Preview: Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Cup finals
Derry's Cormac O’Doherty and Kildare's Paddy McKenna pictured ahead of the Christy Ring Cup Final at Croke Park. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
By Colm Shalvey
Sunday June 2
Christy Ring Cup Final
Derry v Kildare, Croke Park, 2.15pm, TG4 YouTube
Sunday’s Christy Ring Cup Final sees two regular contenders go head-to-head. Kildare are looking to extend their lead at the top of the roll of honour by lifting their fifth title – and a fourth since 2018 – while two-time Nickey Rackard champions Derry attempt to put their name on this trophy for the first time. Derry are at this stage for a third time in four years and a fourth in all, having fallen short to Kerry (2015), Offaly (2021) and Meath 12 months ago.
Having entered the campaign as favourites to once again contend strongly, Kildare have backed up their status so far with five straight wins and they are looking to extend their remarkable run of consecutive victories in this competition to 20. After taking the reins from fellow Kilkenny man David Herity, Kildare manager Brian Dowling oversaw an encouraging Allianz Hurling League run, where they narrowly missed out on a place in the Division 2A semi-final.
Meanwhile, Division 2B winners Derry’s sole defeat in 11 league and championship games to date this year arrived against Kildare in their round-robin game last month. The Oak Leaf County bounced back with a round-four win over fellow contenders London, before putting Sligo to the sword to secure second place in the table.
Kildare can call on attackers of the calibre of Jack Sheridan, David Qualter and James Burke. The Lilywhites will also be looking for big performances from the Boran brothers (Rian, Conan and Cian) and their goalkeeper and captain, Paddy McKenna.
Cormac O’Doherty remains a consistent source of scores for Derry, but they have managed to share the load better this year, with rising star Ruairí Ó Mianáin, John Mullan, Corey O’Reilly, Darragh McGilligan and former Antrim player Christy McNaughton also chipping in. Richie Mullan and Meehaul McGrath should also play key roles for Johnny McGarvey’s side, who will be targeting a fast start, in contrast to last year’s decider, when their second-half revival wasn’t quite enough to catch Meath.
With both teams averaging more than 25 points per game in the group stage, a free-flowing final is in prospect on Sunday.
Derry’s Christy Ring Cup scorers 2024: Cormac O’Doherty 0-41 (31f, 2 ‘65s); Ruairí Ó Mianáin 3-14 (0-2f); Darragh McGilligan 0-13; John Mullan 2-5; Corey O’Reilly 0-10; Callum O’Kane 1-3; Meehaul McGrath 0-6; Paul Cleary 0-5; Christy McNaughton 1-2; Richie Mullan 0-4 (1f, 1 ‘65); Cahal Murray, Seán Cassidy 0-3 each; Dara Mooney 1-0; Pádraig Neilis, James Friel, Paddy Kelly, Jack Cassidy 0-1 each.
Kildare’s Christy Ring Cup scorers 2024: Jack Sheridan 3-30 (0-22f, 0-1 ’65, 0-1 s-l); David Qualter 1-18 (0-7f); James Burke 1-9; Cian Boran 1-8; Dáire Guerin, Muiris Curtin 1-7 each; Simon Leacy 0-8; Conan Boran 0-7; Cathal Dowling 2-0; Cathal McCabe, Mark Delaney 0-5 each; Rian Boran 0-4; Declan Flaherty 0-3; James Dolan 1-0; Conn Kehoe 0-2; Harry Carroll, Darragh Melville, Paul Dolan 0-1 each.
Donegal's Conor Gartland and Mayo's David Kenny pictured ahead of the Nickey Rackard Cup Final at Croke Park. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Nickey Rackard Cup Final
Donegal v Mayo, Croke Park, 4.15pm TG4 YouTube
Regular contenders Donegal and Mayo contest the Nickey Rackard Cup Final at Croke Park on Sunday.
Donegal currently top the Nickey Rackard roll of honour, but Mayo could join the Ulster men on three wins if they turn the tables on them on Sunday. Donegal, who last won this title in 2020, were pipped by Wicklow in last year’s final, while Mayo’s fortunes have fluctuated in recent seasons: winning the Nickey Rackard in 2021, reaching the Christy Ring decider in 2022 and being relegated 12 months later.
Both teams enjoyed productive Allianz Hurling League campaigns, with Donegal reaching the Division 2B knock-outs for a third year in a row and Mayo going all the way to the Division 3A title. Donegal went through the Nickey Rackard group stage with a 100% record, booking their place in the decider with a round to spare. Mayo’s qualification went right down to the wire, following a second-round loss in Letterkenny, with a derby draw against Roscommon a fortnight ago proving enough for them to stay above their neighbours on score difference.
Mickey McCann is in his seventh year as manager of Donegal, who have been boosted in recent weeks by veterans Danny Cullen and Declan Coulter and last year’s captain Ronan McDermott returning from injury. Gerard Gilmore and Liam McKinney have been in prolific form throughout this year, with Ruairí Campbell and Coulter also capable of contributing. Wexford-native goalkeeper Luke White has established himself as a key player, while Conor Gartland, Stephen Gillespie and Seán McVeigh all offer versatility for McCann, who feels he has the strongest panel of his tenure available.
