ARMAGH travel to Cork knowing victory against the defending League champions would guarantee their place in the semi-finals. Defeat, however, would not spell the end of the world for Ronan Clarke’s side but force the Orchard county into a play-off.
For Cork, victory is a must if they are to maintain their chances of successfully defending their Division One title alive and considering the empathic fashion in which they disposed of Galway last weekend, they will go into this final round fixture against Armagh full of confidence.
However, Armagh will also be confident in their ability following last weekend’s first ever victory over Dublin at senior level.
Aimee Mackin hit 1-7 in their 2-10 to 3-6 victory over Gregory McGonigle’s side but it is the fact they pulled off a superb victory with a severely depleted side that was missing the likes of Lauren McConville, Aoife McCoy, Catherine Marley, Caoimhe Morgan, Siobhan Mackle, Marian McGuinness and Caitlin Malone that will please them the most.
Mayo, who are so far unbeaten, are the only team certain of their place in the semi-finals. Dublin occupy second spot on 12 points and face Galway at home.
They should defeat the Connacht side, which would see them finish on 15 points. If Armagh, who also have 12 points, defeat Cork, they their last four berth is sealed. Kerry are in fourth place on nine points and should defeat Tyrone. If results go that way, it means Cork will miss out on a place in the semis.
However, in a worst case scenario, if Cork defeat Armagh, and Galway defeat Dublin, and Kerry still win, five teams will finish level on 12 points, leaving a five way tie for the remaining three places.
The other Ulster team in action tomorrow is Monaghan who travel to leaders Mayo. Tyrone, although almost certainly relegated, still have a lifeline if they can beat Kerry and Mayo defeat Monaghan, meaning a play-off will decide who is to be relegated.
In Division Two, Donegal and Cavan, both of whom have qualified for the semi-finals, meet in Donegal town, with the result, and that of the clash between the other two already qualified teams Clare and Westmeath determining final league positions.
Donegal will be without the injured Roisin Curran and the exam-tied Kate Keaney. Curran suffered a broken bone in her arm playing for UCD in the O’Connor Cup finals and Keaney is studying for her final exams at the University of Limerick. Cavan have enjoyed a good campaign with their only points dropped against Clare who sit in second place, having lost only to Donegal so far.
Division Three’s crunch tie is a relegation battle between Ulster sides Down and Fermanagh. Both teams have not won a game so far and whoever loses tomorrow is relegated to Division Four for 2017. Down only lost out to Waterford by three points last week while Fermanagh failed to field against Offaly.
