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, what happens in the event of two or more teams being tied on points, and the possible permutations depending on the Round 5 results –
Championship Format
Our club football championships continue to follow the ‘traditional’ format for two groups of six. This means the top four teams in each group will qualify for quarter-finals; the team in 5th position will be finished, and the team in 6th place will go into a Relegation Final.
Quarter-finals will be 1st in Group A vs 4th in Group B, 2nd in Group A v 3rd in Group B, etc.
There will be an open draw for the semi-finals, and repeat pairings from the group stages will be 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-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.
Three-way ties
In the event of a three-way tie, a rule which was first introduced for the 2023 championships will again be used.
This states that if three or more teams are level on the same number of points, the number of league points earned from the games between the teams involved will be the first deciding factor.
If the tie cannot be resolved on this basis, the next deciding factor will be the scoring difference from all games played in the group stage, not just the games between the teams involved. If even this does not decide the issue, it will go the total overall score of each team.
It is important to note that in the event of a tie involving three or more teams, the tables which are automatically generated on our website may not accurately reflect the true position. If any such cases arise, then as soon as possible after the relevant matches conclude, Wexford GAA will instead separately publish official tables which take the current regulations into account.
Four-way or more-way ties
In the event of a tie involving four or more teams, it is important to note that the ‘mini league’ constitutes an entirely new league, with the rules outlined above being applied again. For instance, in the following case:
- Team A has 4 points in the ‘mini league’, with score difference +12
- Team B has 3 points, with score difference +9
- Team C has 3 points, with score difference +4, but they beat Team B in the head-to-head match
- Team D has 2 points, with score difference -8
Team C would rank above Team B, despite having an inferior score difference. This is because they finished level on points in the league in question (the ‘mini league’), and Team C won the head-to-head match in that league.
Dominic Smith Expert Electrical Senior Football Championship
Group A fixtures: Shelmalier v Sarsfields; Naomh Éanna v HWH Bunclody; St. James’ v Gusserane O’Rahilly’s
Group B fixtures: Castletown v Starlights; Glynn-Barntown v Crossabeg/Ballymurn; St. Anne’s Rathangan v Kilanerin
The Dominic Smith Expert Electrical Senior Football Championship is on a real knife-edge. Only three teams are so far guaranteed a quarter-final spot, and of the others, not a single team is yet out of contention.
Group A has two of the two guaranteed qualifiers, in the form of Shelmalier and Gusserane O’Rahilly’s. Sarsfields can claim a knock-out spot if they beat Shelmalier on Sunday, but they could also face a championship exit, should they lose and both Naomh Éanna and St. James’ win.
At the lower end of the table, bottom club HWH Bunclody could even still make the quarter-finals, if they beat Naomh Éanna and St. James’ lose to Gusserane O’Rahilly’s.
That would leave Naomh Éanna, St. James’ and HWH Bunclody all on three points each overall. They would have two points each in the ‘mini league’, so it would all go to overall score difference. And with so little currently separating those sides on score difference, it wouldn’t take much of a swing for HWH Bunclody to jump from 6th to 4th.
In Group B, Castletown are also assured of a quarter-final spot, but their final position in the table has yet to be determined.
The winners of Glynn-Barntown v Crossabeg/Ballymurn will also go through. However, things here are complicated by the possibility of a four-way tie if that match finishes in a draw.
Should that happen, alongside wins for Starlights (over Castletown) and Kilanerin (over St. Anne’s Rathangan), then Castletown, Crossabeg/Ballymurn, Glynn-Barntown and Kilanerin would all be tied on 5 points. The ‘mini league’ would look like this:
- Crossabeg/Ballymurn – 5 ‘mini league’ points
- Castletown – 3 ‘mini league’ points, and the head-to-head result over Glynn-Barntown
- Glynn-Barntown – 3 ‘mini league’ points
- Kilanerin – 1 ‘mini league’ point
Starlights would be on top with 6 points in the overall table, so the ‘mini league’ would be used to decide 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th. St Anne’s Rathangan would finish bottom with 4 points.
Meanwhile, the only way Kilanerin can be sure of avoiding 6th place and the Relegation Final is with a win over St. Anne’s Rathangan. A loss would see them rooted to bottom spot, while if they draw, their ultimate fate would depend on other results.
Amber Springs & Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate Football Championship
Group A fixtures: Rathgarogue-Cushinstown v Ferns St. Aidans; Clongeen v Horeswood; St. Mary’s Maudlintown v St. Abban’s Adamstown
Group B fixtures: St. Mogue’s Fethard v St. Fintan’s; St. Mary’s Rosslare v Taghmon-Camross; Ballyhogue v St. Martin’s
The Amber Springs & Ashdown Park Hotels Intermediate Football Championship is much more straightforward than the senior competition.
In Group A, the current top four clubs are assured of quarter-final spots. While Clongeen could join St. Mary’s Maudlintown on 4 points, the Wexford town team has the head-to-head result between the sides.
Ferns St. Aidans will contest the Relegation Final. Similar to above, while they could catch Clongeen on 2 points, Clongeen won the head-to-head match last weekend.