Mayo’s loss to Donegal was their only blemish to date from 11 league and championship games this season. Brian Finn and Ray Larkin can call on a string of scoring threats in the likes of Cormac Phillips, Shane Bolan, Seán Regan and Liam Lavin, who will all have a point to prove after being shut down by Donegal in their last meeting. David Kenny captains the team from centre-back, with his brother, Seán, also set to man a key position at midfield and their Tooreen clubmate, Bobby Douglas, starring in goals.
Both teams have a scoring average of more than 28 points en route to what should be an entertaining encounter, like when the counties last met at this stage in 2020.
Donegal’s Nickey Rackard Cup scorers 2024: Gerard Gilmore 1-35 (0-24f, 0-1 ‘65); Liam McKinney 1-21; Ruairí Campbell 2-9; Declan Coulter (0-1f), Peter Kelly, Seán Ward 1-5 each; Dáire Ó Maoileidigh 0-6 (4f); Conor Gartland 0-5; Ronan McDermott 1-2; Josh McGee-Cronolly 0-4; Oisín Grant 1-1; Luke White 0-3f; Seán McVeigh, Brian MacIntyre, Stephen Gillespie 0-2 each; Conor O’Grady, Gavin Browne, Cormac Finn, Ryan Hilferty, Danny Cullen, James Monagle, Dean Harvey 0-1 each.
Mayo’s Nickey Rackard Cup scorers 2024: Cormac Phillips 4-22 (0-13f, 0-3 ‘65s); Shane Boland 1-22 (0-10f); Seán Regan 4-8 (1-0 pen); Liam Lavin 1-14; Eoin Delaney 1-6; Bobby Douglas 0-9 (8f, 1 ’65); John Heraty 1-3; Eoghan Collins 0-4; Kenny Feeney, Adrian Phillips 0-3 each; Joseph Burke 1-0; Oisín Greally, David Kenny, Seán Kenny, Daniel Huane 0-2 each; Conal Hession, Keelan Gallagher, Brendan Sheridan, Luke Connor 0-1 each.
Fermanagh's Ryan Bogue and Longford's John Casey pictured ahead of the Lory Meagher Cup Final. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Lory Meagher Cup Final
Fermanagh v Longford, Croke Park, 12.15, TG4 YouTube
Sunday’s triple-header of hurling finals at Croke Park gets underway with the Lory Meagher Cup decider, where Fermanagh and Longford will both be bidding to win their third title at this level.
Fermanagh are looking to make a quick return to the Nickey Rackard, where they competed valiantly since their 2021 Lory Meagher success, only to be undone by a series of narrow defeats last year. A decade has passed since Longford’s last victory (at the expense of Fermanagh), although they reached the 2022 final, where they lost out to Louth.
These teams emerged from a competitive group stage where just a single point separated the top three. A draw with Fermanagh on the last day was enough for Longford to qualify for the final on account of their head-to-head victory over Cavan. A second-round loss to Warwickshire had left Adrian Moran’s side with little margin for error, but impressive showings against Leitrim and Cavan got them back on track. Although Fermanagh’s draw with Longford was their second of the group – as they also shared the spoils with neighbours Cavan – they remain unbeaten from nine round-robin games in league and championship this season. The Erne men will be determined to go one step further than in the Allianz League, where they lost the Division 3B final to Warwickshire.
A health scare earlier this year hasn’t stopped Joe Baldwin from pushing on in his fifth season in charge of Fermanagh. They have a raft of threats in attack, not least Seán Corrigan, who has shown some of the form that saw him named Lory Meagher Player of the Year for 2021. Danann McKeogh, who represented Antrim at underage level but is now following in the footsteps of his father, Kevin, in Fermanagh colours, has also been in scoring form, as have Brian Teehan and John and Caolán Duffy, while Tom Keenan was their hat-trick hero in the 2021 decider. Luca McCusker is also capable of starring for Fermanagh, who are captained by the long-serving Ryan Bogue.
The addition of former Tipperary hurler Cian Darcy has been a game-changer for Longford as he is the Lory Meagher Cup’s runaway top scorer, with 3-54 to his name. They can call on another prolific Tipp native in David Buckley, as well as former Limerick U-21 Cathal Mullane, while stalwarts Johnny Casey and Karl and Reuben Murray are veterans of their 2014 success. Paddy Lynam is now in his third season with Longford, under the guidance of fellow Westmeath man Moran.
These teams couldn’t be separated in their last meeting, teeing up an intriguing rematch this weekend.
Fermanagh’s Lory Meagher Cup scorers 2024: Danann McKeogh 2-29 (0-15f, 0-2 ‘65s); Seán Corrigan 1-27; Brian Teehan 2-9; John Duffy 2-4 (0-1f); Caolán Duffy 1-5; Luca McCusker 0-7; Tom Keenan 1-3; John Paul McGarry, Daniel Teague (3f) 0-5 each; Adam McShea, Cahir McManus 1-0 each; Jimmy Tormey, Ryan Bogue (1f) 0-3 each; Aidan Flanagan, Odhrán Johnston 0-1 each.
Longford**’s** Lory Meagher Cup scorers 2024: Cian Darcy 3-54 (1-31f, 0-2 ‘65s); David Buckley 2-11; Cathal Mullane 1-8; Oisín Gately 1-6; Reuben Murray, Paddy Lynam 0-6 each; Joe Rabbitt 1-3; Evan Tully 0-3; Ronan Courtney 1-0; Seán Lancaster 0-2; Mícheál Mulcahy, Maitiú O’Donohoe, Adam Quinn, Karl Murray 0-1 each.