Victory for Galway this weekend ensures Division 1 promotion, while at the opposite end of the table Cork and Down lock horns, among the four games this Sunday in Division 2.
Derry v Galway , Sunday 20th March, 1pm, Owenbeg
Galway travel up to Owenbeg knowing a win will seal promotion to division one for next season’s campaign.
Galway who have won all five matches to date face a Derry side also looking to fight for promotion.
Derry having drawn last weekend 0-12 a piece with Roscommon in Dr.Hyde Park know anything less than two points could see them miss out on promotion depending on other results.
With both sides fighting for top spot and promotion potentially on the line it’s sure to be a tense affair in The Oak leaf county.
Cork v Down, Sunday 20th March, 1pm, Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Two sides stuck to the bottom of the table come head to head in Páirc Uí Chaoimh as both sides look to try and salvage their division two status for next season.
Cork have had a very disappointing campaign to date, one point picked up in a home draw to Clare with four defects including a heavy loss last weekend at the hands of Meath.
Down have fared no better than Cork in the league up to now, a draw with Meath their only point while also unlucky to suffer a one point defeat last time out against Offaly.
If there’s a winner to be had in this fixture they’ll have one last match to save themselves whereas a loss in this fixture will surely see the side relegated to division 3 for next season.
Offaly V Roscommon, Sunday 20th February, 2pm, Bord na Móna O’Connor Park
Roscommon make the short trip to O’Connor park looking to take all the points to keep their promotion hopes alive.
Roscommon find themselves in third position with two games remaining, having not lost in the league up to this point the Rossies may feel hard done by to be behind in the promotion race.
Knowing the top two sides go head to head this weekend Anthony Cunningham’s side just needs to get points on the board to keep the pressure up.
Offaly on the back of their first win of the league will be looking to stretch out the gap between themselves and the bottom two sides as they look to consolidate in division two for next year.
Clare V Meath, Sunday 20th March, 2pm, Cusack Park.
Middle of the table seems the destiny for these two sides as they meet in Cusack park.
Clare find themselves too far off the strong promotion candidates to make a late push to gain promotion and their four points to date look seemingly sufficient to keep them in division two for the time being.
Having had a tough outing last time out against league leaders Galway Clare will see this match as a good opportunity to put things right and get their second win of the league
Meath are in exactly the same boat as Clare four points seem enough to secure their division two status after a brilliant eight point victory in their last match against Cork they will come into this match full of optimism to finish out the league in strong form.
John Nee
Sports journalist, Video Editor and Cinematographer but maybe even more importantly a huge sports fan.