HURLTO PLAY FOR
Campaign coming to the crunch for several sides
BY PAT NOLAN
IT’S moving weekend in the Allianz Hurling League, with the make-up of the new-look 2025 competition set to become much clearer after the fourth round of games.
The top three in the current 1A/1B are guaranteed to play in the top division next year, followed by the best fourth-placed team in either.
The conventional wisdom before a ball was pucked suggested that, with Antrim and Westmeath in 1B, the best fourth-placed team was likely to come from that section.
However, it’s not panning out quite like that as Dublin have struggled to an alarming degree, with only Antrim and Westmeath worse off in terms of score difference across the 10 teams in both groups.
As such, their tie with Galway in Pearse Stadium on Sunday looks likely to be pivotal as a win would see them leapfrog Henry Shefflin’s side on the headto-head.
The winners can look forward to playing in the top flight next year, while the losers’ fate will be well out of their own hands.
In 1A, Waterford host Wexford on Sunday. Winning won’t bring any guarantees, but it would be significant step to securing a top four finish.
The losers would be vulnerable going into the final round of games, when Waterford will be at home to Kilkenny and Wexford travel to Cork, but it could be effectively settled by then in any event.
Although Offaly have proven to be more plucky than anticipated, Cork will still be expected to win in Tullamore on Sunday.
If they do and Wexford beat Waterford, then Davy Fitzgerald’s side will be condemned to the second tier in next year’s League with a game to spare.
While Limerick-tipperary in Cork on Saturday evening is the glamour clash of the weekend, the heavy lifting is almost done for both, especially in Tipp’s case as, even if they lose this one, they would still reach eight points with an expected victory over Antrim on St Patrick’s weekend.
The Clare-kilkenny game in Ennis on Sunday has similar implications.
The Westmeath-antrim tie on Saturday is largely immaterial with the two of them, along with Offaly, set to play in 1B next year.
Also in 1B in 2025 will be the Division 2A finalists, currently shaping up to be Carlow and Laois.