Downs as league reaches climax
van at the other end of that table. If they beat Tipperary, then they will go back up to the top flight after spending one season away.
We already know Armagh are in the second tier, getting there courtesy of a draw against Fermanagh last weekend. For their final game before the league final, they travel to Wexford Park to take on Paul McLoughlin’s men, who are staring at the prospect of going through an entire league campaign with far more red cards — five at the last count — than points.
Fermanagh go in search of sealing promotion at Pearse Park in Longford. This being the last game for Rory Gallagher’s side, it is a winner-takes-all affair. A draw would do no good as Longford would then take their place in Division Two due to their superior scoring difference.
Indiscipline has cost Fermanagh, with Cian McManus’ red card against Westmeath contributing to their collapse in an injury-time loss, and two red cards for Aidan Breen and Daniel Teague leaving them short-handed to dig in for the Armagh draw.
There is an outside chance Derry could still go down, but a point against Sligo would be enough to rescue them.
It has been a chastening season to be a Derry fan, but manager Damian McErlain has made no bones about the fact he is on a long-term project.
The return of Brendan Rogers — though he tweaked a hamstring the last day out — along with Karl McKaigue and Padraig Cassidy has gone a long way to lifting the gloom and they will only improve.
In Division Four, Antrim are praying for last week’s conquerors Carlow to do them a favour. They need the Barrowsiders to defeat Laois, and then beat Laois themselves in the final game.
Before that, they have a long trip to the Gaelic Grounds to face Limerick, and anything less than a win means another year in the basement for the Saffrons.