AS GROUP 1 heads for its final weekend on a blockbuster August Bank Holiday weekend, there is little that is certain.
All that can be said for sure is that Meath – following defeats to Donegal and Mayo – cannot qualify for the All-Ireland semi-finals.
Group 2 is rather more straightforward. Tyrone and Dublin have secured semi-final spots and will be playing for top spot when they clash at Omagh in two weeks’ time.
Donegal head for Castlebar for what should be a fire-cracker of a contest. Their rivalry has become a deep one, going back to Donegal’s win over the Connacht side in the 2012 All-Ireland final.
The pot will boil further with the arrival of Donegal coach Stephen Rochford back to his native county – whom he led to two All-Ireland finals.
Presuming that Kerry defeat Meath at Pairc Tailteann, Donegal will need a win or a draw in Mayo to be safe of a place in the last four.
A win or a draw will be enough for Declan Bonner’s men in Castlebar, while Mayo are in must-win territory for what will surely be a sell-out at MacHale Park.
Should Mayo and Kerry finish level on points, Kerry would advance on the head-to-head separator.
A draw or a win for Kerry in Navan will see them through. Even a defeat would see Kerry through if Donegal also beat Mayo.
Donegal could advance with a defeat only if Meath beat Kerry – and then it would come down to scoring averages.
If Donegal and Kerry both win, Donegal would need to better the Kerry win by two points to top the group.
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