Meath going to Kerry for a meaningless game

Meath make the long journey to Killarney this weekend for what is a meaningless NHL Div 2 game against Kerry.

That statement is a reflection on the structure of the competition and not in any way directed at either Kerry or Meath.

The same applies to London's trip to Belfast to play Antrim (from an Antrim perspective) because even if Antrim win and Kerry lose to Meath, Antrim will still not qualify or even get a play-off as the head-to-head with Kerry will apply.

Surely it would make more sense (not always a good reason to do something) to have the second-placed team at home to the third-placed team in a semi-final? 

You can work out the benefits of that yourself.

Eight of the elite teams in Div 1A and Div 1B  (four in each) get to play NHL Div 1 quarter-finals on 10th March and semi-finals on 17th March and a final on 24th March.

WHAT WE KNOW NOW

Westmeath will play Kerry in the NHL Div 2A final on 10th March.

The rescheduled London v Mayo game on 9th March will determine which team is relegated.

NHL DIV 2A FACTFILE

RESULTS
FIRST ROUND
Meath 0-17, Mayo 0-17; Westmeath 2-17, London 0-15; Kerry 1-21, Antrim 2-16.
SECOND ROUND
 Antrim 3-13, Meath 2-15; Westmeath 4-13, Kerry 2-17.
THIRD ROUND
Meath 3-16, London 3-10; Antrim 1-15, Westmeath 1-17; Kerry 3-18, Mayo 0-9.
FOURTH ROUND
Westmeath 1-20, Meath 0-20; Kerry 3-27, London 1-11; Antrim 5-18, Mayo 0-13.
TABLE
                   P W D L F A Pts
Westmeath 4 4 0 0 91 76 6

Kerry           4 3 0 1 110 70 6
Antrim         4 2 0 2 95 78 4

Meath          4 1 1 2 83 81 3
Mayo           3 0 1 2 39 77 1
London        3 0 0 3 48 84 0
NEXT UP
Sunday 3rd March - Kerry v Meath; Westmeath v Mayo; Antrim v London.
Saturday 9th March - London v Mayo (second round rescheduled)