What every county needs ahead of the final round of the National Football League
Michael Bolton
Ahead of the final round of action in the National football leagues, nearly every county has something to play for.
After weekends of thrilling action, promotion, finals, relegation, and places in the All-Ireland championship are all on the line.
Here is what every county needs ahead of this weekend.
Division One
The top of Division One is Kerry and Donegal on nine points each.
If both counties avoid defeat in their games, they will face each other in the final in Croke Park at the end of the month.
Kerry take on Armagh, while Donegal face already relegated Monaghan.
However, if either team were to slip up, the winner of Mayo and Roscommon would replace them in the final.
At the other end of the table, Galway play Dublin in a winner-takes-all game. A point for Galway will keep them up, while Dublin needs to better Armagh's result against Kerry by four points.
Division Two
Heading into this weekend, Cork and Meath lead the promotion charge and will face each other in the final with a point in their games.
Cork take on Tyrone, while Meath face already relegated Offaly.
If Cork or Meath were to lose, Louth and Derry would be hoping to take full advantage.
Derry have to beat Cavan and hope their superior score difference is a factor on 10 points, or it's just them and Cork on 10 points.
Louth, meanwhile, must defeat Kildare and needs one of Cork or Meath to drop points. They have the head-to-head advantage on Derry but not against Cork and Meath.
At the other end of the table, Tyrone need to avoid defeat to secure their Division Two success, but a win will be priority to secure their All-Ireland place.
Kildare's All-Ireland place is secured due to their Tailteann Cup victory last season, and will stay in Division Two if they defeat Louth in Newbridge and Derry overcome Cavan.
A win for Cavan against Derry will keep them up.
Division Three
Down is the only team across all four divisions with their final place secured, and can look forward to a final when they face Laois.
Should they win the final, they could also be in the All-Ireland, depending on how Division Two finishes.
In what is essentially a semi-final, Down will face the winner of Wexford and Westmeath.
At the other end of the table. Fermanagh are already relegated, and will be joined by one of Limerick, Sligo, or Laois, with Clare's status in Division Three secured.
Limerick need to defeat Fermanagh, and hopes Sligo lose to Clare.
A victory for Sligo will see them stay up, while a draw should be enough with their scoring difference.
A win for Laois against Down will ensure Limerick can’t catch them on score difference.
Division Four
Here is where it gets complicated.
Apart from Waterford at the bottom, every team can get promoted.
Currently, at the top two positions is Carlow and Wicklow.
A win for both teams will see them promoted and in a final in Croke Park.
If London defeats Antrim and Carlow loses to Leitrim, they will be promoted.
For Longford, if they beat Wicklow and if London draws or lose they are promoted.
For Antrim to be promoted, they must defeat London, Wicklow and Carlow lose, and Tipperary fail to win, coupled with having a better scoring difference than Wicklow, Carlow and Leitrim, for them to be promoted.
Tipperary must defeat Waterford, Antrim beat London, Leitrim win against Carlow, Wicklow defeat Longford, and have a better scoring difference than Antrim, Leitrim and Carlow.
Leitrim have to win against Carlow, Wicklow beat Longford, Antrim beat London, and Waterford beat Tipperary, coupled with having a better scoring difference than Carlow and Antrim.