PREVIEW: Dublin v Carlow Allianz Hurling League

Dublin will look to put the finishing touches to an encouraging Allianz National Hurling League Division 1B campaign when they travel to Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday afternoon (5pm) to take on Carlow in their final group match.

Of course, promotion to Division 1A was the goal at the start of the season and that is likely to be achieved should the Dubs secure a positive result at the weekend. 

Clare have already cemented that ambition, winning all six of their games in the process, leaving the remaining promotion spot as a shootout between Dublin and Wexford. 

Both counties are tied on seven points from five games but Dublin’s vastly superior points difference hands them a massive advantage with their +60 total dwarfing Wexford’s tally of +10. 

Dublin’s margin was greatly enhanced in Round 6 when they eased past Down by 6-32 to 0-18 with goals from John Hetherton (2), Dara Purcell, Fergal Whitely, Diarmaid Ó Dúlaing and Paddy Dunleavy highlighting their greater scoring threat. 

A similar performance would be welcome on Saturday but Dublin are sure to face a tougher prospect against a Carlow team that are fighting for their Division 1B lives.

The season started brightly for Carlow when overcoming Down by ten points in Round 1 and they were more than competitive in their next fixture against Wexford, only falling away in the final ten minutes on their way to a ten-point loss. 

Carlow were brushed aside by Antrim at Corrigan Park but their character was evident in the manner they continued to battle to the final whistle against Kildare in Round 6. 

Those qualities are sure to be on show at the weekend but Dublin will need to make sure their focus is at the required level, given the obvious rewards on offer.  

Should Dublin win at the weekend and ultimately confirm second spot in the table, they will meet Clare in the league final, scheduled on the weekend of April 4/5.

Match updates will be available on Dublin's X platform.