RedFM Hurling League preview - top flight sorted but much to be decided elsewhere

While quite a bit has already been decided ahead of the last round of fixtures in the RedFM Hurling League, there is still plenty up for grabs over the course of the next few days.

In Division 1, Midleton’s perfect record of eight wins from eight secured them a place in the final with two games to spare and Sarsfields – winners of the last three leagues – joined them as they beat Fr O’Neill’s last time out, a result which relegated them along with Killeagh.

Before Midleton and Sars meet in the decider, they will do battle in a dress-rehearsal as they round off their schedules.

That game takes place in Midleton on Thursday night, with Killeagh up against Glen Rovers. Having had an away game against Blackrock in Mourneabbey last time out as part of the Rockies’ Premier SHC preparations, Charleville are adopting a similar tack on Saturday – they ‘host’ Fr O’Neill’s in Castletownroche, which is where the north Cork side will play Sarsfields in the championship.

The other matches are on Sunday morning, with Blackrock hosting Doulgas and St Finbarr’s at home to Carrigtwohill.

In Division 2, the final pairing of Erin’s Own and Bride Rovers has been determined while Ballymartle’s relegation has been confirmed, but there is still some uncertainty regarding the other team to go down.

Na Piarsaigh, who are second bottom on five points, need to beat Kanturk on Thursday night. Then, their fate would depend on how Ballincollig and Carrigaline – both on seven – fare against Newtownshandrum and Ballymartle respectively on Sunday.

Essentially, if Ballincollig avoid defeat, Piarsaigh are down: Carrigaline beat the northsiders a week and a half ago, giving them head-to-head advantage even if they were to lose and Piarsaigh win.

However, if the Farranree side triumph and Ballincollig lose, scoring-difference would apply in a two-way tie as they drew when they met – there is a 12-point shortfall for Na Piarsaigh to make up in such an event. If they beat Kanturk and Ballincollig and Carrigaline both lose, scoring difference would also be used and Carrigaline would be down in that scenario as they are on -33 at the moment and would have a worse record than Na Piarsaigh.

In Division 3, the final will be between two of Courcey Rovers, Ballinhassig and Blarney, all of whom are on 12 points.

All three play on Sunday, with Blarney away to Bandon, Courceys hosting Castlelyons and Ballinhassig away to Lisgoold. If all three have the same results and scoring difference is used, Blarney are likely to miss out, while the head-to-head scenario is balanced – Courceys have the advantage over Blarney, Blarney have it over Ballinhassig and Ballinhassig have it over Courceys.

A Courceys win would relegate Castlelyons if that has not happened prior to then – they face Inniscarra on Tuesday night and have no room for error. Even two wins would potentially not be enough in a scoring-difference scenario with Lisgoold and Fermoy.

Watergrasshill and Aghabullogue are battling to join the eight-from-eight Kilworth in the Division 4 decider – the Hill are a point ahead – while Dungourney and Cloyne are confirmed as the Division 5 finalists.

Aghada are in the Division 6 final, with Sarsfields, Killavullen and Ballygiblin battling to join them while six teams – Na Piarsaigh, Barryroe, Ballinora, Kilshannig, Killeagh and Passage – are in the mix in Division 7.

REDFM HURLING LEAGUE FIXTURES

Tuesday, June 23

Division 3: Castlelyons v Inniscarra (7.45pm).

Division 7: Douglas v Carraig na bhFear (8pm).

Wednesday, June 24

Division 5: Glen Rovers v Dungourney (8pm).

Thursday, June 25 (7.30pm unless stated)

Division 1: Killeagh v Glen Rovers, Midleton v Sarsfields.

Division 2: Kanturk v Na Piarsaigh (7.45pm).

Friday, June 26

Division 4: Cloughduv v Kildorrery (8pm).

Division 6: Ballygiblin v Mayfield (7.30pm).

Saturday, June 27 (3pm unless stated)

Division 1: Charleville v Fr O’Neill’s (7pm).

Division 2: Bride Rovers v Newcestown (5pm).

Division 3: Ballyhea v Blackrock.

Division 5: Tracton v Midleton (2pm), Youghal v Kilbrittain (3.30pm).

Division 6: Argideen Rangers v Erin’s Own, Sarsfields v Kinsale.

Division 7: Killeagh v Ballinora, Kilshannig v Na Piarsaigh, St Finbarr’s v Passage.

Sunday, June 28 (11.30am unless stated)

Division 1: Blackrock v Douglas, St Finbarr’s v Carrigtwohill.

Division 2: Ballymartle v Carrigaline, Erin’s Own v Valley Rovers, Newtownshandrum v Ballincollig.

Division 3: Bandon v Blarney, Courcey Rovers v Castlelyons, Éire Óg v Inniscarra, Fermoy v Russell Rovers, Lisgoold v Ballinhassig.

Division 4: Bishopstown v Watergrasshill, Mallow v Aghabullogue, St Catherine’s v Kilworth.

Division 5: Ballygarvan v Castlemartyr, Milford v Cloyne.

Division 6: Aghada v Killavullen, Ballinascarthy v Diarmuid Ó Mathúna’s.

Division 7: Barryroe v Meelin (12.30pm).