In Group B, the top four clubs are also already through. They will play each other on Saturday to decide final placings, while the other match (St. Mary’s Rosslare v Taghmon-Camross) will essentially act as a relegation semi-final.
Whizzy Internet Intermediate ‘A’ Football Championship
Group A fixtures: Bannow-Ballymitty v Duffry Rovers; Glynn-Barntown v Fr. O’Regan’s Craanford; St. John’s Volunteers v Monageer-Boolavogue
Group B fixtures: Kilmore v Cloughbawn; Kilrush v Sarsfields; Geraldine O’Hanrahan’s v St. Patrick’s
In Group A of the Whizzy Internet Intermediate ‘A’ Football Championship, the top two teams (Duffry Rovers and Bannow-Ballymitty) are already qualified. They will play on Saturday to determine who takes top spot.
Fr. O’Regan’s Craanford look well-placed to join them, and can do so with a draw or better against pointless Glynn-Barntown, who already know they are destined for the Relegation Final.
Even if Craanford lose, they will go through so long as Monageer-Boolavogue v St. John’s Volunteers does not finish in a draw. Craanford would be on 4 points alongside the losers of that match, and they have the head-to-head result over both.
It means that essentially, the Monageer-Boolavogue v St. John’s Volunteers match will be a straight shoot-out for a place in the knockout stages.
In Group B, Kilmore are already through, and Sarsfields are destined for the Relegation Final. The other qualification spots will be determined on Sunday.
Cloughbawn have perhaps the toughest task of the four teams in contention, as they will take on high-flying Kilmore. Kilrush have on paper the easiest, as they will face bottom club Sarsfields.
The St. Patrick’s v Geraldine O’Hanrahan’s match will essentially be another straight shoot-out for a quarter-final spot. Cloughbawn will be hoping for a win for the New Ross side there, because it would mean that even if they lose their own match v Kilmore, they would jump ahead of St. Patrick’s on the head-to-head result so long as Kilrush do not lose to Sarsfields.
However, should Kilrush lose that match, there would be a three-way tie on 4 points for Kilrush, St. Patrick’s, and Cloughbawn. Each team would have two points in the ‘mini-league’ and Cloughbawn would be likely to finish bottom of it on scoring difference. This would condemn them to 5th place overall.
Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior Football Championship
Group A fixtures: Buffers Alley v Kilanerin; Gusserane O’Rahilly’s v Naomh Éanna; St. Anne’s Rathangan v Castletown
Group B fixtures: Our Lady’s Island v Réalt na Mara; St. Martin’s v St. Brigid’s Blackwater; Shelmalier v Oylegate-Glenbrien
In Group A of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior Football Championship, the top four teams are already through.
While St. Anne’s Rathangan could join Gusserane O’Rahilly’s and Buffers Alley on 4 points if they (St. Anne’s) beat Castletown and both Gusserane and the Alley are beaten, the Rathangan side would have no points in the ‘mini league’ between the three teams, and so would finish in 5th place.
Naomh Éanna are already bound for the Relegation Final.
In Group B, Oylegate-Glenbrien and Shelmalier are already through. They will play each other on Saturday.
However, a significant factor in this group is how Our Lady’s Island conceded a walkover to St. Brigid’s Blackwater last weekend. This means that as per competition regulations, although they have the head-to-head result over St. Martin’s (currently alongside them on 2 points), they are ranked below them in the table.
The same consideration will apply if both teams lose on Saturday, and this would send Our Lady’s Island into the Relegation Final.
Our Lady’s Island could still claim a knock-out spot if they beat Réalt na Mara on Saturday, and St. Martin’s fail to beat Blackwater.
However, wins for both St. Martin’s and Our Lady’s Island would mean a three-way tie with St. Brigid’s Blackwater on 4 points for 3rd, 4th, and 5th place. Our Lady’s Island would automatically be ranked bottom of the ‘mini league’ on foot of that walkover.
Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ Football Championship
Group A fixtures: Davidstown-Courtnacuddy v Ballyhogue; HWH Bunclody v St. Joseph’s
Group B fixtures: Rathgarogue-Cushinstown v Starlights; Ferns St. Aidans v St. Mary’s Maudlintown; St. Abban’s Adamstown v Marshalstown-Castledockrell
Group A of the Enniscorthy Farm Systems Junior ‘A’ Football Championship has only five teams, because of how last year’s Junior ‘B’ champions Oulart-The Ballagh chose not to enter the competition. They are thus automatically relegated back to Junior ‘B’ for 2025.
The top four teams in this group are already through. Although Ballyhogue could catch Glynn-Barntown on two points, Glynn-Barntown have the head-to-head result between the teams.
Similarly in Group B, the top four teams are already through. St. Mary’s Maulintown could join Rathgarogue-Cushinstown on four points, but the Wexford town team lost the head-to-head match between the sides.
St. Abban’s Adamstown will finish bottom of the table, but because of Oulart-The Ballagh’s automatic relegation, the Adamstown side doesn’t need to worry about the prospect of dropping down the ranks for next year.
