DEISE QUALIFIER MISERY MAY BE NEARING END

SFC qualifier round-up

IF this is their last afternoon in the All-Ireland qualifiers,

Waterford surely won’t shed too many tears.

With a B Championship looking increasingly likely for 2020 – and Division 3 and 4 teams set to be diverted away from the qualifiers – Waterford would be the big winners. They face Division 3 champions Westmeath in Mullingar today (3pm) and should they lose as anticipated it will close out a truly horrible period for them in the back door series.

Waterford have played just 40 Championship games in total since the qualifiers were introduced in 2001 averaging 2.1 matches per summer. Wicklow, Carlow and Leitrim are next up at 2.7 while Clare are on 2.9.

To put the figures into context, Dublin have averaged 5.5 games since 2001. Meanwhile,

Monaghan will be on a revenge mission against

Fermanagh in Clones (1.45pm) after last summer’s shock Ulster semi defeat.

Carlow will be without suspended duo Brendan Murphy (left) and Sean Murphy for the visit of

Longford (3pm).

But Longford boss Padraic Davis warned: “Underestimate Carlow at your peril. They’re a team that have beaten Kildare only a year ago, were promoted last year and were unlucky to have been relegated to Division 4 this season.”

Tipperary, ravaged by injuries this season, travel to Newry (2pm) to play Down.

Tipp boss Liam Kearns said of a shock loss to Limerick: “Five or six of the lads were playing their first game for some time and we got found out. I regret playing them.”