Neither Clare nor Cork expected to be in this position when both made a good start to the Allianz Hurling League but after taking only one point between them in their last two games, they face a relegation play-off in the Limerick Gaelic Grounds next Sunday (3.0) to decide who drops out of Division 1A.

It's also a busy weekend in Divisions 2 and 3 which features finals and relegation play-offs on Saturday and Sunday.

Clare and Cork meet in Limerick on Sunday with Clare bidding to avoid slipping down to 1B, from where they were promoted for this season while Cork will be equally determined not to drop out of the top tier.

The counties met in the 1A campaign on March 16 when Clare won by six points (1-22 to 1-16) in Pairc Ui Rinn. It was quite a transformation by Clare, who trailed by 0-12 to 0-7 at half-time. At that stage it looked as Cork, who had beaten Tipperary and drew with Waterford in their first two games, would take their total to five points from a possible six points but it was all very different in the second half.

Clare won the second-half by 1-15 to 1-4 in front of a crowd of 7,287. Colin Ryan scored 0-12 (0-9 frees) and Tony Kelly 0-4 for Clare while Patrick Horgan was Cork's top scorer on 0-9 (0-8 frees, 0-1 '65').

How they got here
CLARE
Waterford 2-15 Clare 1-17
Clare 0-18 Galway 1-13
Clare 1-22 Cork 1-16
Kilkenny 3-10 Clare 1-15
Tipperary 3-19 Clare 1-14
Played 5, Won 2, Lost 3

CORK
Cork 0-23 Tipperary 1-11
Waterford 0-15 Cork 1-12
Clare 1-22 Cork 1-16
Galway 2-12 Cork 2-12
Kilkenny 0-20 Cork 2-12
Played 5, Won 1, Drew 2, Lost

DIV 2A FINAL: SUNDAY: LAOIS v WESTMEATH, TULLAMORE, 3.45
They head into the final with each having won four of five games. Westmeath's defeat came in the first round when they lost by three points to Kerry (2-10 to 0-13). Laois lost to Westmeath in a game which both sides will closely analyse before resuming rivalry on Sunday.

Played in Mullingar on March 18, Laois led by two points at half-time (0-9 to 0-7) but the decisive action came in the final quarter when, after Laois led by 2-12 to 0-16, Westmeath countered with goals from Niall O'Brien and Eoin Price. It helped steer them to a three-point win on a day when their top scorer, Derek McNicholas scored 0-12 (0-9 from placed balls). Laois will be hoping to bounce straight back into Division 1B, having been relegated at the end of last season.

Paths to the finas
LAOIS
Laois 1-19 Kildare 1-10
Laois 2-20 Kerry 2-12
Westmeath 2-18 Laois 2-15
Laois 2-20 Derry 0-8
Laois 0-18 Wicklow 0-14
Played 5, Won 4, Lost 1

WESTMEATH
Kerry 2-10 Westmeath 0-13
Westmeath 2-13 Derry 0-9
Westmeath 2-18 Laois 2-15
Westmeath 0-21 Wicklow 2-8
Westmeath 1-22 Kildare 2-12
Played 5, Won 4, Lost 1

DIVISION 2B FINAL: SUNDAY: MEATH v LONDON, NEWBRIDGE, 1.0.
Meath won all five games in the Division while London won four of five, losing only to the Royals. Played in Trim in early March, Meath won by 2-17 to 1-11, a scoreline which doesn't reflect London's efforts for much of the way. In fact, London led by a point after 45 minutes before a goal by Barry Slevin altered the trend and Meath went on to win by nine points. Steven Clynch was Meath's top scorer on 0-7 (0-5 frees) while Gerard Hennelly scored 0-5 (0-3 frees for London).

Paths to the final
MEATH
Meath 2-16 Down 1-18
Meath 1-19 Mayo 1-11
Meath 2-17 London 1-11
Meath 1-20 Roscommon 0-9
Meath 3-18 Armagh 1-10
Played 5, Won 5.

LONDON
London 0-21 Armagh 0-14
London 0-21 Down 2-8
Meath 2-17 London 1-11
London 3-13 Mayo 1-11
London 2-18 Roscommon 2-10
Played 5, Won 4, Lost 1.

DIVISION 3A FINAL: SATURDAY: DONEGAL v FINGAL, KINGSPAN BREFFNI PARK, 3.45.
Donegal's only defeat came against Fingal while the north Dubliners dropped only one point, drawing with Louth in the first round. The Donegal-Fingal clash came in the final round of games last Sunday week with Fingal producing an excellent performance to win by 2-11 to 1-9 in Letterkenny.

First half goals by Brian McCarthy and Peter Daly set Fingal on their way while Donegal were left to regret shooting no fewer than nine wides in the opening period.

