Christy Ring Cup Final

Kildare v London, Saturday, 2.00, Croke Park

By Colm Shalvey

A second Christy Ring Cup title is the target for both Kildare and London when they contest Saturday’s final at Croke Park.

For both teams, it’s a return to the final for the first time since they last won it: London having claimed the spoils in 2012, followed two years later by Kildare. Neither side made it beyond the quarter-final stage last year, but they have both had good runs through the current campaign, having each topped their groups.

Kildare powered through Group 1 with three straight wins over Roscommon Mayo and Wicklow, while London finished top after a thrilling final round of games in Group 2. Having started with a win over Derry, London, who fell short in three consecutive quarter-finals before this year, lost in another tight finish against Down, but a comprehensive defeat of Armagh saw the Exiles edge their way to first place on score difference ahead of Derry and Down. Kildare saw off Derry in the semi-finals with the help of several fine saves by goalkeeper Paddy McKenna, while London were convincing winners against Wicklow.

These teams are also the highest-ranked Christy Ring teams in the Allianz Hurling League, where they competed in Division IIA along with four Joe McDonagh Cup counties. Kildare ended up being relegated after a testing campaign, while a seven-point win over the Lilywhites at Ruislip was enough for London to maintain their status.

Free-taker Richard Murphy accounted for almost half of London’s scores in their league campaign, but fellow Cork native Aaron Sheehan has led the scoring for Fergus McMahon’s side in the last four games.

Killian Burke, who won a Munster SHC medal with the Rebels last summer, is another key player for London, with Colin Nelson, Shane Lawless, Kevin O’Loughlin, Jody Troy and Henry Vaughan all also capable of contributing on the scoreboard. Unsurprisingly, it’s an entirely new team since their success of six years ago, with Vaughan (a late sub in that final) the only remaining player.

Former Limerick goalkeeper Joe Quaid has been in charge of Kildare since late 2015 and he has a team with a combination of youth and experience. Éanna O’Neill, Paul Divilly, Martin Fitzgerald, Bernard Deay, Mark Moloney and then-captain Niall Ó Muineacháin remain from the winning 2014 side. Their top scorer Barry Cormack has been named on the bench for this one, with rising star James Burke in line for a recall after his recent return to action.

Goal-poachers Fitzgerald and Jack Sheridan have amassed 11-11 between them, with the latter nailing down a starting place after a couple of impressive substitute appearances in the early stages, while Shane Ryan and team captain Brian Byrne will also be central to Kildare’s chances.

Kildare have hit 13-77 in their four outings to date, giving them an impressive average score of 29 points, almost 10 points per game more than they have conceded (a total of 7-56). London, meanwhile, have broken the 30 points per game marker with their tally of 8-98, while their 5-65 conceded works out at an average of 20 points.

With both attacks in such fine fettle, a high-scoring game is in prospect. The winners will take on Antrim in a play-off for a place in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

Kildare’s Christy Ring Cup scorers 2018: Barry Cormack 0-27 (23f, 1 ‘65); Martin Fitzgerald 6-5; Jack Sheridan 5-6 (0-1 s-l); Shane Ryan 2-7; Paul Divilly 0-8 (2f); James Burke 0-6 (3f); Kevin Whelan 0-4; Brian Byrne, Niall Ó Muineacháin 0-3 each; Chris Bonus, Mark Grace 0-2 each; Mark Moloney, Michael Purcell, Bernard Deay, Éanna O’Neill 0-1 each.

London’s Christy Ring Cup scorers 2018: Aaron Sheehan 0-34 (15f, 5 ‘65s); Colin Nelson 1-13; Shane Lawless 3-7; Kevin O’Loughlin 1-5; Jody Troy, Henry Vaughan 1-4 each; Killian Burke 0-7; Martin Duggan, Richard Murphy (3f) 0-6 each; Mark Dwyer 0-5; Fergal Collins 1-1; Michael Ivors 0-2 (1f); Seán Conlon, Stephen Lohan, Christopher McAlinden, Kevin Reid 0-1 each.

Christy Ring Cup top scorers 2018:

Cormac O’Doherty (Derry)   1-34

Aaron Sheehan (London)    0-34

Andy O’Brien (Wicklow)       2-24

Barry Cormack (Kildare)      0-27

Martin Fitzgerald (Kildare)   6-5

Daithí Sands (Down)            6-5

Paul Sheehan (Down)          0-23

Helped by a huge haul of 1-17 in Derry’s final group game against Down, Cormac O’Doherty tops the 2018 Christy Ring Cup scoring charts going into Saturday’s final, although London’s Aaron Sheehan is poised to overtake him if he can hit at least four points at Croke Park. Wicklow’s Andy O’Brien is three points ahead of Kildare top scorer Barry Cormack for third place, while the latter’s team-mate Martin Fitzgerald is level with Down duo Daithí Sands and Paul Sheehan.