OK, STRAP YOURSELF IN and we will try to make this all as simple as possible as we determine what could happen on the final day of the Allianz football leagues.
https://x.com/GAALeagueTables/status/1901394932746605039
Turns out an already complex year is about to get even more mind-bending.
Division One
At present, there is only one certainty, and that is that league champions last year, Derry, are relegated.
Every other team is ‘in play’ in that they have the honour – dubious in some cases – of making the league final, or could go down.
One of Tyrone and Armagh who both sit on five points, and even Kerry on six, could go down. Should Tyrone beat Dublin and Armagh get a likely victory over Derry, and if Kerry were to come up short against Galway, then the Kingdom could go down. Even six points is no guarantee of safety anymore.
In fact, neither is seven. Because if Tyrone and Armagh win, and Kerry draw, one of those will go down on seven points. It’s never happened before.
If Tyrone and Armagh finish level on points, then Tyrone go down due to the head-to-head meeting, which Armagh won.
At the top, Galway, Dublin and Donegal are all on eight points. Defeat for all three and a win for Kerry would put them into the final.
Joining them there in that scenario as we outlined would be Mayo, currently on seven points, with a win over Donegal who despite protestations to the contrary, are wary about making a final.
Prediction: It’s a Galway-Dublin league final. Tyrone will join their neighbours Derry in the second tier next year.
Division Two
Again, let’s start with the certainties. And we have but one; that Westmeath are relegated with six defeats from six, although such clinical accounting does not show how close those games were.
But anyway, three other counties have a little work to do to avoid joining them. Down and Louth are on four points with Louth having won the head-to-head. Down have Monaghan, who need the points to be absolutely certain of promotion, while Louth have a derby against rejuvenated Meath, who sit joint-second and need the points.
With three teams stuck on eight points, it’s conceivable that Roscommon, Meath and Cavan all finish on ten points, with Roscommon’s score difference of plus-9 right now making it likely they join Monaghan in the league final.
Prediction: Roscommon and Monaghan to go up, with Down joining Westmeath in the drop.
Division Three
The end is nigh for Leitrim; unable to field a team against Fermanagh last weekend, they have had a hard time trying to cope with player turnover, injury and an increased standard in the third tier.
It would appear that Sligo can pick up two handy points against them this weekend which would leave Antrim as the other side heading back to the basement league.
The meeting of Offaly and Clare will decide much. A win for Offaly and Clare will remain on eight points with Kildare likely to leap-frog them onto ten points when they host Antrim this weekend.
Fermanagh have an outside chance, but need Antrim to beat Kildare and Offaly to beat Clare.
Prediction: Offaly are joined by Kildare in the league final, Antrim join Leitrim in the dropzone.
Division Four
Very straightforward in this one. Wexford’s 100% record so far has them in the league final already.
They can be joined there by Limerick (eight points) or Wicklow (seven).
With one game left and Limerick facing bottom of the table Waterford, it appears promotion is theirs.
Prediction: It’s promotion for Wexford and Limerick.
Thank Christ for that , the longest bloody goodbye in the history of the planet !!! Finally able to watch a match without commentators verbally making love to him throughout the entire game
Shut up!! I’m sick of reading stupid comments like this… This man has put everything into any jersey he has worn over d past 15 year and never asked for any praise. just because he got a fitting farewell to his international career 2 months ago, some people think that this long goodbye has gone on forever… That’s just the way this season has ended, he didn’t intentionally plan it this way so that people could loathe more praise for him. And of course commentators etc should pay tribute him, if u open your eyes and recognise what he has achieved for his country and the sport, u wouldn’t make such an ignorant comment like this. And all u can say is that your delighted to see him go off injured. Idiot!!
Blah blah blah blah !!! We seen and heard it all before the reality is everyone is sick to the teeth of hearing about it , instead of doing the decent thing and quietly slipping off at the end if last season or even declaring it after today’s match he did it half way through this season a season he has played poorly ( bar maybe the away game to Northampton ) and been injured for the majority of it , today being farcical. Nothing personal against the guy just sick of the longest goodby in the history of mankind
Lol couldn’t agree more.
That was for Luke’s post!!
Here here! Embarrassing how the media goes on about him
Douglas
I hate to see your comment when you reach your teens!!!!
Bad in the Italy game too I presume?! Appreciate the man. Ireland is a specialist nation in begrudgery.
The Italy game ok he was involved in the three tries but isn’t that what he should be doing seeing he is the greatest player that ever played the game , Italy the mighty Italy . Oh don’t forget he gifted them their try as well with a world class clearance . Sure two good games a season is acceptable to you then , all you have to do is look at his performance for the lions to see he just went a season too far , don’t get me wrong he was a great centre but this season seemed selfish in my opinion
Here flash how many times did you play for Munster? Go on tell us again, we all like a good laugh
Luke go on name us one other Irish rugby player who was better?
What ???? Firstly what has my rugby playing days got to do with it and secondly what has Munster got to do with the Irish media and BOD’s never ending retirement saga . Jesus wept that is by far the worst comment ever posted since social media began
Well flash at least he’d have an excuse for his comments then !!
With all the man love emanating from you I’d say you probably play for the Emerald Warriors !!
You’re hilarious Bob !
Yep and your not …
Original – don’t give up the day job if you have the intelligence for one.
Ok Chris I think you need to read the comments again , I didn’t state that he wasn’t or was the greatest Irish player ever . Other people are !!! My point has been made several times in my other comments so instead of getting upset and emotional have a read of them first please. I take it you are in the same primary school class as Douglas who also got a bit carried away tonight , maybe you can both meet up and cry over a ribena remembering BOD’s greatest moments
Yea great come back that … Your hardy in any position to question anyone else’s intelligence
LOL !!!
Looking forward to your goodbye post
Sad way for him to go, thankfully got his fairytale in Paris.
Jeez Ian Madigan got SOME reception when he came on!
Cruel end to his career. That’s the nature of the sport though.
He will still get man of the match..
Least thats the end of him now…
I’m embarrassed for the bellends on this app , we had two of the worlds most influential players in sport from this country in Roy Keane and Brian O Driscoll and the amount of negativity towards them both here really is truly shocking. Call yourselves Irish !!!!
HA HA!!!!!!!!!!
Judging by your photo I don’t think you’ve got anything to laugh at !!!!