Get the calculators out...Allianz football league permutations

Who’s thinking of going up and who’s thinking of going down across the four divisions.

THE TABLES TOOK a clearer picture in the Allianz football league over the weekend.

The second last round of games took place as the places in the semi-finals of Division 1 were secured by Dublin, Kildare and Tyrone.

The promotion and relegation issues continue to be sorted in the other divisions.

But there’s still plenty to play for on the last day of action in a fortnight’s time on April 7th.

Here’s the current state of play.

The top three Dublin, Tyrone and Kildare are all assured of semi-final spots. In theory all of the other teams in the division apart from Down can grab the last semi-final place on offer.
But Cork are in pole position on 6 points and only need a point from their last game at home to Mayo to be assured of that last four place.
Victory for Mayo against Cork and they would edge out the Rebels on the head to head record to reach the semi-final stages. But in that eventuality if either Donegal or Kerry won, it would come down to scoring difference.
Bottom of the table Down on two points look certain to be relegated. They must defeat Kildare in their last game and hope two teams from the trio of Mayo, Donegal and Kerry – who are all currently on for points – lose their last games.
If three teams finish tied for points at the bottom, then scoring difference comes into play. Given Kerry’s record of -20 is the worst in the division, they will need to beat Tyrone and hope other either Mayo or Donegal fail to win, in order to stay in the top tier.

Donegal boss Jim McGuinness will be aiming to avoid relegation
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

Westmeath on 11 points have secured promotion to the top flight and only need a point from their last game against Derry to clinch top spot.
Derry are second on nine points and only need a draw in their last match to secure promotion. Even if they lose, they will still qualify if Galway fail to beat Armagh.
Galway and Laois, both on seven points, still have a chance of qualifying. Galway have the advantage of having defeated Derry so they have the edge if it comes down to a head-to-head record where Laois lost out to the Oak Leaf County.
At the bottom Longford, pointless after six games, have been relegated. The other team to drop down will be Armagh, Louth or Wexford. Armagh, on four points, are in most danger while Louth and Wexford are both on five points.
Armagh must defeat Galway in their last game and hope either Louth lose against Longford or Wexford lose against Laois. Both Louth and Wexford know they are safe if they claim a victory.

Laois player John O’Loughlin will be chasing promotion.
Pic: INPHO/Cathal Noonan

The promotion situation is still unclear in this division with several teams in contention. Fermanagh top the table on nine points, Monaghan come next on eight points while Cavan and Roscommon both have seven points.
Meath are on six points and have a game in hand when they face Antrim next Sunday after that tie was called off yesterday due to poor weather conditions. A win for the Royals there and they are firmly in the mix on Sunday week.
In the last round of games, Cavan’s home tie against Roscommon and Meath entertaining Fermanagh stand out as critical games. Monaghan are at home to Antrim.
Both Fermanagh and Monaghan know that a victory will secure promotion for them. In Fermanagh’s case a draw will suffice. If Meath win their remaining two games, they will also be guaranteed promotion.
At the bottom, Wicklow have two points, Sligo have three points while Antrim are on four points. Both Wicklow and Sligo need Antrim to lose in next Sunday’s re-arranged game.
If the Saffron County win against Meath, then both Wicklow and Sligo are relegated. If Antrim draw in that game, then Wicklow go down.
Sligo face Wicklow in their last game and both must win that match to have any chance of survival. But if Antrim win either of their last two games, against Meath or Monaghan, then the Yeats County and the Garden County will be relegated.

Limerick top the table with 10 points and only need a draw from their last game away to Clare to be assured of promotion.
Tipperary and Offaly are both on eight points and meet in Tullamore on the last day in a winner takes all clash. If the teams draw, Tipperary have the edge in scoring difference of +21 as opposed to Offaly’s of +16.
Clare are currently on six points but have two games left. They must win both of them, against London this Saturday and against Limerick on the last day, to have a shot at promotion.
If Clare win their last two games and there is a winner in the Tipperary-Offaly game, there will be three teams tied on ten points. Clare currently have a scoring difference of +4 whereas Limerick are on +1