Hurling

Preview: Weekend's Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Cups action

08 May 2026 - 11:36AM

Derry's Cormac O'Doherty in Christy Ring Cup action. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile

The Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup group stages reach the penultimate round this Saturday.

Christy Ring Cup

Kerry will be targeting a fourth consecutive win in the Christy Ring Cup when they welcome Wicklow to Tralee.

Kerry have made an unblemished start to their bid for a quick return to the Joe McDonagh, proving too strong for Meath, Donegal and Roscommon, leaving them on the brink of qualifying for the final. Wicklow managed a fine win over Derry in round two, but that was sandwiched by losses to Donegal and Meath.

Pádraig Boyle has been in prolific form for Kerry, with Kevin Goulding, Jordan Brick, Ronan Walsh and James O’Connor also contributing well. Wicklow will need big performances from Pádraig Doyle, Seánie Germaine, John Henderson and Pádraig Doran if they are to cause an upset.

Trim is the venue for a key game in the Christy Ring Cup, with Meath and Derry set to put their campaigns on the line.

This is a repeat of the 2023 decider, which was won by Meath, one of four final defeats for Derry since 2021. Both teams have four points out of six, making this a crucial clash for their prospects. Meath also put a first-round setback against Kerry behind them to defeat Roscommon and Wicklow, while Derry’s loss to Wicklow arrived in between wins over Roscommon and Donegal.

Tom Shine, Mark Leavy and Lorcan Byrne should play key roles for Meath, with Cormac O’Doherty, Shea Cassidy, Conor Coyle and Déaglán Foley set to do likewise for Derry.

Saturday evening sees Donegal host Roscommon in Letterkenny.

The teams have just one win between them to date in the competition – Donegal’s first-round victory over Wicklow – leaving them with work to do over the last two weekends. Donegal had ten points to spare in this fixture during the league.

Gerard Gilmore, Liam McKinney, Richie Ryan and Luke White will be expected to play key roles for Donegal, who could have Danny Cullen back to face a Roscommon side led by the likes of Enda Lawless, Conor Mulry and Jack Dowling.

Nickey Rackard Cup

Tyrone will have a place in a fourth Nickey Rackard Cup final in their sights when they host Fermanagh.

Wins over Sligo, Mayo and Louth have put Tyrone in strong contention for a quick return to Christy Ring level, while Fermanagh’s only points so far came via a dramatic finish against Armagh in round two. Tyrone beat their neighbours by four points just over two months ago.

Tyrone have multiple scoring threats in players like Michael Little, Aidy Kelly, Turlough Mullin, Niall McGarel and Shea Munroe, while Fermanagh will need big displays from Caolán Duffy, Luca McCusker, Seán Corrigan and Danann McKeogh.

An all-Connacht clash sees Mayo and Sligo put their Nickey Rackard hopes on the line.

Both teams have bounced back from losing to Tyrone in the early rounds, picking up two wins each to remain within striking distance of the Red Hand County at the top end of the table.

Cormac and Adrian Phillips, David Kenny and Shane Boland have been central to Mayo’s bid to reach a third consecutive final, with the two-time champions having scored almost 100 points (5-84). Andrew Kilcullen and Robert and Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch give Sligo plenty of scoring power, helping them rack up 4-59 in their last two games.

Armagh and Louth contest a local derby with Nickey Rackard status at stake.

A win for Louth could still leave them in with a chance of battling for a place in the final, but a loss would see the Wee County get dragged into the relegation battle. The picture is clearer for Armagh, who need to end their winless streak as they seek to avoid a second demotion this season.

The Orchard County have been boosted by their U-20s winning a second consecutive All-Ireland ‘C’ title and they will hope to clinch a much-needed result here, with Caoinn Hughes among the players featuring on both teams. Armagh native Paddy McArdle is one of Louth’s joint-managers alongside Diarmuid Murphy.

Armagh will be looking to Barry Shortt, Odhrán Curry and Jack Loughran to lead the way against a Louth side set to feature the likes of Darren Geoghegan, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave, Ciarán McKelvey and Peter Fortune.

Lory Meagher Cup

Leitrim can qualify for their first Lory Meagher Cup final since 2019 if they get the better of Warwickshire in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Leitrim have won their last seven games between league and championship, starting the Lory Meagher with victories over Monaghan, Lancashire and Longford. Warwickshire fell short with battling performances against Cavan and Longford, before getting off the mark last time out at the expense of Monaghan.

Philip Burgess, Gavin O’Hagan, Colm Canning, Daniel Miller and Joe Murray have led Leitrim’s strong run of form, while Jack Grealish, John Collins and Luke Hands are among the main men for Warwickshire.

Cavan and Longford contest a big derby as they bid to stay in touch at the top.

The teams have four points apiece, with 2025 runners-up Cavan having returned to winning ways last time out and Longford falling to their first defeat against another neighbour in Leitrim. Longford won by two points when these sides met during the league, which helped Diarmuid Cahill’s men secure promotion.

Reuben Murray, Johnny Casey, Ronan Courtney and Joe Rabbitt have been integral to Longford’s progress in 2026. Mark Moffett has had a prolific season for Cavan, with Seán Keating, Rían Delaney and Jack Barry also contributing.

Monaghan face a must-win match against Lancashire in Inniskeen.

Monaghan’s only win of the campaign so far came against Cavan in round two, with Lancashire still chasing their first points of the group stage. Monaghan needed a strong finish to pip the Exiles in the league back in January. Niall Arthur, Eithan Flynn and Jack Guinan should be to the fore for Monaghan, with Peter Boylan, Pádraic Burke and Shane Nugent pivotal to Lancashire’s chances in a repeat of the 2023 Lory Meagher decider.

FIXTURES

Saturday May 9

Christy Ring Cup Round 4

Kerry v Wicklow, Tralee, 1pm

Meath v Derry, Trim, 1pm

Donegal v Roscommon, Letterkenny, 7pm

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 4

Armagh v Louth, Corrinshego, 2pm

Mayo v Sligo, Castlebar, 2pm

Tyrone v Fermanagh, Garvaghey 2pm

Lory Meagher Cup Round 4

Monaghan v Lancashire, Inniskeen, 1pm