West best & now for the rest..
WESTMEATH are already guaranteed a place in the final but there are several unresolved issues ahead of today’s final round of Joe Mcdonagh Cup games.
Westmeath’s opponents at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, look best placed to join them in the decider as they sit second in the table and may benefit from Michael Ryan taking a more experimental approach.
But Antrim will certainly hope that isn’t the case as they need a Westmeath victory to give them any hope of reaching the final.
If Carlow lose and Antrim beat Kerry, the Saffrons would match the six points of Colm Bonnar’s side but move above them by virtue of their head-to-head advantage, having beaten them on May 12.
Although Kerry sit level with Antrim, they can’t reach the final as their defeat to Carlow earlier in the competition means they will not overtake them even with a win in Cushendall, while they can’t be relegated either.
Amid that backdrop, Antrim should hold up their end but Carlow must be fancied to get what they need against Westmeath.
At the other end of the table, there’s plenty at stake between Meath and Laois in Navan.
The loser will be automatically relegated to the Christy Ring Cup.
It’s been a disastrous campaign for Laois but they should still condemn Meath to a fifth successive loss.