All to play for as ACFL reaches final round

GAA news

The All-County Football League reaches the business end this weekend with the final rounds of group games in all three divisions and plenty to play for at the top and bottom of each.

In Division 1, defending league champions Crosserlough and Ramor (who met last evening, Tuesday) are safely through to the semi-finals. At the time of writing, Crosserlough are the only unbeaten team in the county.

A win over Arva on Friday would see Kingscourt advance to the knock-out stages. Cavan Gaels are in fourth but have all their games played; Gowna travel to face neighbours Lacken knowing a win would secure their passage to the semis while Mullahoran have a slim outside chance should they beat Ramor away and other results go their way.

A number of teams are still looking over their shoulder in the bottom half of the table, where the bottom team will play fourth from bottom, 11th will play 10th and the two losers will be demoted to Division 2.

Ballinagh (eighth) and Ballyhaise (ninth) meet, with a draw good enough for both.

Arva are guaranteed to be in the relegation play-offs but there is still a chance for Killygarry and Castlerahan, who are due to meet, to haul themselves out of it. Lacken, who have can still mathematically make it to ninth but would need several results to go their way.

Division 2 has once again been extremely tight this year. Cuchulainns, with 10 wins and a draw from their 12 games, are guaranteed to top the table and will have a home semi-final against the fourth-placed side.

Cootehill (second) and Knockbride (third) each are on 18 points but while Knockbride’s score difference is superior, Cootehill are ahead of them on the basis of their head-to-head result (Cootehill won by two points when they met on April 2).

Lavey started the season very well but with a spate of injuries in recent weeks, they have lost their form and a defeat against Killinkere last Friday means they must win or draw against Cootehill to guarantee progression.

Killinkere, for their part, host Cornafean. If Killinkere win and Lavey lose, the Jim Smith Park outfit will leapfrog their neighbours on the head-to-head rule.

At the bottom end of Division 2, the situation is much clearer. Drumalee, Bailieborough and Shercock will all be in the relegation play-offs.

Ballymachugh (10 points) currently sit 11th, with Drumlane ahead of them on 11 points and Belturbet, Templeport and Butlersbridge all on 12 points.

The Hughs host Shercock and Drumlane and Belturbet meet in what is always a fiercely-contested local derby, with Templeport and the ‘Bridge facing Cuchulainns and Knockbride respectively.

In Division 3, Denn, Drumgoon and Mountnugent are sure to go through to the last four. It’s very close thereafter with Kill and Drung on 13 points, and Shannon Gaels, Munterconnaught and Redhills all on 12, although the Munchies have completed all of their fixtures.

If there is a winner in the local derby between Kill and Drung, that side will advance in fourth place; a draw, though, would potentially bring others into the reckoning.