Explainer: what are the permutations in the final round of the Allianz HL
March 18, 2016
Mayo footballer Diarmuid O'Connor, former Meath football manager Sean Boylan and Tipperary hurler Seamus Callanan at the Allianz Leagues GAA Sponsorship Renewal in Croke Park
The final round of the Allianz Hurling League takes place this Sunday and we've taken the liberty of explaining the state of play in all six divisions ahead of what is a crunch weekend of hurling.
In Division 1A, the top four teams progress into the quarter-finals, while the bottom two will go into next month's relegation play-off to try and maintain their top tier status for 2017.
Dublin, Kilkenny and Waterford have all sealed their quarter-final berths from last weekend, so that leaves Galway and Tipperary vying for the remaining spot in the last eight. Should the Premier men defeat bottom-placed Cork then their score difference should be enough for a quarter-final place if Galway end up defeating Waterford at Walsh Park.
That would leave the Tribesmen having to play the relegation play-off against Cork on April 3 to decide which team will be relegated to Division 1B. The Rebels are without a point from four games and can't avoid the play-off for the drop regardless of their result against Tipp this weekend.
In Division 1B, the top placed team will be promoted and the top four placed teams qualify for the Division 1 quarter-finals. On the opposite end of the table, the bottom two teams will contest a relegation play-off - the loser of which plays the Division 2A winner in a relegation/promotion play-off.
It means that Clare's meeting with Limerick in Ennis is a winner-takes-all clash, with the victors heading for Division 1A next season, while at the bottom pointless Laois look likely to be battling it out with Kerry as Wexford are hotly fancied to defeat the struggling O'Moore men in Portlaoise.
Bar any major upsets in Division 1B, Limerick, Clare, Offaly and Wexford will be advancing to the Division 1 quarter-finals next month, while Kerry and Laois will be battling it out to avoid relegation/promotion play-off against the winners of Division 2A.
Division 2A sees the top two teams contesting its final, while the sixth placed will be automatically relegated. Westmeath are assured their place in the final and will wait on results on Sunday to find out whether it's Carlow, London or Antrim they will be playing. At the bottom, the losers of Kildare and Derry in Newbridge on Sunday will be hurling in Division 2B next season.
Division 2B also sees the top two teams contesting the final with the winners promoted, while the bottom two sides contest a relegation play-off and the loser will playing the Division 3A champions in the relegation/promotion play-off.
Down, Armagh and Mayo all currently hold six points in the race for top spot heading into Sunday's fixtures against each other. With a score difference of -68 a pointless Donegal would need a miracle against Wicklow (-18), who are two points above them on the table, to avoid playing the winners from Division 3A in next month's relegation/promotion play-off.
Division 3A has a similar format in that top two placed teams advance into the final and plays the loser of the Division 2B relegation playoff in a promotion/relegation play-off. The sixth place team will be automatically relegated, while fifth placed plays in a promotion/relegation play-off against the winners of Division 3B.
Roscommon are guaranteed to finish top of the division with eight points and could play any of the following teams Monaghan, Fingal, Tyrone (all on four points), Louth or Warwickshire (both on two points). However, the latter two teams' score difference only leaves them with an outside chance of reaching the final. It works in reverse with regards to relegation, but with a score difference of -25 Warwickshire don't look like avoiding the drop.
The top two teams in Division 3B will face each other in the competition's final and the winners will play the fifth placed team in Roinn 3A in a promotion/relegation play-off.
Longford, Sligo, Leitrim and Fermanagh are all square on two points apiece after as many games, leaving every team with a chance of advancing through to the decider.
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1A
· 5 Ordinary Rounds
· Top four teams qualify for Division 1 Quarter Finals (along with top four teams from
Roinn 1B) o (A) Top Team 1A v 4th Team 1B o (B) 2nd Team 1A v 3rd Team 1B o (C) 3rd Team 1A v 2nd Team 1B o (D) 4th Team 1A v Top Team 1B
Quarterfinals to be on a Home and Away basis, with home venue decided as follows: o Where a team who has had 2 home games in the Regular season draws a team who has had 3 home games in the Regular Season, HOME venue goes to team who has had only 2 home games in the Regular season. Where two teams who have had 2 home games play each other, or where two teams who have had 3 home games play each other, toss for HOME venue
· Four Quarter Final Winners play in Semi Final (venues to be appointed by the C.C.C.C) o A v D o B v C
· Bottom Two Teams contest Relegation Play-Off (with formula outlined above for
Quarter Finals to be used to determine Home venue) - Loser relegated to Roinn 1B
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 1B
· 5 Ordinary Rounds
· Top team promoted to Roinn 1A
· Top four teams qualify for Division 1 Quarter Finals
· Bottom Two Teams contest Relegation Play-Off (with formula outlined above for Quarter Finals to be used to determine Home venue) - Loser plays Roinn 2A winner in Relegation/Promotion Playoff
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 2A
· 5 Ordinary Rounds
· Top Two Teams contest Roinn 2A Final
· Winners of Roinn 2A Final plays loser of Roinn 1B relegation playoff in a promotion/relegation Playoff
· 6th placed relegated to Roinn 2B
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 2B
· 5 Ordinary Rounds
· Top Two Teams contest Roinn 2B Final
· Winners of Final promoted to Roinn 2A
· Bottom Two Teams contest Relegation Play-Off - Loser plays Roinn 3A winner in
Relegation/Promotion Playoff
6 Allianz Leagues 2016
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 3A
· 5 Ordinary Rounds
· Top Two Teams contest the Roinn 3A Final
· Winners of Roinn 3A Final plays loser of Roinn 2B relegation playoff in a promotion/relegation Playoff
· 6th placed relegated to Roinn 3B
· 5th placed plays in a promotion/relegation Playoff*
Allianz Hurling League Roinn 3B
· 3 Ordinary Rounds
· Top Two Teams contest the Roinn 3B Final
· Winners of Roinn 3B Final plays 5th placed team in Roinn 3A in a promotion/relegation
Playoff, winner plays in Roinn 3A in 2017*
