Preview: Nickey Rackard Cup Final - Tyrone v New York

Saturday, May 30

Nickey Rackard Cup Final

Tyrone v New York, Croke Park, 1pm (Spórt TG4 YouTube)

Saturday’s double-bill of hurling finals at Croke Park begins with the Nickey Rackard Cup clash of Tyrone and New York.

Tyrone are chasing a swift return to Christy Ring status, while a win for New York would see them seal back-to-back promotions. Tyrone have played in three previous Nickey Rackard finals, winning two: in 2014 and 2022.

After a couple of seasons competing in the Christy Ring, they endured a very difficult run last year, but Stephen McGarry’s side have bounced back to win eight out of 11 games in league and championship, including five in a row in the Nickey Rackard.

In contrast, New York waited in the wings until last weekend’s semi- final, where they got the better of two-time champions Mayo, who were runners-up in both 2024 and last year. 12 months ago, New York made a winning debut in the Lory Meagher Cup, defeating Monaghan and Cavan.

Tyrone have racked up 21-84 in five matches, with a wide spread of scorers, led by Aidan Kelly, Turlough Mullin, Michael Little and Niall McGarel. Mullin, McGarel, Liam Griffiths and Shea Munroe have all scored at least three goals so far in the current campaign, while Kiefer Morgan, Seán Paul McKernan and Ciarán Magill can also play key roles for the Red Hand County.

New York’s panel boasts some real quality, not least in the shape of Galway All-Ireland winner Johnny Glynn and former Cork senior Seán O’Leary-Hayes. Tipperary’s AJ Willis (a hat-trick hero against Mayo) and Conor Hammersley also provide scoring threats, as do Westmeath native Adam Loughlin-Stones and Thomas Douglas from Waterford. An intriguing match-up awaits between the star-studded Exiles and a more battle-hardened Tyrone team.

NEW YORK: Cillian McNamara; Eanna Barry, Henry Keyes, John O'Meara; Sean O'Leary Hayes, Bill Maher, Brian McPartland; Dara Walsh, Tom O'Meara; AJ Willis, Thomas Douglas, Conor Hammersley; David Mangan, Jonathan Glynn, Tomas O'Connor. Subs: Johnny Burns, James Cronin Rodger, Cian Barron, Adam Loughlin Stones, Niall Coen, Colin O'Brien, Gerard McPartland, Cian Mullane, James Breen, Harry O'Connor, Darragh Hynes.

TYRONE: Conor McElhatton; Dean Rafferty, Oran McKee, James McCann; Seamus Sweeney, Fionn Devlin, Fergal Donaghy; Cormac Munroe, Sean Paul McKernan; Aidan Kelly, Kiefer Morgan, Ciaran Magill; Niall McGarel, Shea Munroe, Michael Little. Subs: Odhran McMurray, Rory Weir, Cillian Kerr, Pierce Mullin, Cahir Munroe, Turlough Mullin, Cian McGuigan, Lorcan Devlin, Ruairi Devlin, Liam Griffiths, Conall McKee

New York’s Nickey Rackard Cup scorers 2026: AJ Willis 3-3 (0-1f); Thomas Douglas 1-7 (0-3f); Adam Loughlin-Stones 0-3; Conor Hammersley, Niall Coen 0-2 each; Seán O’Leary-Hayes 0-1.

Tyrone’s Nickey Rackard Cup scorers 2026: Aidan Kelly 0-22 (12f); Turlough Mullin 5-5; Michael Little 0-18 (14f); Niall McGarel 4-4; Ciarán Magill 1-9; Liam Griffiths 3-2; Rory Weir 2-3; Shea Munroe 3-0; Lorcan Devlin 1-5; Kiefer Morgan, Seán Paul McKernan 1-4 each; Cahir Munroe, Feargal Donaghy 0-2 each; Eunan Campbell, Fionn Devlin, Aidan Woods 0-1 each.

Nickey Rackard Cup top scorers 2026:

Andrew Kilcullen (Sligo) 2-57

Cormac Phillips (Mayo) 3-47

Darren Geoghegan (Louth) 1-36

Jack Loughran (Armagh) 2-29

Danann McKeogh (Fermanagh) 1-28

Sligo’s Andrew Kilcullen is the Nickey Rackard Cup’s top scorer for a second year in a row after hitting 2-57, giving him an average of more than 12 points per game and a total of 8-100 over the last two campaigns. Cormac Phillips of beaten semi-finalists Mayo is in second place after also passing the 50-point mark on 3-47. Despite their teams finishing in the bottom half, Darren Geoghegan of Louth, Armagh’s Jack Loughran and Danann McKeogh (Fermanagh) complete the top five ahead of Saturday’s final. Tyrone boast a wide spread of scorers, led by Aidan Kelly (0-22).