Roe puts Wexford on right course

Gaelic Games National Football League: Part of this weekend's final round of the National Football League will play out like a lottery, with a range of combinations still capable of determining the winners and losers.

Centre stage is Division One B, where Limerick and Wexford are poised to make an historic breakthrough into the semi-finals, while Galway, Laois, Sligo and Meath are hanging perilously close to relegation.

Of the eight counties in the division only one is certain of their fate - Cavan, who will be relegated. But it's close enough in that six of them - Limerick, Armagh, Wexford, Meath, Galway and Sligo - still have the chance of reaching the semi-finals. Then there's the four still in danger of joining Cavan on the way down.

Most attention on Sunday will fall on the meetings of Wexford with Laois and Limerick with Armagh. A draw would be enough to see Wexford through on points difference, while Laois need to win to avoid relegation. Whoever wins between Limerick and Armagh can also look forward to another day out.

It all sounds like a bit of a fairytale for Wexford, who so narrowly missed out on promotion two years ago and now in their first season in the top flight are still chasing the top prize.

Yet manager Pat Roe says reaching the semi-finals would not surpass his expectations, but rather that losing out at this stage would be a disappointment.

"I remember when we started out, on the first night of training," says Roe. "We talked about what we expected from the league, and the priority then was to stay in Division One. But we also made the point that we should aim to make the play-offs, and that it was a realistic aim.

"And I believed they could do it, absolutely. From day one the players have been working extremely hard. We've had at least 25 to 30 out every night of training and the attitude has been excellent. That we've had no disciplinary problems whatsoever reflects that. And the players are also so hungry for success, and very motivated for it too."

Having started his inter-county management career with Carlow, Roe - a former Laois footballer - required a few months of getting-to-know-you in Wexford. But he's got a well-settled team now, with confidence probably close to an all-time high after the 17-point win over Galway in Tuam last Sunday week.

Yet he agrees that things didn't immediately go to plan: "Well no, because after the first few rounds of games the whole thing was looking a little daunting. We only got points in one of our first three games so it wasn't the best of starts. But since the break we've had a good run. And at least we know now exactly where we stand.

"And I know at this stage our primary aim has been realised, in that we have regained our Division One status. But it's nothing more than that. So we'll still be very disappointed if we come away from Portlaoise without a result."

Like any other county, especially without a high football profile, the reasons for making the play-offs are largely self-explanatory. Roe also knows championship preparations don't get much better than playing the likes of Tyrone or Kerry.

"Well we are out on May 16th, against Louth. Making the play-offs would mean at least one more match of real quality before that game, which can only be good preparation. But of course that would be a great boost for Wexford football in general. It's not often the county finds itself in a position like this."

"But we know it's going to be a big, big task. It's quite clear Laois are coming into form, having got five out of six points in their last few games. And they are the Leinster champions."

In a way though the hardest task facing Roe at the moment is trying to keep a lid on all the football hype in Wexford, fanned by that drubbing of Galway.

"Sure it is, it's been really hard. And I suppose there's always a downside to a result like that. Some of the players will get a little bit carried away and it's hard to keep their feet on the ground. But we know that game doesn't reflect the real quality of either team. There's no way we're 17 points better than Galway, or that Galway are 17 points worse than us."

Wexford should be at full strength for the journey to Portlaoise, the only concern being over half back Darragh Breen. And talk that Leigh O'Brien might be missing has been proven to be nothing more than local rumour.

Limerick, however, will be without some of their first-choice players for the visit of Armagh. Corner back and captain Tommy Stack has lost his race to be fit after injuring his hand playing for Drom Broadford last weekend, while John Quane and Maurice Horan remain on the injured list.

Muiris Gavin returns to the starting line-up, while the experienced Diarmuid Sheehy is given the corner-back position and Colm Hickey is preferred to Mark Keane at corner forward.

The promotion race, meanwhile, is a lot less congested. Donegal and Offaly are set to rise from Division Two A, with Kildare and either Down or Wicklow coming up from Two B.

Elsewhere, the Limerick hurlers have agreed to play Waterford in Kilmallock on Saturday, a week before they play in the league, in aid of the Joseph Hargrow fund.

LIMERICK (SF v Armagh): S O'Donnell; M Riordan, J McCarthy, D Sheehy; C Mullane, S Lucey, D Reidy; J Stokes, J Galvin; S Kelly, M Gavin, M O'Brien; C Hickey, J Murphy, O Keating.

LIMERICK (SH v Waterford): J Cahill; S McDonogh, Paul O'Reilly, E Mulcahy; M O'Brien, D O'Grady, W Walsh; Peter O'Reilly, M McKenna; P Russell, C Smith, J Meskell; P Kirby, O O'Neill, J Butler.