As we head into the decisive Round 5 group fixtures of our club football championships, there follows an explainer of this year’s championship format, and what happens in the event of two or more teams being tied on points in the final group tables. We then look at the permutations in all the groups from Senior down to Junior ‘A’, to see exactly what’s at stake this weekend.
Championship Format
Our football championships again follow their customary format with the top four teams in each group going through to quarter-finals, where first in Group A will play fourth in Group B, second in Group A will play third in Group B, etc. Teams that finish in fifth position will be finished for the year, while the teams that finish sixth will go directly to a Relegation Final.
An open draw will take place for the semi-finals, with repeat pairings allowed.
Two-way ties
In the event of a two-way tie in the final group standings, the deciding factor will be the head-to-head result between the two teams involved.
If the match between the sides was a draw, then overall scoring difference will be used to decide which of them finishes higher. If that’s the same, then it’ll go to highest score for, and if even that’s the same, there’ll have to be a play-off.
Three-way and ‘more-way’ ties
In the event of a three-way (or ‘more-way’) tie, the ‘mini league’ rules come into play. The first determining factor here is the number of league points earned in the games between the teams involved in the tie.
If the tie cannot be resolved on this basis, the next deciding factor will be the scoring difference from only the games between the teams involved.
It is only if things are still not decided after this that overall scoring difference comes into play. If the sides are level there, the next factor to be considered will be highest total score for, and if even that doesn’t split the teams, it would then go to a play-off.
Exception
An exception to all the above is if one of the teams involved in tie has conceded one or more walkovers during the group stage. In such a case, they would automatically cede position to the other team(s) involved in the tie, irrespective of head-to-head results, points in a ‘mini league’, or any other factor.
While there’s been two walkovers so far this year (Shamrocks in Round 2 of Junior ‘A’, and New Ross Geraldine O’Hanrahan’s already conceding a walkover to Castletown in the upcoming Round 5 of Junior), this won’t actually make a difference, as both those sides are destined to finish pointless and bottom of their tables anyway.
However, we’re pointing out this rule for the sake of completeness, and on the off-chance that there does happen to be another walkover in Round 5 that becomes relevant.
Dominic Smith Expert Electrical Senior Football Championship
Group A ties: Castletown v Kilanerin; Sarsfields v St. Martin’s; Naomh Éanna v HWH Bunclody.
Group B ties: Shelmaliers v Gusserane O’Rahilly’s; St. Mogue’s Fethard v St. James’; Crossabeg/Ballymurn v Glynn-Barntown.
In Group A of the Dominic Smith Expert Electrical Senior Football Championship, the top four teams are already through. While Naomh Éanna could move to four points and join the losers of the match between St. Martin’s and Sarsfields, they have themselves lost to both those sides, and so would miss out on the head-to-head rule.
The big thing to be decided in this group is how the match between the Gorey side and HWH Bunclody is basically a relegation semi-final. A draw will be good enough for Naomh Éanna, but HWH Bunclody must win.
In Group B, Gusserane O’Rahilly’s and Shelmaliers are already qualified. While there’s a remote chance of Shels ending up in a four-way tie of teams on five points for positions two through to five, they would actually finish top of that mini-league and so stay in second place anyway. The worst that can happen them, if all results go against them, is finishing fourth.
The big match here is arguably St. James’ versus St. Mogue’s Fethard, as winners will be guaranteed a spot in the top four, and losers would be in severe danger of going out if Crossabeg/Ballymurn happen to beat Glynn-Barntown.
That ‘CB v GB’ match is basically another relegation semi-final as it will determine who finishes bottom of the group no matter what happens elsewhere. However, Glynn-Barntown could still make the playoffs if they win and St. James’ lose, as they have the head-to-head result over the Jimmies.
Ashdown Park & Amber Springs Hotels Intermediate Football Championship
Group A fixtures: Starlights v St. Anne’s Rathangan; Rathgarogue-Cushinstown v Taghmon-Camross; Clongeen v St. Mary’s Maudlintown.
Group B fixtures: Ballyhogue v St. Abban’s Adamstown; Horeswood v Cloughbawn; Ferns St. Aidans v St. Fintan’s.
Group A of the Ashdown Park & Amber Springs Hotels Intermediate Football Championship is as straightforward as it gets. The top three are already through, the meeting of Rathgarogue-Cushinstown and Taghmon-Camross will determine who joins them, and Clongeen will finish bottom.
Conversely, in Group B, Horeswood are the only ones yet assured of safe passage to the quarter-finals. Even the relatively strong-looking St. Abban’s Adamstown are not yet through, as there are a number of ways they could end up in a three-way or even four-way tie if they lose to Ballyhogue. And since any of the consequent mini-leagues would include consideration of the margin Ballyhogue beat them by, it’s impossible to say in advance what the mini-league standings would be.
