Nicky Rackard Cup finalists Niall McKenna of Warwickshire and Danny Cullen of Donegal pictured in Croke Park this week ahead of Saturday's match.
Nicky Rackard Cup Final
Donegal v Warwickshire, Saturday, 4.00, Croke Park
By Colm Shalvey
Former winners Donegal and first-time finalists Warwickshire battle it out for the Nicky Rackard Cup in the third game of Saturday’s Croke Park triple-header.
Donegal are in this final for the third time and the first since they went all the way in 2013. Warwickshire carry a 16-game unbeaten run into this game after adding the 2018 Allianz Hurling League Division IIIA title to last year’s Lory Meagher Cup success, but Donegal have been competing consistently at a higher level. Mickey McCann’s first league campaign at the helm in Donegal was a good one, as his side earned three wins in Division IIB.
Warwickshire topped Group 1 with a 100% record after wins over Louth, Monaghan and Longford and they finished strongly to dismiss the challenge of Tyrone at the semi-final stage. Donegal have cruised through to this stage with big victories against Tyrone and Leitrim in Group 2 and Monaghan in their semi-final, which saw them reverse last year’s loss to their Ulster rivals.
Donegal can still call on a host of players who led the county to the Rackard Cup title five years ago, including Jamsie Donnelly in the wake of a U-turn on his decision to retire from inter-county hurling earlier this year. The classy Danny Cullen, 2013 captain Joe Boyle, three McDermotts and attackers Ciarán Mathewson, Lee Henderson and Kevin Campbell have all been good servants to Donegal, who have also benefited from some key recruits in the last couple of years.
Davin Flynn (l) has been hugely impressive for Donegal this year.
Tipperary man Davin Flynn has struck 4-29 in just three games en route to this final, while fellow forwards Declan Coulter and Gerard Gilmore – formerly of Armagh and Tyrone, respectively – are among other options up front.
Warwickshire’s 2017 Lory Meagher Cup was largely built around the talents of Liam Watson, but despite losing the former Antrim star, as well as Seán Hennessy and Emmet McCabe, the Exiles have carried their momentum throughout this campaign. Current top scorer Niall McKenna continues the Saffron influence for Warwickshire, along with Dómhnall Nugent, while Galway native Paul Hoban is another central figure. Garry Lennon, Kelvin Magee, Paul Uniacke and Shane Caulfield could also be to the fore for Tony Joyce’s side.
Warwickshire have hit 6-78 in four games to date for an average score of 24 points, while their defence has conceded 5-54 or 19.25 points per game. A free-scoring Donegal side have amassed more than their final opponents despite playing only three times. Their 7-76 works out at a huge 32.33 on average, while they have only leaked 4-30, just 14 points per match.
With silverware and promotion to the Christy Ring Cup on offer, it’s all to play for between these in-form sides, with Donegal’s rampant attack potentially tipping the balance in their favour as they bid to keep the title in Ulster, following in the footsteps of their near-neighbours, Derry.
Donegal’s Nicky Rackard Cup scorers 2018: Davin Flynn 4-29 (0-19f, 0-1 ’65); Declan Coulter 0-18 (10f); Gerard Gilmore 1-7; Ciarán Mathewson 0-5; Kevin Campbell 1-2; Danny Cullen, Christopher McDermott 0-3 each; Caolán McDermott 1-0; Lee Henderson, Joe Boyle, Jamsie Donnelly 0-2 each; Enda McDermott, Bernard Lafferty, Ronan McDermott 0-1 each.
Warwickshire’s Nicky Rackard Cup scorers 2018: Niall McKenna 0-31 (21f, 1 ’65); Garry Lennon 3-6; Paul Hoban 0-9 (5f); Kelvin Magee 2-2 (0-1f); Dómhnall Nugent 0-7; Shane Caulfield 1-4; Niall Kennedy 0-5; Paul Uniacke 0-4; Breen Fallon 0-3; Conor Robins, John Collins, Donnacha Kennedy 0-2 each; Ian Dwyer 0-1.
Nicky Rackard Cup top scorers 2018:
Davin Flynn (Donegal) 4-29
Niall McKenna (Warwickshire) 0-31
Fergal Rafter (Monaghan) 0-25
Joe O’Brien (Longford) 2-18
Damian Casey (Tyrone) 1-18
Donegal sharpshooter Davin Flynn is well clear at the top of the Nicky Rackard Cup scoring charts, with his 4-29 leaving him ten points ahead of fellow finalist Niall McKenna (Warwickshire). Monaghan’s Fergal Rafter and Longford’s Joe O’Brien are next, with Tyrone talisman Damian Casey – a three-time Nicky Rackard top scorer – completing the top five.
