Winners of Cork v Galway will be through to Allianz Hurling League final against Tipp

While it was initially due to be a weekend that was free of hurling action, it ended up providing clarity at both ends of the Allianz Hurling League Division 1A table.

With the Kilkenny-Limerick game unable to be played in its original siting of February 23, it was slotted in to the only remaining free weekend.

Though Kilkenny’s loss to Tipperary the previous week ruled them out of contention in terms of qualifying for the league final, they needed to win in order to avoid any lingering relegation worries – and also to avoid having four defeats in a campaign for the first time since 1998. They achieved that and the results had ramifications at the other end of the table, too.

The Cats’ 0-29 to 0-20 victory at UPMC Nowlan Park on Saturday afternoon moved them to six points from six games – the first county to complete their schedule, as next weekend is their bye week – and in the process confirmed the relegation of Clare and Wexford from the top flight.

It would have taken a very specific set of results for one of that pair to avoid the drop in any case, but Tipperary proved to be beneficiaries of the Noresiders’ win. They are now guaranteed a place in the decider with a game to spare, regardless of what happens in their last match against Clare, as their eight-point tally can only be bettered by Cork, who sit on seven.

PRIORITY

Limerick could get to seven points with a win against Wexford in their last match – however, if they did draw level with Cork as a result of Pat Ryan’s side losing, then it would be Galway progressing to meet Tipp in the decider. The Shannonsiders’ inability to make the final may not be lamented too much by those within their camp, though, given that their championship opener on Easter Sunday, April 20, is a trip to FBD Semple Stadium to face Tipp.

So it is that, in the year when league semi-finals were dispensed with, we are left with what is in effect such a tie as the winner of the Cork-Galway game at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh next Saturday night will be advancing to the final against Tipp. 

Standing a point ahead in the rankings, Cork do also have the benefit of knowing that a draw would see them safely through to a decider against the Premier County for the first time since 1960.

In Division 1B, there was also an outstanding game played on Saturday, with Carlow’s 2-26 to 0-29 win over Laois at MW Hire O’Moore Park condemning the home side to relegation along with Westmeath.

The result also kept alive faint hopes that the Dolmen County may reach the final against the already-qualified Offaly, though Dublin were perhaps the county to gain the most in terms of opportunity as a result of the outcome in Portlaoise.

The Dubs, who are away to Laois next weekend are currently two points behind second-placed Waterford, who host Offaly. If the two counties and no others finished level, then Waterford’s victory when the counties met at Walsh Park would break the tie in their favour due to the head-to-head rule.

However, Carlow are now level on six points with Dublin and will move to eight if they beat Westmeath. Assuming Dublin win and if Waterford were to lose to Offaly, then scoring difference would be used as the differentiating factor with three teams tied. Waterford do still possess a healthy advantage in that regard, with a figure of +56 at present, while Dublin are on +27 and Carlow -1.