Paths to the final
DONEGAL
Donegal 3-18 Monaghan 1-6
Donegal 0-14 Tyrone 0-9
Donegal 4-15 Fermanagh 1-19
Donegal 3-13 Louth 0-10
Fingal 2-11 Donegal 1-9
Played 5, Won 4, Lost 1.

FINGAL
Fingal 0-15 Louth 1-12
Fingal 2-10 Monaghan 1-9
Fingal 2-11 Tyrone 0-15
Fingal 1-16 Fermanagh 2-10
Fingal 2-11 Donegal 1-9
Played 5, Won 4, Drew 1.

DIVISION 3B FINAL: SUNDAY: LONGFORD v SLIGO, CARRICK-ON-SHANNON, 1.0
Longford had a very easy win over Sligo in their Divisional game in Glennon Brothers, Pearse Park last Sunday week, running out 4-13 to 1-3 victors. Declan Tanner (2-2) and Joe O'Brien (1-4) were top scorers for Longford who led by 3-9 to 0-4 at half time.

Paths to the final
LONGFORD
Leitrim 1-13 Longford 0-16
Longford 2-18 Warwickshire 1-15
Longford 4-13 Sligo 1-4
Played 3, Won 2, Drew 1.

SLIGO
Sligo 3-14 Warwickshire 0-16
Sligo 1-15 Leitrim 1-6
Longford 4-13 Sligo 1-4
Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1.

RELEGATIONS PLAY-OFFS
DIVISION 1B: SUNDAY: CARLOW v ANTRIM, NAVAN, 3.0
Carlow lost all five Divisional games while Antrim's only win was over Carlow, whom they beat by ten points in Round 4. Antrim were totally dominant in the first half, enabling them to take a lead of 2-12 to 0-4 at half-time. Carlow fought back in the second half but were never going to close the wide gap, eventually losing by 3-14 to 0-13.

How they got here
CARLOW
Wexford 2-15 Carlow 0-16
Limerick 3-10 Carlow 1-13
Offaly 1-12 Carlow 1-10
Antrim 3-14 Carlow 0-13
Dublin 3-15 Carlow 0-11
Played 5, Lost 5.

ANTRIM
Limerick 1-19 Antrim 0-19
Dublin 3-12 Antrim 1-10
Wexford 2-21 Antrim 1-12
Antrim 3-14 Carlow 0-13
Offaly 0-21 Antrim 0-19
Played 5, Won 1, Lost 4

2A: SUNDAY: KILDARE v WICKLOW, TULLAMORE, 2.0
Wicklow's only win came against Kildare, who lose all five games. Their Divisional clash in March ended in a win for Wicklow (3-13 to 2-14) on a day when David Harney scored 2-1 for the Lilywhites while sub, Mikey Lee scored 2-0 for Wicklow.

How they got here
KILDARE
Laois 1-19 Kildare 1-10
Wicklow 3-13 Kildare 2-14
Derry 1-17 Kildare 1-14
Kerry 2-16 Kildare 1-16
Westmeath 1-22 Kildare 2-12
Played 5, Lost 5.

WICKLOW
Derry 2-19 Wicklow 0-10
Wicklow 3-13 Kildare 2-14
Kerry 1-12 Wicklow 3-5
Westmeath 0-21 Wicklow 2-8
Laois 0-18 Wicklow 0-14
Played 5, Won 1, Lost 4.

DIVISION 3A: SATURDAY: MONAGHAN v TYRONE, KINGSPAN BREFFNI PARK, 2.0
Monaghan lost all five games while Tyrone's only victory came against Monaghan in Round 5 when then they won by 2-14 to 0-15. Damien Casey scored 0-9 (0-5 frees) for Tyrone while Michael McHugh countered with 0-8 (0-6 frees).

How they got here:
MONAGHAN
Donegal 3-18 Monaghan 1-6
Fingal 2-10 Monaghan 1-9
Louth 2-13 Monaghan 0-11
Tyrone 2-14 Monaghan 0-15
Fermanagh 1-9 Monaghan 0-10
Played 5; Lost 5.

TYRONE
Fermanagh 2-12 Tyrone 1-11
Donegal 0-14 Tyrone 0-9
Fingal 2-11 Tyrone 0-15
Tyrone 2-14 Monaghan 0-15
Louth 5-11 Tyrone 0-15
Played 5, Won 1, Lost 4.

RESULTS & FIXTURES
ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1A

February 23: Round 1: Cork 0-23 Tipperary 1-11; February 24: Galway 3-11 Kilkenny 0-17: Waterford 2-15 Clare 1-17.

March 10: Round 2: Tipperary 2-17 Kilkenny 1-19; Waterford 0-15 Cork 1-12; Clare 0-18 Galway 1-13.

