What the result of this weekends games could mean

Are you heading to Walsh Park this Sunday, or maybe you are heading to Semple Stadium or Nolan Park. If you are make sure that when you are packing whatever you are bringing, to include a calculator. I am not suggesting that James Owens in Semple Stadium, Brian Gavin in Nolan Park or Anthony Stapleton in Walsh Park will loose track of the scores, but after the game as the final scores become known, it could well be needed.

The fact that this years National Hurling league is played out with just six teams fighting it out in the top division has drawn some criticism, but one thing it has done is to make things very interesting, and you cant get it much more interesting than we have it this year.

Heading into the final round of games, not only can all six teams still reach the semi finals of this years competition, all six could still find themselves dropping out of the top division for next years league.

As things stand, Waterford tops the group with five points. They are followed by Clare, Tipperary, Kilkenny and Cork on four points; the four are only separated on score difference while Galway props up the table with three points.

With top playing bottom and the sides in between all playing each other, there is every chance that come 4-30pm on Sunday afternoon or shortly after it that all six teams could well find themselves tied on five points each in the table, meaning score difference will have to be used to decide who finishes where in the table.

If this was to happen, as things stand, Clare Cork and Kilkenny would contest the semi finals having the best score difference of the six, but if Galway were to beat Waterford by thirteen points, they could overtake Kilkenny in the table for one of the semi final spots.

Should Waterford avoid defeat, regardless of how the other games go, Michael Ryan’s men would reach the semi finals. If Waterford were to beat Galway, they top the group and would play the Division 1B winners in the semi final.

If there is a winner in the games at Semple Stadium and Nolan Park they will reach the semi finals, and will play each other if Waterford beat Galway, but if one of the games in Thurles or Kilkenny were to end in a draw that’s when things could get interesting.

Should there be a winner at Thurles and the game in Kilkenny ends in a draw and Waterford were to win in Walsh Park, then Waterford, the winner in Thurles and Cork would reach the semi finals. If there is a winner in Nolan Park and the game in Thurles was to end in a draw and Waterford were to win, Waterford, the winners in Nolan Park and Clare would advance to the semi finals.

However if the above were to happen but Waterford were to loose, then Galway could reach the semi finals if put enough scores past Waterford at Walsh Park.

When it comes to relegation, let’s not tax our brains too much right now about it. If Galway fails to win in Walsh Park they will be in a relegation battle for the second year running. Waterford could well be drawn into a relegation play off if they loose to Galway and the other two games end in a draw, however if there is a winner to both of the other games, regardless of what happens at Walsh Park, Waterford cannot be relegated.

If two teams finish level on points after this weekend, the placing will be decided on the outcome of the head to head between the sides, but if more that two finish level on points, placing will be decided on score difference.

Results to Date:

Round One:        Cork                       0-26       Tipperary             1-11       Referee: Barry Kelly.

                                Clare                      1-17       Waterford           2-15       Referee: John Sexton

                                Galway                 3-11       Kilkenny               0-17       Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan

Round Two:        Tipperary             2-17       Kilkenny               1-19       Referee: Michael Wadding         

                                Waterford           0-15       Cork                       1-12       Referee: Alan Kelly

                                Clare                      0-18       Galway                 1-13       Referee: Colm Lyons

Round Three:    Cork                       1-16       Clare                      1-22       Referee: Johnny Ryan

                                Kilkenny               2-15       Waterford           0-16       Referee: James McGrath

                                Galway                 1-20       Tipperary             4-22       Referee: Brian Gavin

Round Four:       Clare                      1-15       Kilkenny               3-10       Referee: Anthony Stapleton

                                Galway                 2-12       Cork                       2-12       Referee: James Owens

                                Waterford           1-14       Tipperary             0-16       Referee: Cathal McAlister

 

League Table:    Team                     P             W           D             L              SD           PTS

                                Waterford           4              2              1              1              -3            5

                                Clare                      4              2              0              2              +6           4

                                Cork                       4              1              2              1              +6           4

                                Kilkenny               4              2              0              2              +2           4

                                Tipperary             4              2              0              2              -1            4

                                Galway                 4              1              1              2              -10          3