It’s the final nobody involved wants to be preparing for, but it could well make or break a club for years to come.
Relegation deciders take place across Kilkenny and Carlow this weekend as a number of teams make one last desperate attempt to avoid the dreaded drop.
In Kilkenny, the St Canice’s Credit Union Senior Hurling relegation final between Lisdowney and Graigue Ballycallan takes place on Saturday at 12.30pm in Páirc Lachtain.
2020 intermediate champions Lisdowney have failed to capture the form of recent years with their last outing seeing them lose to James Stephens.
Graigue Ballycallan’s run of results has been even worse, with six straight defeats to their name including a first-round championship loss to Erin’s Own.
We will have full live commentary of that game on KCLR at lunchtime on Saturday.
Later in the day, one of Fenians and St Lachtain’s will have to accept their status as a junior team should they be defeated in Ballyragget at 4.30pm.
Fenians have lost all of their games to date, while St Lachtain’s were surprisingly beaten by St Martin’s in the relegation semi-final two weeks ago.
There are also a number of relegation finals in the Carlow football championships.
The senior decider between Old Leighlin and Ballinabranna takes place on Saturday night in the Training Centre in Fenagh.
Old Leighlin have a solitary draw to their name so far against county finalists Palatine.
Ballinabranna will be hoping that they can find a result having lost all three of their group games.
That encounter has a throw-in time of 7.30pm.
The Talbot Hotel Intermediate relegation final between Eire Og and O’Hanrahans throws-in at 7.30pm on Thursday night in the Training Centre.
Eire Og are also involved in the Junior B decider on Friday evening against Naomh Eoin in Br. Leo Park. That also has a throw-in time of 7.30pm.
The Junior A final saw Fighting Cocks get the better of Bagenalstown.
