PREVIEW: Carlow Ladies face long trip to Antrim with semi-final spot still within reach

THE 2023 Lidl National League Division 4 semi-finalists will be confirmed next Sunday, March 5. 

Division 4 is the only division where semi-finals will be used to determine 2023 Finalists – and the scene is set for a dramatic final day of group action. 

In Division 4A, Antrim and Fermanagh will both look to make home advantage count against Carlow and London respectively, while Division 4B sees Derry play host to Limerick, as Wicklow welcome Leitrim to Aughrim. 

The semi-finals on March 26 will see the Division 4A table-toppers play the second-placed team from Division 4B, while the Division 4B winners will pit their wits against the Division 4A runners-up. 

Antrim v Carlow; Davitt Park, 3pm  

Antrim, the reigning TG4 All-Ireland Junior champions, have their destiny firmly in their own hands. 

Barring a major capitulation, the Saffrons will contest a semi-final by virtue of their 100 per cent record to date and a healthy scoring difference. A draw or a victory for the Saffrons will assure them mathematically of progress to the last four. 

Defeat to Carlow, and they should still be fine on scoring difference, should it come to that, as they start the weekend on +43. 

Carlow are in a more uncertain situation ahead of the final round of games.  

A victory over Antrim would move them onto six points alongside Sunday’s opponents, but a Fermanagh win over London would leave Antrim, Fermanagh and Carlow all on six points in that scenario, and scoring difference will then decide who goes through to the semi-finals. 

There’s still a situation where Carlow could lose and still qualify for the semi-finals on scoring difference, but they would need to keep the score down against Antrim, and hope that London can beat Fermanagh for that to happen. 

The result from the Fermanagh-London game earlier in the day will leave both Antrim and Carlow knowing exactly where they stand ahead of throw-in.