By Colm Shalvey

A big weekend is in prospect in the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups, with final places up for grabs in each.

Christy Ring Cup

****The first Christy Ring Cup semi-final pits London against Wicklow in Carlow on Saturday.

Two-time Christy Ring runners-up Wicklow, who reached the semi-finals last year, saw off Mayo and Roscommon to qualify, although they lost a high-scoring shoot-out against Kildare last week. 2012 Christy Ring winners London – beaten quarter-finalists in each of the last three campaigns – topped Group 2 on score difference. Having ended up on the right side of the result away to Derry, before being pipped by Down in Ruislip, the Exiles ran out comprehensive winners against Armagh to progress.

Free-taker Richard Murphy accounted for almost half of London’s scores as they stayed up in Division 2A of the Allianz Hurling League, but Aaron Sheehan, Colin Nelson, Shane Lawless and Kevin O’Loughlin have been leading the way in this competition. Warren Kavanagh, top scorer Andy O’Brien, Mikey Lee, Christy Moorehouse and former Wexford hurler PJ Nolan have been in form for Wicklow, who have five wins in their last six games.

Páirc Grattan, Inniskeen is the venue for Sunday’s clash between Kildare and Derry.

Kildare recovered from their Allianz Hurling League Division 2A relegation to top Group 1 with three straight wins over Mayo, Roscommon and Wicklow. 2017 Nicky Rackard winners Derry’s qualification went right down to the wire as they lost narrowly to London in round one, but they ran up big scores in defeating Ulster rivals Armagh and Down to pip the latter for second place in Group 2 on score difference.

Barry Cormack (0-22) and Martin Fitzgerald (5-4) have been in prolific form for Kildare, who welcomed rising star James Burke back as a sub in the Wicklow game, where Jack Sheridan also came off the bench to hit a remarkable 2-5 tally. Paul Divilly and Éanna O’Neill, who were key players in their successful run in 2014, also remain key players. Cormac O’Doherty hit a huge 1-17 last time out for Derry, who have recalled the experienced Liam Óg Hinphey to the panel, with Cormac McKenna and Colm Murphy out through suspension. Collie McGurk must also wait to see if dual stars Chrissy McKaigue and Brendan Rogers are available to support the likes of Alan Grant, Gerard Bradley and Cuala duo Cian and Naoise Waldron.

Nicky Rackard Cup

Warwickshire will bid to extend their unbeaten run to 16 games and book a first appearance in the Nicky Rackard Cup Final when they face Tyrone in Dundalk on Saturday.

Warwickshire, who added the 2018 Allianz Hurling League Division 3A title to last year’s Lory Meagher Cup success, have maintained their momentum with wins over Louth, Monaghan and Longford to finish Group 1 with a 100% record. Tyrone won this title in 2014, but they have lost two semi-finals since then. They lost to Donegal in round one, but secured second place in Group 2 with a win over Leitrim.

Warwickshire, who beat Tyrone in February, have options in attack in the likes of Niall McKenna, Garry Lennon, Dómhnall Nugent, Paul Hoban, Paul Uniacke and Shane Caulfield. Tyrone’s chances depend largely on Damian Casey, who has accumulated 3-71 in seven games this year and is expected to be fit despite having to off last weekend. Pierse O’Kelly Aidan Kelly, Ryan McKernan and Seán Óg Grogan should also be prominent for Mattie Lennon’s side.

Owenbeg in Derry hosts an all-Ulster pairing of Donegal and Monaghan.

Donegal haven’t gone beyond the semi-finals of this competition since they went all the way in 2013, but they had a good league campaign, earning three wins in Division 2B, before easily defeating Tyrone and Leitrim to head Group 1. Monaghan were second in Group 2 after a win over Longford, a loss to Warwickshire and a second draw of the year with Louth. These teams have met regularly in the knock-out stage of this competition of late, with Donegal emerging on top four times between 2013 and 2016, before Monaghan reversed that last May.

Davin Flynn, Danny Cullen, Lee Henderson, Ciarán Matthewson and former Armagh forward Declan Coulter are central to Donegal’s chances, while Monaghan need big performances from Mark and Peter Treanor, Éamonn Collins and Fergal Rafter.

Later on Saturday, Leitrim and Louth contest the Nicky Rackard relegation play-off.

Both of these teams lost finals in the Allianz Hurling League in March, with Louth falling short to Warwickshire in Division 3A and Leitrim being beaten by Lancashire after extra-time in Division 3B. Louth took just one point in the Nicky Rackard Cup Group 1, however, while Leitrim lost both of their Group 2 fixtures.

Louth need Paddy Lynch, David Kettle, Gerard Smyth and Shane Callan on form, particularly in the absence of Niall and Gerry Arthur after the Clare natives were ruled ineligible. Veteran Clement Cunniffe (with 6-46 to his name in 2018) remains the standard-bearer for Leitrim, supported by Cathal O’Donovan, Zak Moradi and Conor Byrne.

Lory Meagher Cup

****The Lory Meagher Cup continues with the final round of group games on Saturday.

A win for **Lancashire **against Fermanagh in Enniskillen would see the Exiles join Sligo in the final.

Allianz Hurling League Division 3B winners Lancashire are looking to qualify for this final for the first time and attempt to follow in the footsteps of last year’s champions, Warwickshire. Having been edged out by Sligo in round one, Lancashire moved into second place with a convincing win over Cavan. Fermanagh have slipped down the rankings since winning this competition in 2015 and they failed to take a point in the league. They did take a share of the spoils from their derby against Cavan, before losing to Sligo.

Lancashire have a scoring machine in former Cork minor Ronan Crowley, with a remarkable 8-144 to his name in 12 games, with Greg Jacob, Martin Hawley, JJ Dunphy, Edmond Kenny and Nathan Unwin also to the fore. Fermanagh chance’s hinge on the form of Shea Curran, John Duffy, JP McGarry and Ryan Bogue.

**Sligo **are already safely through ahead of their home game against Cavan.

Having just missed out on what would have been their third consecutive appearance in the Lory Meagher final last year, Sligo have already beaten Lancashire and Fermanagh. Cavan drew with Fermanagh, before falling short against Lancashire, meaning they need the latter to lose if they are to have a chance to squeeze through.

Keith Raymond has added to Sligo’s options alongside the likes of Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch, Kevin Banks, Larry Cadden and Eoin Comerford. Cavan will hope to again call on Cuala contingent of John, Cillian and Colum Sheanon to show the way, supported by Seán Keating and Philip Brady.

FIXTURES

Saturday, June 9

Christy Ring Cup Semi-Final**

London v Wicklow, Netwatch Cullen Park, 12.30pm

Nicky Rackard Cup Semi-Finals

Donegal v Monaghan, Owenbeg, 1pm

Warwickshire v Tyrone, Dowdallshill, Dundalk, 1pm

Nicky Rackard Cup Relegation Play-Off

Leitrim v Longford, TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, 4.30pm

Lory Meagher Cup Round 3

Fermanagh v Lancashire, Brewster Park, 1pm

Sligo v Cavan, Markievicz Park, 1pm

Sunday, June 10

Christy Ring Cup Semi-Final**

Kildare v Derry, Inniskeen, 4pm