How the Mayo Ladies can avoid relegation

The Mayo Ladies may have taken a second to exhale following Aaron Clogher’s full-time whistle in their narrow win over Kildare. However, their Division 1 status is far from safe. 

At present, they are propping up the table but could still claw themselves above the watermark with a win over Waterford, coupled with results elsewhere.

READ MORE: Mayo Ladies face one more must-win game to survive relegation

Here, we’ll run the rule over exactly what’s needed for Liam McHale’s troops to survive.

Mayo are coming up against formidable opponents in Waterford but are fortunate that the Déise have nothing to play for and may not be at full tilt.

A win moves Mayo to six points, but that alone won’t be enough to guarantee survival.

Mayo will be looking for favours from second-from-bottom Tyrone, who face off against fellow relegation candidates Kildare.

Should that game swing the way of Tyrone, all three sides will be level on six points, meaning the best side on score difference will stay in Division One. 

Tyrone are all but gone in this instance, with a -59 difference at present.

As it stands, 13 points separate Mayo and the Lilywhites.

If Mayo can bridge that gap with a win over Waterford in Kilmacthomas, coupled with a hand from the Red Hands, then they can cling onto their top-flight label by their fingertips.