Four teams go into the penultimate round of games in Division 4 this weekend with aspirations of promotion but it’s in the hands of leaders Laois and Sligo who could seal the passage to Division 3 over the bank holiday weekend with victory in their trips to Leitrim and Carlow respectively.
Carlow v Sligo, Saturday 18th March, Netwatch Dr. Cullen Park, 5pm
Carlow’s very slim mathematical hopes of promotion will require, at the very least, an unlikely win on Saturday against Tony McEntee’s charges as well as a very specific set of
Sean Carrabine will once again lead the attack having been named in the squad for the trip to the midlands with the entire GAA community in the Yeat’s County bouyed by the Hogan Cup final appearance for Summerhill College on St. Patrick’s Day.
The visitors have struggled to find goals in this campaign, only twice raising the green flag so far in their five outings while Carlow have conceded five across the same number of games. If the home side can tighten their defence against the Sligo attack they will have a chance of building a little confidence into the Leinster Championship campaign.
Waterford v London, Saturday 18th March, Fraher Field, 6pm
The two basement sides face off with only pride and championship starting places to play for in both camps as they met in the South East on Saturday evening.
Neither side have managed to win a fixture in their league campaigns so far this year and both sides will be looking to make a step forward with the Championship just around the corner next month.
Wexford v Wicklow, Saturday 18th March, Chadwicks Wexford Park, 6pm
Oisin McConville’s side will be hoping to secure the win needed to keep their name in the promotion hunt as their fine recent form has reinvigorated their league campaign. Wexford also have outside hope on paper but will have to win big and hope for a miracle elsewhere.
Wicklow have enjoyed unexpected wins against Leitrim and Laois in recent rounds and will be looking to put their southern neighbours to the sword in the final game fixed for Saturday evening.
The visitors will be looking to the scoring boots of Eoin Darcy (0-20), Kevin Quinn (1-10) and Mark Jackson (0-12) to lead the charge to push this to the final day of the season where they face a trip to Waterford.
Leitrim v Laois, Sunday, 19th March, Avant Money Pairc Sheain MacDiarmada, 2pm
Laois are sitting pretty on top of the table but will face a wounded Leitrim challenge after losing to Wexford and Wicklow in recent games.
Billy Sheehan’s Laois team will be hoping for a repeat of their last two visits to Carrick on Shannon to face the home side as they enjoyed a 3-16 to 3-10 win in Division 4 in 2018 and a comfortable two point win 1-13 to 1-11 in the 2012 Championship Qualifier third round, the only summer clash between the pair.
Andy Moran was expected to lead Leitrim out of the Division after disappointing in the League last term and expectation will be high on Sunday afternoon as his side stare down the season of another year in the bottom tier should defeat come calling.
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