PREVIEW: Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Hurling Championship Round 5

The time for second chances ends this weekend as the final round of the Go-Ahead Ireland Senior 1 Hurling Championship takes place.

There are still clubs in both Groups looking to finish in the top four of their respective groups (and therefore qualify for the quarter finals), while the bottom two teams will have to play in a relegation play-off to save their Senior 1 status.

Group 1

St Judes and Naomh Barróg play in the first game in Group 1 this weekend, when they meet at 8:30pm at Parnell Park on Friday evening.

There’s a lot on the line; both teams have lost all but one of their games, winning one, and are level on two points, so whoever wins this takes the group’s final quarter-final spot.

However, there is a twist: if it’s a draw, then Naomh Barróg will take the final quarter-final spot up for grabs, thanks to them having a better points difference of -16 compared to Judes’ -19.

It's a winner-takes all tie and a huge start to a big weekend in Group 1.

On Saturday, Lucan Sarsfields and Na Fianna meet at Dublin GAA HQ, with both teams looking to finish Group 1 with a 100% record.

Both teams are safely through to the last eight but will want to continue their form and take top spot in the group.

Ballyboden St Endas and Craobh Chiaráin play at the same time on Saturday (3:30pm) over at O’Toole Park.

Ballyboden go into the game on four points and are guaranteed a quarter final place thanks to their wins against Naomh Barróg and St Judes, which favour them on the head-to-head rule.

They’ll want to finish with a win regardless against Craobh Chiaráin, who have lost every game and will play in the relegation play-off after the group concludes.

Group 2

It's all to play for in Group 2, with three places in the quarter finals still up for grabs.

Kilmacud Crokes have secured their place in the last eight, while St Oliver Plunkett/ ER know they will be playing in the relegation playoff.

St Brigids, St Vincents, Whitehall Colmcille and Cuala will all be battling for the remaining three quarter final places over the weekend.

The first game of the weekend takes place when St Vincents and Whitehall Colmcille meet at 6.45pm on Friday at Parnell Park.

It's another winner-takes-all tie. A quarter final place would be secured with a victory, but a relegation playoff could beckon for the defeated team, depending on Saturday's results in the group.

Cuala know they will likely need a result against Kilmacud Crokes to finish in the top four; it's a massive ask for Cuala against the side that has dominated Group 2 and won every game so far.

But when they play Crokes on Saturday evening, they'll have a slightly clearer picture of what they need- following the St Vincents v Whitehall Colmcille game on Friday night- and will be hoping to grab the final last-eight spot from the team that loses on Friday.

They could potentially leapfrog St Brigid's, who they have a head-to-head advantage over. But Brigids will be confident of securing the win and a quarter-final spot against a St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh side that has lost every game and are heading for a relegation play-off regardless after they shipped a massive 7-24 last time out against Cuala.