March 16: Round 3: Clare 1-22 Cork 1-16; March 18: Kilkenny 2-15 Waterford 0-16; Tipperary 4-22 Galway 1-20.

March 24: Round 4: Kilkenny 3-10 Clare 1-15; Galway 2-12 Cork 2-12; Waterford 1-14 Tipperary 0-16.

March 31: Round 5: Tipperary 3-19 Clare 1-14; Kilkenny 0-20 Cork 2-12; Galway 0-15 Waterford 0-12.

April 14: Relegation play-off: Clare v Cork
April 21: Semi-finals: Tipperary v Dublin, 2.0; Galway v Kilkenny, 3.45 (Both in Thurles).

May 5: Final

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B

February 23: Round 1: Dublin 1-20 Offaly 2-16; February 24: Wexford 2-15 Carlow 0-16; Limerick 1-19 Antrim 0-19.

March 10: Round 2: Dublin 3-12 Antrim 1-10; Offaly 0-16 Wexford 0-14; Limerick 3-10 Carlow 1-13.

March 16: Round 3: Wexford 2-21 Antrim 1-12; Limerick 1-21 Dublin 1-15; March 18: Offaly 1-12 Carlow 1-10.

March 24: Round 4: Antrim 3-14 Carlow 0-13; Dublin 3-19 Wexford 0-15; Limerick 0-21 Offaly 3-8.

March 31: Round 5: Offaly 0-21 Antrim 0-19; Limerick 1-19 Wexford 2-16; Dublin 3-15 Carlow 0-11.

April 7: Final: Dublin 1-16 Dublin 1-15

April 14: Relegation play-off: Carlow v Antrim.


ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2A

February 24: Round 1: Kerry 2-10 Westmeath 0-13; Derry 2-19 Wicklow 0-10; Laois 1-19 Kildare 1-10.

March 10: Round 2: Wicklow 3-13 Kildare 2-14; Westmeath 2-13 Derry 0-9; Laois 2-20 Kerry 2-12.

March 16: Round 3: Derry 1-17 Kildare 1-14; Kerry 1-12 Wicklow 3-5; March 18: Westmeath 2-18 Laois 2-15.

March 24: Round 4: Kerry 2-16 Kildare 1-16; Westmeath 0-21 Wicklow 2-8; Laois 2-20 Derry 0-8.

March 31: Round 5: Laois 0-18 Wicklow 0-14; Westmeath 1-22 Kildare 2-12; Kerry 1-13 Derry 1-12.

April 14: Final: Laois v Westmeath; Relegation play-off: Kildare v Wicklow.


ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 2B

February 24: Round 1: London 0-21 Armagh 0-14; Meath 2-16 Down 1-18; Mayo 0-18 Roscommon 1-15.

March 10: Round 2: Armagh 3-15 Roscommon 2-11; London 0-21 Down 2-8; Meath 1-19 Mayo 1-11.

March 16: Round 3: Down 2-24 Roscommon 1-12; Mayo 4-16 Armagh 3-12; March 2: Meath 2-17 London 1-11.

March 24: Round 4: Meath 1-20 Roscommon 0-9; London 3-13 Mayo 1-11; Down 4-13 Armagh 0-15.

March 30: Round 5: London 2-18 Roscommon 2-10; Meath 3-18 Armagh 1-10; Down 1-22 Mayo 1-14.

April 14: Final: Meath v London

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A

February 24: Round 1: Fermanagh 2-12 Tyrone 1-11; Donegal 3-18 Monaghan 1-6; Fingal 0-15 Louth 1-12.

March 10: Round 2: Louth 0-13 Fermanagh 0-12; Donegal 0-14 Tyrone 0-9; Fingal 2-10 Monaghan 1-9.

March 16: Round 3: Donegal 4-15 Fermanagh 1-19; Fingal 2-11 Tyrone 0-15; Louth 2-13 Monaghan 0-11.

March 24: Round 4: Fingal 1-16 Fermanagh 2-10; Tyrone 2-14 Monaghan 0-15; Donegal 3-13 Louth 0-10.

March 31: Round 5: Fingal 2-11 Donegal 1-9; Fermanagh 1-9 Monaghan 0-10; Louth 5-11 Tyrone 0-15

March 14: Final: Donegal v Fingal; Relegation play-off: Monaghan v Tyrone.

ALLIANZ HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3B

March 10: Round 1: Leitrim 1-13 Longford 0-16; Sligo 3-14 Warwickshire 0-14.

March 24: Round 2: Longford 2-18 Warwickshire 1-15; Sligo 1-15 Leitrim 1-6.

March 31: Round 3: Warwickshire 5-18 Leitrim 1-16; Longford 4-13 Sligo 1-4.

April 14: Final: Longford v Sligo. Tweet

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