THE fate of the Division 3 teams comes down to the final weekend in the National Football League.
There are permutations aplenty heading into the final round of the National Football Leagues with just Galway and Kerry assured of their final spots. In Division 2, Down’s relegation has been confirmed but elsewhere it is all to play for.
For Billy Lee and the Limerick footballers, Division 3 is a minefield, with five teams in the hunt for promotion and the other three fighting for survival.
There are a number of permutations with Louth, Limerick, Antrim, Westmeath and Fermanagh all within a shout of progressing to Division 2.
At the other end, Laois, Longford and Wicklow are in relegation danger.
Division 3 Round Seven Fixtures
- Wicklow v Louth
- Limerick v Fermanagh
- Antrim v Westmeath
- Laois v Longford
Below we look at the permutations for each of the teams.
*Head to Head applies when two teams finish level on points. The team who won the League meeting finishes higher. If three or more teams are level on points, scoring difference determines the outcome.
Louth (1st)
Louth are in pole position on nine points at the summit of the League. A draw against Wicklow is enough for Mickey Harte’s side to move into the second tier. Similarly, anything other than defeat would see Louth top the table.
However, if they were to lose, Limerick draw and there was a winner in the final round fixture between Antrim and Westmeath, those three would be level on 10 points with the top two being determined by scoring difference. Currently Louth are (+7), Limerick (+8), Antrim (+17), Westmeath (+11).
As such, should Louth lose with Limerick winning or drawing and Antrim/Westmeath winning, the Wee county will miss out.
Limerick (2nd)
Billy Lee’s men have promotion hopes in their own hands after their win over Laois. They know a win over Fermanagh will guarantee their promotion. A draw with Fermanagh will move Limerick to nine points, level with Louth currently. Again, if Louth were to lose, Limerick draw and Westmeath/Antrim win, it will be a case of the top two advancing through points difference.
If Limerick were to draw with Louth and Antrim winning, Limerick will advance by virtue of their head to head with Antrim.
Conversely, if Louth and Westmeath win with Limerick drawing, the former two will be promoted.
If Limerick lose, they will miss out with one of Antrim/Westmeath guaranteed to finish level or above them, with both having superior goal differences.
One things if for sure, Limerick are safe from relegation.
Antrim (3rd)/Westmeath (4th)
Level on points with their final round opponents, promotion is out of Antrim and Westmeath hands. with both facing similar permutations.
The only difference is a win for one and a draw will see them level on points with Limerick. Westmeath have the H2H against the Shannonsiders unlike Antrim.
Antrim have the highest scoring difference of the top four and will know a win puts them in a strong position should Limerick or Louth fail to win.
A Louth loss will see Antrim move level on points with a win and were Limerick to lose, that duo would go up.
Westmeath are in the same position in that regard as they could capitalize on a Limerick loss.
There is no scenario where both can go up however.
Again both are safe from the drop.
Fermanagh (5th)
Limerick’s final day opponents are still within a shot of promotion but will need a draw in the Antrim and Westmeath clash while also beating Limerick.
However, with a 0 points differential, they will need to bet Limerick by 18 points to advance should Westmeath and Antrim draw.
They are also safe.
Laois (6th)
Promotion is out of Laois’ hands after their loss to Limerick last time out. If they avoid defeat to Longford, they are safe.
A loss puts them in jeopardy should Wicklow beat Louth which will see Laois, Longford and Wicklow all on five points.
Currently Laois’ scoring difference is far superior with their (+4) dwarfing that of the other two, Longford (-1) and Wicklow (-26).
However, a loss will see them relegated were Wicklow to lose as Longford would hold the H2H between the pair on five points.
Wicklow (7th)
Anything other than a win against Louth and Wicklow will be relegated. They will be hoping for a scenario where they beat Louth and Longford beat Laois but will need a huge turn around in scoring difference.
The most likely to drop despite being second from last.
Longford (8th)
Beat Laois and they are safe should Wicklow fail to beat Louth. Again, a win for them and Wicklow will send it to a three way scoring difference.
Anything but a win and they are relegated.
Results so far
Round 1
- Limerick 4-09 (21) – (14) 1-11 Longford
- Fermanagh 0-08 (8) – (17) 1-14 Antrim
- Louth 1-10 (13) – (18) 3-09 Laois
- Westmeath 1-16 (19) – (14) 2-08 Wicklow
Round 2
- Antrim 0-11 (11) – (15) 2-09 Limerick
- Longford 0-09 (9) – (9) 1-06 Louth
- Laois 0-11 (11) – (17) 2-11 Westmeath
- Wicklow 1-10 (13) – (13) 2-07 Fermanagh
Round 3
- Antrim 2-10 (16) – (10) 1-07 Wicklow
- Limerick 1-12 (15) – (17) 1-14 Louth
- Westmeath 0-10 (10) – (14) 0-14 Longford
- Fermanagh 3-15 (24) – (18) 3-09 Laois
Round 4
- Wicklow 1-09 (12) – (16) 1-13 Limerick
- Laois 1-08 (11) – (11) 1-08 Antrim
- Longford 1-10 (13) – (20) 3-11 Fermanagh
- Louth 1-15 (18) – (16) 1-13 Westmeath
Round 5
- Antrim 1-19 (22) – (12) 0-12 Longford
- Limerick 1-06 (9) – (15) 1-12 Westmeath
- Wicklow 0-08 (8) – (20) 1-17 Laois
- Fermanagh 0-14 (14) – (18) 2-12 Louth
Round 6
- Laois 0-14 (14) – (15) 0-15 Limerick
- Westmeath 1-9 (12) – (12) 0-12 Fermanagh
- Longford 2-13 (19) – (20) 0-20 Wicklow
- Louth 1-12 (15) – (11) 1-8 Antrim
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