeat Offaly and Kerry defeat Antrim, then Offaly, Kerry, and Carlow will all finish on six points each and will be separated by scoring difference. Kerry have a big advantage there currently with a scoring difference of +40, with Carlow on +16 and Offaly on +14.

This weekend’s match between second from bottom Down and bottom of the table Meath is effectively a relegation play-off. If Down win or draw, Meath are relegated to the Christy Ring Cup for 2023. If Meath win, Down are relegated.