Following last weekend’s shock defeat to Tyrone, it was in effect do-or-die for the county’s hurlers in this afternoon’s Rackard Cup Round 2 clash with Louth at MacHale Park. The lads stood up well, though, running out comprehensive winners over the Wee County on a scoreline of 3-23 to 1-13.

Match report by Colm Gannon for the Mayo Advertiser is here. The view from the other side of the fence in relation to today’s game, courtesy of the Dundalk Democrat, is here.

In today’s other Group 2 game, Sligo got the better of Tyrone by 3-19 to 1-14 in a match played at the Sligo Centre of Excellence. That result is, to be honest, as much of a head-scratcher as our rather inexplicable loss to Tyrone was last Sunday.

This is because the Yeatsmen hurled in Division 3B this spring, which they won to secure promotion to Division 2A. That’s where Tyrone finished a respectable third this spring, while we, of course, survived in Division 2A this year. Go figure, as they say.

Our final Group 2 match is against table-toppers Sligo. This is an away fixture (venue to be confirmed), which is scheduled to take place in a fortnight’s time, on 1st June (throw-in 3pm).

For us, it’s another must-win game and if we do win then ourselves, Sligo and Tyrone – who should beat Louth – will end up on four points each. If that happens, points difference will decide which of the two go through to the semi-finals. Currently Sligo are on +19, we’re on +13 and Tyrone are on -8.

As the table above confirms, though, the Red Hands currently lead us in the table, due to the head-to-head record. A three-cornered tie can, however, only be resolved via points difference and here we have the edge over Tyrone, though this could change, depending on how the matches in the final round go. It’s all to play for, in other words.