hurling

Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Cup previews

25 May 2018 - 1:27PM

Conor Johnston was in excellent scoring form for Antrim against Armagh.

By Colm Shalvey

The 2017 Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups continue this weekend, with full rounds in all three championships.

Christy Ring Cup

The first semi-final places are up for grabs in the Christy Ring Cup, starting with the local derby between Antrim and Down in Cushendall.

Antrim repeated their Allianz Hurling League Division 2A Final win over Carlow in a thriller that went to extra-time last Saturday, while Down put a difficult spring behind them to hold off the challenge of Roscommon.

These teams contested a semi-final last year, with Antrim finishing strongly to see off their neighbours.

Conor Johnston, Ciarán Clarke, Niall McKenna and Paul Shiels should play key roles for last year’s runners-up Antrim who will be without top scorer Neil McManus (who gets married on Saturday to Saffrons camogie player Aileen Martin). Paul Sheehan, Conor Woods and Gareth Johnson are among the main men for Down, who will hope to have Danny Toner back.

The other Round 2A game is an all-Leinster clash between Kildare and Wicklow in Newbridge.

After a strong showing in Division 2A of the league, Kildare survived a scare away to Mayo last weekend, while Division 2B runners-up Wicklow won by the same scoreline (0-17 to 0-16) against London.

These teams haven’t met in this competition since their first-round tie that went to a replay in 2014; which was narrowly won by eventual champions Kildare.

Former Kilkenny star John Mulhall and Limerick native David Reidy bolster a Kildare side also led by the likes of Paul Divilly and Jack Sheridan, while Wicklow will need big performances from Christy Moorehouse Andy O’Brien and Diarmuid Masterson.

Carlow will be determined to get back to winning ways when they host Mayo.

Having reached the Allianz Hurling League Division 2A Final only to lose to Antrim, Carlow were edged out by the same opponents after extra-time in their Christy Ring Cup opener. Meanwhile, Mayo put it up to Kildare when falling short by the narrowest of margins in Ballina.

Carlow had Denis Murphy in fine form with a 0-16 tally in round one, while Paul Coady, Martin Kavanagh, John Michael Nolan, Craig Wall are other key players. Mayo were without top scorer Kenny Feeney against Kildare and they were hit further by red cards to David Kenny and Kieran McDermott; increasing their reliance on dual star Keith Higgins and the likes of Joseph McManus and Cathal Freeman.

There is a 6pm throw-in for Roscommon v London. 2015 Nicky Rackard Cup winners Roscommon let a five-point lead slip away to Down in the first round, while London were edged out by Wicklow. The Exiles played in a higher division than Saturday’s hosts during spring, while Roscommon slipped a tier further back down to 3A.

London are dependent on Kevin O’Loughlin for the bulk of their scores, with the help of Enda Cooney and free-taking goalkeeper Eoin Kelly. Roscommon will need big displays from Shane Curley, Robbie and Gary Fallon and Naos Connaughton if they are to make home advantage count.

Ruairi Convery

Nicky Rackard Cup

Derry once again take the favourites’ tag into their Nicky Rackard Cup Round 2A game at home to Longford.

Derry held off a stern challenge from Louth last week, while Longford had a bye through the opening round.

The Oak Leaf County were two tiers above their opponents in the Allianz Hurling League, although Longford did win the Division 3B title. Longford were knocked out at the quarter-final stage last year, while Derry are back in the Nicky Rackard for the first time since they won it back in 2006.

Ruairí Convery is the main source of scores for Derry, who will also be hoping for big displays from Oisín McCloskey, Alan Grant and Liam Óg and Kevin Hinphey. Longford will need Cathal Mullane, Paddy Farrington, Conor Keegan and Patrick Walsh on top form.

The game in Carrickmore between Tyrone and** Donegal** is not only a local derby, but also a repeat of the Allianz Hurling League Division 3A Final.

Tyrone, who succeeded Donegal as Nicky Rackard Cup champions in 2013, edged out another neighbouring county, Monaghan, last Saturday. Meanwhile, Donegal made a great start with a long-awaited win against fellow Ulster side Armagh. This is the fourth meeting of these teams this year. Tyrone won the first of those, but Donegal won the last two, including an emphatic victory in the Division 3A decider.

Tyrone star Damien Casey has been this competition’s top scorer for the last three years in a row and he will again spearhead his team’s challenge, with support from Matthew Mulgrew, Aidan Kelly, Seán Óg Grogan and Brendan Begley. Tipperary native Davin Flynn has been a big addition to the Donegal attack, as has former Armagh forward Declan Coulter. Danny Cullen and Lee Henderson are other central figures for the visitors.

In Round 2B,** Louth** make the short journey to Armagh. Armagh lost out to Donegal in round one, while Louth were also consigned to the ‘back door’, despite a spirited effort against Derry.

Both of these teams finished bottom of their Allianz Hurling League groups, although Armagh could take heart from some of their performances after stepping up to Division 2A, while Louth could take little from their winless campaign in Division 3A.

Armagh have been hit by an injury list that features the likes of Nathan Curry, Shea and Ryan Gaffney and Stephen Renaghan, increasing their reliance om Cathal and David Carvill and Conor Corvan. Louth will need Diarmuid Murphy, Shane Callan, Gerard Smyth and Liam Dwan to front their challenge.

Conor McShea

Lory Meagher Cup

Cavan’s return to senior inter-county hurling continues with a Lory Meagher Cup away game against Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Cavan’s comeback started with a loss to Warwickshire last Saturday, while Leitrim were pipped by a strong Fermanagh finish in a high-scoring thriller at Brewster Park.

Diarmuid Cahill and Anthony and Darren Sheridan should be to the fore for Cavan, with Leitrim looking for prolific duo Pádraig O’Donnell and Clement Cunniffe to show the way, alongside James Glancy and Liam Moreton.

Fermanagh travel to Manchester to take on Lancashire. 2015 Lory Meagher Cup winners Fermanagh came from six points down to deny Leitrim in their opening game, while Lancashire were hit by the sending-off of Dáire Maskey in their defeat in Sligo.

Seán Corrigan hit 3-8 in Fermanagh’s opener, with good support from others like Shea Curran, Ryan Bogue and JP McGarry. Ronan Crowley, Nathan Unwin and Darragh O’Brien should be prominent for Lancashire.

Sligo also travel across the Irish Sea to face Warwickshire at Páirc na hÉireann, Birmingham.
Both of these teams won their first group games, with Sligo seeing off 14-man Lancashire and Warwickshire claiming a convincing victory in Cavan. 2013 champions Warwickshire edged out Sligo in the opening round on their way to the Allianz Hurling League Division 3B Final.

Sligo, who had recently-dismissed manager Declan Loughnane in goals for them last week, will hope that Keith Raymond, Kevin Gilmartin, Cormac Behan and Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch can fire them to another win. Warwickshire have an ace in the pack in Antrim’s most recent All-Star nominee Liam Watson, along with others such as Shane Caulfield, Emmet McCabe and Ian Dwyer.

FIXTURES

Saturday, April 29

Christy Ring Cup**

Round 2A

Antrim v Down, Cushendall, 2pm

Kildare v Wicklow, Newbridge, 3pm

Round 2B

Carlow v Mayo, Netwatch Cullen Park, 3pm

Roscommon v London, Dr. Hyde Park, 6pm

Nicky Rackard Cup

Round 2A

Derry v Longford, Owenbeg, 3pm