Two ways the Offaly hurlers can gain promotion this weekend without pucking a ball
Two ways the Offaly hurlers can gain promotion this weekend without pucking a ball
With four wins and one draw under their belts from five games in Division 1B of the Allianz Hurling League, the Offaly hurlers have the weekend off but they could still gain promotion to Division 1A without pucking a ball.
The top two teams from Division 1B will be promoted and as it stands four teams are left to battle it out for the top two spots but only two of those teams can overtake Offaly in the table.
Offaly sit on top of Division 1B with nine points from their five games. Waterford are second in the table on with six points from four games. Dublin are currently third in the table with four points from four games and while they can still challenge for promotion, they cannot get ahead of Offaly. The other team in the hunt are Carlow who have so far only played three games from which they have amassed four points.
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Should Waterford or Carlow lose this weekend, Offaly will be guaranteed to finish either first or second in the group securing their promotion to the top flight.
While they are still unbeaten with a win and two draws in their three games, Carlow face a difficult challenge this Saturday evening when they travel to Parnell Park to play Dublin. Although two late defeats and some ill-timed red cards have hurt Dublin's chances, they are still in the promotion hunt and this is very much a must win game for them on home ground.
Waterford travel to play Westmeath and while that proved to be a tricky fixture for Offaly last weekend, Waterford would be expected to come away with the win on Sunday.
Should Waterford and Carlow both win this weekend, Offaly will have another chance to get promoted before they play again as Carlow have to play Laois the following week in a local derby.
Whatever happens in the coming games, Offaly are in a position where they will still control their own fate as they will need a win or a draw over Waterford on Saturday, March 22 to secure promotion.