At the other end, Ferns St. Aidans must beat St. Fintan’s in order to avoid the Relegation Final. But a measure of how delicately-poised this group is that a win could only lift them to fifth place, and so they’d be out of the championship anyway – or it could lift them as high as third.
Whizzy Internet Intermediate ‘A’ Football Championship
Group A fixtures: Fr. O’Regan’s Craanford v Duffry Rovers; Kilrush v Buffers Alley; Oylegate-Glenbrien v St. Patrick’s.
Group B fixtures: Bannow-Ballymitty v St. Mary’s Rosslare; St. John’s Volunteers v Glynn-Barntown; Monageer-Boolavogue v Kilmore.
In Group A of the Whizzy Internet Intermediate ‘A’ Football Championship, the top three of Duffy Rovers, Oylegate-Glenbrien, and St. Patrick’s are already qualified.
That may not appear obvious in the case of St. Pat’s as there are a couple of ways they could end up in a three-way tie on four points for third, fourth and fifth positions, but they would finish top of either mini-league and so come third overall.
That means it’s all to play for between Fr. O’Regan’s Craanford, Kilrush, and Buffers Alley for the fourth spot. And with Craanford having to take on the 100% record Duffry Rovers, many may feel the most likely scenario is that the winners of Kilrush v Buffers Alley will be the ones to go through.
And if Craanford do lose, they’ll have a keen interest in the result of that other match, as they’d be stuck on two points with the losers of Kilrush v Buffers Alley. They (Craanford) have the head-to-head over Kilrush, but Buffers Alley have the head-to-head over them. It all means that Craanford could finish anywhere from fourth to sixth this weekend, so their meeting with the Duffry is a massive match for them.
Group B is somewhat easier (and shorter!) to explain. The top three are already through, and Glynn-Barntown will join them if their result against the pointless St. John’s Volunteers is as good or better than Monageer-Boolavogue’s against Kilmore. However, if Volunteers happen to win that one, and Monageer-Boolavogue get at least a draw, then it’s Glynn-Barntown who’d finish in bottom spot. And if Volunteers win and Monageer lose, then there’d be a three-way tie from the bottom three spots – with one team going through to the quarter-finals with just two points.
Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior Football Championship
Group A fixtures: Kilanerin v Shelmaliers; St. Anne’s Rathangan v St. Martin’s; St. Brigid’s Blackwater v Our Lady’s Island.
Group B fixtures: Marshalstown-Castledockrell v Sarsfields; New Ross Geraldine O’Hanrahans v Castletown; Réalt na Mara v Davidstown-Courtnacuddy.
Group A of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior Football Championship is another straightforward one. The top three are already through and the meeting of St. Martin’s and St. Anne’s Rathangan will decide who joins them. Shelmaliers will finish bottom and contest the relegation final.
Our Group B table has been updated to show Castletown and New Ross Geraldine O’Hanrahan’s already finished, as the New Ross side has conceded a walkover in the game that was due to be played next Sunday. This group is straightforward overall anyway, as the top four are already through.
Even if Sarsfields win and Réalt na Mara lose, such that both teams finish on four points, the Ballygarrett side has the head-to-head result over the Wexford town side. New Ross Geraldine O’Hanrahan’s were already destined for the relegation final even before they this week decided to concede that walkover to Castletown.
Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ Football Championship
Group A fixtures: Gusserane O’Rahilly’s v Naomh Éanna; Castletown v St. Abban’s Adamstown; Shamrocks v Ballyhogue.
Group B fixtures: St. Joseph’s v Ferns St. Aidans; Starlights v Rathgarogue-Cushinstown; HWH Bunclody v St. Mary’s Maudlintown.
Group A of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ Football Championship is similar to Group B of the directly higher grade in that the top four are already through. Even if Naomh Éanna beat table-toppers Gusserane O’Rahilly’s and so join the losers of St. Abban’s Adamstown v Castletown on four points, the Gorey side would lose out on the head-to-head result against either of those teams. Meanwhile, Shamrocks will finish bottom and go to the relegation final.
In Group B, the top three are already through, and Rathgarogue-Cushinstown will be favourites to join them as they take on the pointless Starlights. However, St. Mary’s Maudlintown could sneak through if they win and Rathgarogue-Cushinstown drop at least one point.
Starlights could yet move off the bottom if they win, and ideal for them would be if St. Mary’s Maudlintown get at least a draw, as that would leave Starlights and Rathgarogue-Cushinstown in fifth and sixth place on two points and with the Enniscorthy team having the head-to-head result.
And a final note in all these permutations is to mark how there’s even a possibility of a three-way tie for fourth, fifth and sixth. And if that happens, it’s another case of where one team would go to the quarter-finals with just one win and four losses from their five games played. St. Mary’s are currently best-placed to win that possible mini-league and be that team, thanks to their 15-point win over Starlights earlier in the championship.
