Saturday sees the return of inter-county action for the first time since the beginning of March. In Division 4, Wicklow vs Antrim marks the return to action. Just a point separate these teams in the table with the Ulster side second behind Limerick.
Allianz Football Division 4 round 6
Wicklow v Antrim, Aughrim, 12.30pm Preview and live score commentary
Wicklow suffered defeats to Carlow and Limerick before the lockdown. But, three wins against Sligo, Waterford, and London means they still have a real chance of promotion. A win over Antrim would go a long way in the Leinster side’s favour. Firstly, they would leapfrog Antrim in the table. Secondly, Sligo and Wexford are currently level with Wicklow in the lead so they cannot afford to lose ground with just two games remaining. In fact, their round 7 game is with Wexford. Hence, it could be a promotion shootout.
On the other hand, Antrim have only suffered defeat once in the League to date. This came at the hands of Sligo. Furthermore, a draw against Carlow has left them a point shy of the top of the Division. The suspension of football in March came at a bad time for Antrim. They had just beaten Limerick to put themselves in contention for the title. Now, they will have to find their form quickly after a long absence.
In round 7, Antrim host Waterford. As a result, the game with Wicklow is likely the most important of their remaining fixtures. A win will set them up for a good finish and potential promotion. However, a loss would likely condemn them to a mid-table finish.
Wicklow won’t pull any punches in this game. Their round 7 tie with Wexford is a preview of their Leinster Championship opener on November 1st. Therefore, manager Davy Burke may refrain from showing his strongest hand. Instead, some of his big guns will be deployed against Antrim for match practice.
In contrast, Antrim have an extra week before they began their Championship campaign. They are scheduled to play the winners of Monaghan and Cavan on the 7th of November.
Allianz National League Division 4: Wicklow vs Antrim, Saturday October 17th, 12.30pm (Aughrim).Â
.@GAAGO will exclusively stream up to 23 games from the upcoming return of #AllianzLeagues action. Previously available outside of Ireland only, the service will for the first time allow GAA fans at home to stream inter-county GAA games live or on demand. #GAA
— The GAA (@officialgaa) October 9, 2020
https://3.249.64.60/gaa/2019-provisional-allianz-football-league-fixtures/
https://3.249.64.60/gaa/2019-provisional-allianz-football-league-fixtures/
https://twitter.com/officialgaa/status/1314507604790521857
