The final round of regulation games in the Allianz Hurling League take place on March 20 and here’s what’s at stake for each of the 12 top flight teams ahead of those ties.
DIVISION 1A
Cork
Final fixture v Wexford (a)
Not much to report as Cork’s fourth win from as many outings over Galway on Saturday assured them of a semi-final spot with a game to spare.
They travel to Wexford on Sunday week and will then play in the semi-final the following weekend with the final scheduled for the weekend after that.
Cork’s approach to the latter stages will be interesting as they haven’t won the League since 1998 but the final falling just two weeks before their crunch Munster Championship opener at home to Limerick may colour their thinking.
Wexford
Final fixture v Cork (h)
Similarly, Wexford are assured of their semi-final spot before playing Cork after maintaining their 100% record against Offaly on Saturday.
Wexford haven’t won the League since way back in 1973 but, again, the final falls just two weeks before they open their Leinster round robin at home to Galway.
Galway
Final fixture v Clare (h)
With their bright start fading as they slipped to defeats to Wexford and Cork, Galway can only finish as high as third in Division 1A and would be leapfrogged by Clare should they win in Salthill on Sunday week.
After that, Galway will have a four-week run-in for their visit to Wexford in the Leinster Championship.
Clare
Final fixture v Galway (a)
Their point against Limerick eliminated any remote possibility of Clare being dragged into a relegation play-off.
Once they round out their League campaign against Galway, they’ll have a five-week lay-off before playing Tipperary in Thurles on April 24.
Limerick
Final fixture v Offaly (h)
In theory, they’re not out of the relegation picture just yet as their last regulation game is a shootout with Offaly to see who plays Antrim in the play-off.
But while Offaly are traditionally sticky opposition for Limerick, right now they are just not at the level where a shock win can be realistically entertained.
Presuming they avoid defeat, Limerick would then have four weeks to prepare for Cork in the Munster Championship.
Offaly
Final fixture v Limerick (a)
Offaly were always going to struggle to pick up points in this campaign and they would have been privately bracing themselves for a relegation play-off against Laois or Antrim all along.
Bar a huge shock against Limerick, they’ll be playing the Saffrons the weekend after they travel to Shannonside before the two counties open the Joe McDonagh Cup against each other on April 16.
DIVISION 1B
Waterford
Final fixture v Kilkenny (a)
They’re all but in a semi-final given their formidable scoring difference but a draw against Kilkenny would make sure of it.
Should they progress to the final they’d be playing on three successive weekends and then enjoy a fortnight’s break before the Munster opener at home to Tipperary on April 17.
Kilkenny
Final fixture v Waterford (h)
A draw against Waterford will be enough to ensure a semi-final spot for Kilkenny as Dublin would still finish below them on the head-to-head should they beat Laois.
Kilkenny have a brilliant League record under Brian Cody, who may be tempted to go all out for the competition by the fact that their opening two Championship games are against Westmeath (April 16) and Laois (April 23).
Dublin
Final fixture v Laois (a)
A spectacular collapse against Kilkenny on Saturday has taken Dublin’s fate out of their own hands.
In theory they can overtake Waterford but it’s mathematically unlikely so their best chance lies with the Deise beating Kilkenny, thereby allowing Dublin to overtake the Cats by beating Laois, who Mattie Kenny’s side start their Championship campaign against on April 16.
Tipperary
Final fixture v Antrim (h)
They have an outside chance of qualifying for the semi-finals of a competition that they haven’t won since 2008 but must beat Antrim and hope that both Dublin and Kilkenny lose.
More realistically, they’ll be preparing for the Championship trip to Waterford on April 17 once Sunday week is out of the way.
Laois
Final fixture v Dublin (h)
The heavy lifting is done for Laois after their win over Antrim as they are guaranteed fifth spot in Division 1B whatever happens against Dublin, who they will also play in the Leinster Championship opener at Parnell Park on April 16.
Antrim
Final fixture v Tipperary (a)
The trip to Tipp is just a blowout for Antrim the weekend before they’ll most likely play Offaly in a play-off to try and preserve their top flight status. They then play the same opposition in the Joe McDonagh Cup on April 16.
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