League weekend: All the action previewed

There are two big issues down for decision in Sunday's final round of the Allianz Hurling League fixtures.

The first is which county will be joining Kilkenny in the Division 1A relegation play-off and the second is whether Waterford or Wexford will secure the single available promotion slot from 1B.

The Cats were targeting their fourth consecutive league crown this year but, after an impressive start against Cork, they lost their subsequent three games, including last week's 12-point defeat to a Tipperary side they beat in league and championship finals in 2014.

Kilkenny have undoubtedly been weakened by the retirements of stalwarts like Brian Hogan, Tommy Walsh and JJ Delaney - and the absence of the club All-Ireland winning Ballyhale contingent - but to see them propping up the table is still a shock.

You would still back them to come out on top in a relegation play-off, however, and in all likelihood, this weekend's meeting of Brian Cody's team and the Bannermen at Nowlan Park will be a dress-rehearsal for the relegation decider.

The only scenario that would see Clare grab a quarter-final place instead is if they beat Kilkenny and Galway defeat Dublin. That would put Clare into fourth place due to their head-to-record over Dublin and dispatch the Dubs to face Kilkenny in the play-off.

Meanwhile, Munster rivals Cork and Tipperary meet at Páirc Uí Rinn to decide which side will finish top of 1A and most likely face Offaly in the quarter-finals.

The Faithful County's surprise victory over 14-man Limerick last week has upset the expected order in Division 1B and condemned the Treaty men to a sixth successive season in the second tier.

Waterford have a one-point advantage over a Wexford side they face in a winner-takes-all encounter at Wexford Park. A draw would also be good enough for the Déise but if Wexford win they will leapfrog their neighbours and grab the only ticket to the top division.

Limerick and Offaly are guaranteed consolation Division 1 quarter-final spots regardless while Antrim and Laois will meet in the relegation play-off.

Sunday 22 March

Division 1A

Kilkenny v Clare, Nowlan Park, 2pm
Cork v Tipperary, Páirc Uí Rinn, 2pm
Dublin v Galway, Parnell Park, 2pm

All the Clare headlines over the last week have focused on the allegations made by former players and subsequent denials, culminating in Wednesday's 'statement of unity' by management and players.

Former Tipperary captain Eoin Kelly believes that Davy Fitzgerald won't let the incident derail his plans, however, and that the win over Dublin was a strong statement that the players are still behind their manager.

"It's a bit of controversy but I think Davy Fitz won't mind too much once he got his victory over Dublin," says Kelly. "That's all he wanted, the two points on the board.

"The win was the bigger statement, and the manner of their win. Down to 14 men, six points down and they clawed it back. If there was no spirit in the camp that wouldn't happen.

"Obviously, the spirit is still high within that dressing room and as a manager that's all you want, even if you do lose a few players.

"It probably quietens the talk down a bit. If they had been beaten again..."

Kelly expects Clare to harness the momentum of that victory and give themselves a chance of a quarter-final spot by beating the Cats on their home patch.

"It tees the game on Sunday up nicely for them. They're probably getting Kilkenny at the right time. Kilkenny probably won't have their injured players or the Ballyhale contingent back, though one or two of them might sit on the bench.

"Clare will fancy themselves to get a result down there and they'll want to make a big statement down in Nowlan Park.

"This is going to be a serious game. Clare have a chance at escaping relegation and I fancy them to get over the line.

"It won't be the end of the world for Brian Cody if Kilkenny lose, he'll have his full contingent for a relegation play-off.

"He probably won't put too much pressure on the Ballyhale lads to have them back but I'm sure for the relegation final he'll go gung-ho and that'll set them up for the championship.

"It won't make a difference if it's the same teams in the relegation play-off. I expect those to be two different games but I think Clare will go for it this weekend."

Perhaps surprisingly, Kelly doesn't believe dropping out of the elite bracket would cause too much damage to Kilkenny, pointing out that four teams from Division 1B reaching the quarter-finals ensures competitive latter-stage games.

"Kilkenny were in the last four league finals and won three in-a-row, which is unbelievable. But to be honest with you I don't think being relegated is the end of the world," he insists.

"It would be a disaster if you were relegated out of 1B to Roinn 2 but if you're in 1B, you have a goal. You win your league, you're up to 1A for next year and you're in a quarter-final as well.

"If you have your eyes set on silverware in the league, it really kicks off competitively from the quarter-final stage on."

Despite recording wins over last year's finalists in their opening two games, Dublin lost their next two to slip back into the relegation mix.

Ger Cunningham's men need at least a point against Galway to ensure that happens and six-time All Star Kelly is confident they'll get it.

"Dublin are at home on Sunday and I expect them to win," he says. "They seem to thrive in Parnell Park while Croke Park didn't suit them for whatever reason.

"It would be a disaster for them to be in the relegation final after having such a good start to the league.

"I think they'll approach this game like a championship game. I'd expect them to barely get over Galway, it'll be tight, but it would lay down a marker for the championship because they meet again in the Leinster quarter-final (31 May). There's psychological advantage at stake here as well."

Cork and Tipperary have both taken six points from four games so far, which means all that is at stake at Pairc Ui Rinn is quarter-final seeding and local pride.

"Both teams have really impressed me but after Tipperary's poor start they have really come into their own in the last two games," says Mullinahone native Kelly.

