Friday, November 22, 2024

All-Ireland football championship: Permutations ahead of final round fixtures

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The All-Ireland football championship group stage reaches its climax this weekend after a slow and steady opening to the summer of inter-county action.

The conclusion of the group stage will bring about the cut and thrust of the knockout rounds, with group winners advancing directly to the last eight and second and third-placed teams facing preliminary quarter-finals in order to join them.

Elimination looms for four sides as the final round gets underway – here is everything to know on how things look for all teams ahead of the weekend’s action:

Derry must win against Westmeath or they will be eliminated from this year’s All-Ireland football championship. Pic Seb Daly/Sportsfile

All-Ireland football championship: Permutations

Group 1: Armagh and Galway occupy first and second place respectively having won two from two. Both teams are set for quarter-final berths given Westmeath and Derry’s nil points tally, with Armagh needing just a draw to finish top.

Derry, for their part, must win against Westmeath in order to grab third spot and a preliminary quarter-final given their inferior score difference. It means Dessie Dolan’s side can afford to draw and still qualify in third position.

Fixtures: Saturday: Derry v Westmeath, Newry, 7pm; Sunday: Armagh v Galway, Markievicz Park, 1.45pm

Group 2: A similar pattern in Group 2 as the top two of Dublin and Mayo sit on four points each. Dublin travel to Dr Hyde Park to take on Mayo, with both sides guaranteed top finish in the top two. The Dubs will advance directly to the last eight if they avoid defeat.

Meanwhile, Roscommon sit in third place ahead of Cavan on score difference, and thus a draw is all they need to retain their position and make the preliminary round.

Fixtures: Saturday: Cavan v Roscommon, Pearse Park, 5pm; Sunday: Dublin v Mayo, Hyde Park, 3.45pm

Dublin manager Dessie Farrell. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
Dublin manager Dessie Farrell. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

Group 3: Supremacy in Group 3 will be hard earned, with leaders Cork sitting on four points ahead of Tyrone in second and Donegal in third – with both Ulster counties on two points.

If Cork avoid defeat against Tyrone they will top the group and head into the last eight. However, Donegal could make a push for a top-two finish if they defeat bottom-place Clare, and the Rebels could wind up in third place if they lose and Donegal win. The Banner would need a win against Donegal – as well as a Cork loss – to sneak into the latter rounds.

If Donegal and Tyrone both win – and provided Donegal’s winning margin is more than two points greater than Tyrone’s – Jim McGuinness’ men will finish top, with the Red Hands in second.

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

Fixtures: Saturday: Tyrone v Cork, O’Connor Park, 3pm; Donegal v Clare, MacHale Park, 3pm

Group 4: Kerry lead the way in group 4 with four points collected, one more than Ger Brennan’s Louth in second place. If Kerry avoid defeat against the Wee County, they will top the group, while Louth must beat the Kingdom to seal pole position.

Louth will finish second even with a loss if Meath get a positive result against Monaghan, while the Farney Army would need to win by a cricket score to bridge what is currently a 20-point gap in score difference to threaten second place. Meath, meanwhile, must win to stay in with a chance of progression.

Fixtures: Kerry v Louth, O’Moore Park, 3pm; Meath v Monaghan, Breffni Park, 3pm.

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