ST Patrick’s, Armagh knew before they beat their Maghera namesakes last Friday that they would still exit the competition.
Whoever loses this evening’s final Group A game in Páirc Esler (7pm) will end up on the same points as Armagh and with a worse scoring difference, but with both Abbey CBS and St Macartan’s, Monaghan having already beaten the Armagh side they are both guaranteed a game after Christmas.
The other anomaly of that game last Friday was that Armagh couldn’t prevent Maghera going straight into the quarter-finals on the second week of January.
In theory, the team that finishes runners-up to Maghera should have an easier draw in the play-off. Abbey CBS and St Macartan’s therefore have something to play for. As it stands, St Macartan’s just need a draw to finish second due to their superior scoring difference
Like the Group A scenario, St Patrick’s, Dungannon will top Group B whatever the result of their final game against St Colman’s, Newry this evening (Burren, 6pm).
However, should the Violet Hill boys lose by more than 10 points they will exit the competition and current bottom team – St Michael’s Enniskillen – will survive.
Tomorrow’s game between Holy Trinity, Cookstown and St Patrick’s, Cavan (Roslea, 5.30pm) will sort out all the issues in Group C and it really is a championship tie as the loser exits the competition.
If it ends in a draw Holy Trinity, finalists for the past two years, will be gone before the Christmas break.
If Cavan manage to win by a margin of four or more points, they will top the group and reach the quarter-finals.
There can be any combination of finishing places in Group D this weekend, although Patrician, Carrickmacross will know what the permutations are before they take on Omagh CBS on Saturday in Scotstown (11am).
A win for St Ronan’s, Lurgan over St Paul’s, Bessbrook on Friday would put the latter out and guarantee Carrick football at the start of 2024.
However, if Bessbrook win and Patrician get anything from the Omagh game, then St Ronan’s are out.
If Bessbrook win and Patrician lose the following day, then there would be three teams finishing on one win each with scoring difference sorting out the placings.