"The intensity in their play was exceptional against Kilkenny last Sunday - from start to finish. If Tipperary produce that on the day, they're very hard to beat. It was there against Galway and Clare too and I'd expect them to win narrowly in Cork.

"But Tipp and Cork both love to have the bragging rights and Cork will want to say to their supporters 'we're sorry we let you down in last year's All-Ireland semi-final' [against the same opponents]. So it has the makings of a great game.

"Tipperary's last performance in Páirc Uí Rinn was very poor, they were beaten 0-26 to 1-11. It's a hard place to come out of with a victory so Tipp will have to be really on song on Sunday. But if they can get a couple of goals I think they'll win this game, and their forward line has that potential.

As for the Premier County's first competitive win over Kilkenny in two years, Kelly reckons his former team-mates will gain valuable confidence after losing out in last September's epic All-Ireland final and replay.

"They won't be carried away with it but Kilkenny won't be in the knock-out stages of the league so the next time they can meet them is in the championship," he outlines.

"That's a nice advantage for Tipperary because the next time they play them, in the back of their minds they'll be thinking 'we outfought them', which they did last Sunday, and it'll stand to them psychologically.

"Everybody knows Kilkenny were down half their team but the way Tipperary went about their business was very professional. They were relentless from start to finish. That's the kind of mentality you want to take into the championship."

Division 1B

Wexford v Waterford, Wexford Park, 2pm
Limerick v Laois, Kilmallock, 2pm
Antrim v Offaly, Ballycastle, 2pm

Limerick's shock defeat to Offaly has opened the door for Waterford to secure an instant return to Division 1A but Kelly thinks Wexford can spoil the party.

"Everyone is tipping Waterford but I have a sneaky feeling Wexford will turn them over," he predicts.

"Waterford need to beat a top four or five team in the championship to make progress. Wexford did that last year against Clare, who were the reigning All-Ireland champions.

"They have that in their armoury so I think they're further ahead at the moment. Waterford are coming along nicely but Wexford are a small bit ahead mentality-wise and I think they'll top the division.

"They've beaten a top team. This would be more progress on an upward curve and they would be a dangerous team in the championship if they can do that.

Limerick haven't played in the uppermost division since 2010 but have reached the All-Ireland semi-final in the last two seasons from 1B.

"It is a blow to them as promotion would have been progress but that blow could be overcome by making it to the latter stages of the league," reflects Kelly. "A semi-final or final would be a big plus.

"I would expect Limerick to beat Laois and Offaly to beat Antrim this weekend.

"It's been a disappointing league for Laois. They made it to the league quarter-final last year and you would have liked to see them get to a quarter-final again and maybe get a nice draw.

"Progress for Laois would be beating a team that's ahead of them. Say Galway, Dublin or Wexford in the league or championship. Unless they get a victory like that in the championship it won't have been a successful year."

Division 2A
Kerry v London, Austin Stack Park, 2pm
Westmeath v Carlow, Cusack Park, 2pm
Derry v Wicklow, Owenbeg, 2pm

Westmeath and Carlow are locked at the top of the table on six points so the winner of their clash will advance to the final but the loser is likely to be pipped by Kerry or Derry.

Division 2B
Donegal v Kildare, Letterkenny, 2.30pm
Meath v Down, Trim, 2pm
Mayo v Armagh, MacHale Park, 2pm

Kildare have a 100% record so far this season while Donegal have lost every game. Meath and Down are effectively in a play-off to play the Lilywhites in the final.

Division 3A
Fermanagh v Monaghan, Brewster Park, 2pm
Tyrone v Roscommon, Omagh, 2pm
Fingal v Louth, Swords, 2pm

Division 3B
Longford v Sligo, Pearse Park, 1pm
Warwickshire v Leitrim, Pairc na hEireann, 1pm

Allianz Football League

Division 2
Galway v Laois, Tuam Stadium, 2pm
Roscommon v Meath, Dr Hyde Park, 3pm

Division 4
Leitrim v London, Páirc Sean Mac Diarmada, 1pm

There are also three games in the Allianz Football League on Sunday, two of which are Division 2 games rescheduled from Sunday 1 Match due to snowfall.

Galway host a Laois side who will be brimming with confidence after turning their season around with a surprise win over Roscommon and even more unlikely draw with Meath.

The O'Moore men came from seven points down in the second half to take the lead as Meath required a late Eamon Wallace point to avoid an embarrassing capitulation.

Those three points have given Laois a chance of survival after two early defeats and they could rise to fifth by beating Galway in Salthill.

That seems unlikely, however, given Galway's two defeats have been for a combined total of three points to two of the division's stronger teams in Down and Cavan.

A victory would keep Kevin Walsh's team in promotion contention on six points.

Meath will seek to atone for letting that Laois lead slip as they travel to Roscommon.

The winner of this one will take outright second behind Down and the Rossies seem well placed to do that after scoring 24 points to stop the Kildare revival in its tracks last weekend.

A lack of goals is still a worry for the Connacht men, however, they've only raised two green flags in their four games to date.

In Division 4, London have yet to earn a point and Leitrim will be confident of recording their first win of the season after two draws and two defeats.

@eoinryan101

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

League weekend: All the action previewed

Dengan url

http://olahragaenjoy.blogspot.com/2015/03/league-weekend-all-action-previewed.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

League weekend: All the action previewed

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

League weekend: All the action previewed

sebagai sumbernya

Olahraga Enjoy