Everything you need to know for the Football leagues finale
Everything you need to know for the Football leagues finale
There is so much on the line as we get ready for the final round of the National Football Leagues next weekend, keep this cheat-sheet by your side next Sunday.
The National Football Leagues have provided us with endless entertainment throughout the past two months, and it all comes to a head next Sunday as the final games from all four divisions take place, with so much on the line.
Take this post as your permutations cheat sheet. Read it, share it and save it for Sunday, because it’s going to get hectic between the first throw-in at 1pm and 4.30pm.
Let’s go through the Divisions, there is something on the line in 12/16 games - and remember, when two teams finish level on points, their position is decided by the head-to-head result between them, if it’s more than two teams on the same amount of points, score difference comes into play.
Division 1
Mayo have asserted themselves as the form team in the country, with a place in the league final guaranteed. Donegal, in trouble on and off the pitch, are consigned to Divsion 2. Armagh look like a team with their eyes on the summer, they let another commanding position slip against Galway and need a result against Tyrone to guarantee safety. Monaghan need a miracle (or a win against Mayo as well as a result or two to go their way). If Galway beat Kerry they’re into the league final. It’s trickier for Kerry - a win should be enough, but it’s not guaranteed. Every game matters in Division 1 next Sunday.
Mayo are in the league final.
Galway-Kerry-Tyrone-Roscommon can all make the final.
Donegal are pretty much relegated.*
Monaghan-Armagh-Tyrone-Roscommon-Kerry can all go down.
*Donegal need a win, results to go their way and a huge swing in score diff.
If Galway beat Kerry, they join Mayo in the league final.
If Kerry and at least one of Roscommon and Tyrone win, score difference will decide the finalist, as we’ll have more than two teams, on eight points.
Monaghan have to beat Mayo and need Armagh to lose vs. Tyrone to survive.
Armagh need a result to be safe, or lose and hope Monaghan lose too.
If Galway, Armagh, Donegal and Monaghan win, score difference will decide relegation as we’ll be left with four teams locked on six points.
All games throw-in at 1.45pm, Sunday
Galway vs. Kerry
Mayo vs. Monaghan
Tyrone vs. Armagh
Roscommon vs. Donegal
Division 2
Derry confirmed their promotion today with an impressive win against Clare. Louth’s win against Cork means that they face Dublin next week in Croke Park, where the winner will be promoted to Division 1. Kildare saved themselves with a win against Limerick, a result which also sent both Clare and Limerick down. Clare’s key defeat was the one in Ennis vs. Kildare, as they’ll lose out to them on head-to-head if they both finish on four points. Meath, Kildare and Cork are now all chasing a final day win to secure fourth place - which would all but guarantee a place in the Sam Maguire, bar some unexpected provincial results. You can expect 5th and 6th place in Div. 2 to be sweating over their All-Ireland place. Clare-Limerick is a dead rubber.
Derry are promoted.
Limerick have been relegated.
Clare have been relegated.
The winner of Louth and Dublin will be promoted.
Cork need to beat Derry to guarantee 4th place, should secure a place in Sam.
Losers of Meath + Kildare still in danger of slide to TC via provincial finalists.
Meath can finish in 4th if they better Cork’s result vs. Kerry, or 6th if they lose.
Clare-Limerick is a dead rubber.
All games throw-in at 2pm, Sunday
Dublin vs. Louth
Kildare vs. Meath
Cork vs. Derry
Clare vs. Limerick
Division 3
Plenty was settled in Division 3 in Round 6 and it’s the only division with two dead rubbers. Antrim upset the odds to defeat Cavan on Saturday afternoon, it was a result which ended up securing their safety after Down held off Longford. Despite losing, Cavan’s promotion was guaranteed after results went their way. Offaly have ended a terribly emotional week, by leaving themselves with a great shot at promotion. They win to beat Down and hope Fermanagh lose to Cavan. There’s nothing on the line in Westmeath-Tipperary and Longford-Antrim.
Cavan are promoted.
Fermanagh or Offaly will be promoted.
Longford have been relegated.
Tipperary have been relegated.
Fermanagh will be promoted if they draw with or beat Cavan.
Offaly will be promoted on H2H if Fermanagh lose and they beat Down.
Westmeath-Tipperary is a dead rubber
Longford-Antrim is a dead rubber.
All games throw-in at 2pm, Sunday
Cavan vs. Fermanagh
Offaly vs. Down
Westmeath vs. Tipperary
Longford vs. Antrim
Division 4
Pairc Sean Mac Diarmaida is the place to be next Sunday at 1pm, as neighbours Leitrim and Sligo face each other in a do-or-die clash for promotion. Leitrim pulled off a superb win at home to Laois today to give themselves another shot, their superior score difference *should do the trick if they win. Wickow would have had promotion in their hands if they’d held on against Wexford, but Ben Brosnan kicked a late equaliser. Sligo’s job is easiest to explain, beat Leitrim and you’re up. If Sligo win, Wicklow’s job is straightforward, all they’ll have to do is beat Waterford as they edge Laois on the head-to-head. Laois need Leitrim to beat Sligo, and to then better their score difference with a win against London, and even then, Wicklow could catch Laois or Leitrim if they win by a cricket score. Division 4 is where it’s at next Sunday, as Carlow-Wexford is the only game without something on-the-line.
a. Sligo, Leitrim, Laois, Wicklow can all get promoted
Sligo will be promoted if they beat Leitrim.
Wicklow will be promoted if they beat Waterford and Sligo beat Leitrim.
Leitrim will be promoted if they beat Sligo + score difference isn’t topped.
Laois can get promoted if Leitrim win and they do enough on scoreboard.
Wicklow can go up via score difference if four finish on 10 pts but it’s unlikely.
Carlow-Wexford is a dead rubber.
Finally…
Time and fixture details are above, and I will update this post whenever we get TV, streaming and local radio confirmations closer to the weekend. I have four final reccomendations for you, neccessities, more-so, before next weekend.
Subscribe to The Football Pod podcast - why wouldn’t ya?
Tune into the next Power Rankings on OTB AM - or in the ‘OTB GAA’ feed.
Get the Score Beo app - a great way to follow score updates, by-the-minute.
Follow GAALeagueTables on Twitter - an exceptional, real-time service.
Thanks for reading, and I do hope you enjoy the final weekend of regular league action, before we enter an insanely condensced April. Don’t say you weren’t warned, I’ve written previously you about the 99 matches next month…