Tipp could benefit from Wexford having secured promotion

GAA: Allianz National Football League Division 4 Round 6 Preview

By Shane Brophy

WEXFORD v TIPPERARY

Chadwicks Wexford Park

Saturday, 15th March

Throw-in @ 6.30pm

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)

On the face of it, Tipperary going to play top of the table Wexford on Saturday evening looks a daunting task as they look end their two game losing run in the National Football League Division 4.

However, the Slaneysiders have already secured promotion with two games to spare so manager John Hegarty might take the opportunity to give his extended panel some game time with a busy period upcoming, which now includes a league final, before the Leinster Championship.

That final could still be against Tipperary, but only if the Premier County get a win this Saturday as there is still a battle to see who joins Wexford in Croke Park. Limerick and Wicklow are next in the hunt, and they play each other in Aughrim on Sunday where a win for Limerick would see them make an immediate return to division 3. A win for Wicklow, and a win for Tipp would set up a final day showdown between the sides in Clonmel. Carlow and Longford also remain in the hunt, particularly Longford who can get to seven points with a win in Carlow.

Off the back of successive defeats to London and Limerick, the two week break will have afforded the Tipperary management an opportunity to reflect as the depth of their panel was being stretched with injuries, particularly to key players in captain Steven O’Brien, Luke Boland, and Sean O’Connor.