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

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

Christy Ring Cup

Derry will be looking to qualify for a fourth consecutive Christy Ring Cup final – and a fifth of the last six – when they host Kerry.

Kerry have already booked their place in the final as they chase a quick return to the Joe McDonagh, proving too strong for Meath, Donegal, Roscommon and Wicklow, rattling in 20 goals in the process. Derry, whose U-20s recently won an All-Ireland ‘B’ title, currently share second place with Meath but with a superior score difference. With those teams having played out a dramatic draw last weekend, a win for Derry would be enough to progress.

Pádraig Boyle, Michael Slattery, Kevin Goulding, Jordan Brick and Ronan Walsh are among several players in form during Kerry’s winning streak. Cormac O’Doherty, Shea Cassidy, Conor Coyle and Déaglán Foley should lead Derry’s challenge.

Letterkenny is the venue for a big game between Donegal and Meath.

Meath have five points after going through their last three games unbeaten, most recently a thrilling draw with Derry. The 2023 champions need to win and hope that Derry fall short against Kerry. Donegal also drew in round four (with Roscommon); leaving them on the brink of securing Christy Ring status and with an outside chance of catching Derry and Meath.

Tom Shine, Mark Leavy, Damien Healy and Lorcan Byrne should play key roles for Meath, with Gerard Gilmore, Liam McKinney, Richie Ryan and Luke White set to do likewise for Donegal.

Wicklow and Roscommon put their Christy Ring status on the line in Aughrim.

Wicklow managed a fine win over Derry in round two, but losses to Donegal, Meath and Kerry mean they are not yet safe from relegation. Roscommon only got off the mark last time out with a draw away to Donegal, but a win on Saturday would see the 2025 Nickey Rackard winners climb off the bottom of the table.

Wicklow will need big performances from Pádraig Doyle, Seánie Germaine, John Henderson and Pádraig Doran, while Roscommon should be led by the likes of Enda Lawless, Conor Mulry, Seán Canning and Jack Dowling.

Nickey Rackard Cup

Mayo need just a point from their trip to Louth to secure their place in the Nickey Rackard Cup knock-out stages.

Mayo have won three out of four so far, with their only defeat coming against table-toppers Tyrone. Wins over Fermanagh and Armagh have seen Louth achieve their primary aim of staying at Nickey Rackard level and while they could still technically move into the top two, it would take an unlikely swing in the score-difference stakes.

Mayo have been prolific in recent weeks, racking up 7-106, with Cormac and Adrian Phillips, David Kenny and Shane Boland playing central roles. Louth can call on strong players in every sector in the likes of Darren Geoghegan, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave, Ciarán McKelvey and Peter Fortune.

Sligo host Fermanagh hoping that things fall in their favour in the race for what would be their second promotion of the season.

Sligo hit 4-59 in beating Louth and Armagh in rounds two and three, but despite another competitive performance against Mayo last week, their loss there takes their fate out of their own hands. The Yeats County need to win this one and hope that Mayo lose to Louth to bring them back into contention for a place in the semi-final. Fermanagh, meanwhile, know that their second-round comeback to beat Armagh will suffice to keep them up in the Nickey Rackard.

Andrew Kilcullen and Robert and Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch are among the regular marksmen for Sligo, with Fermanagh depending on Caolán Duffy, Luca McCusker, Seán Corrigan and Danann McKeogh.

It’s top v bottom when Tyrone host Armagh in Garvaghey.

Four wins on the bounce have put Tyrone into a fourth Nickey Rackard Cup final with a game to spare, while Armagh’s form mirrors that of their neighbours, leaving them consigned to dropping to next year’s Lory Meagher.

Tyrone have multiple scoring threats in players like Michael Little, Aidy Kelly, Turlough Mullin, Niall McGarel and Shea Munroe, while Armagh will be looking to Barry Shortt, Odhrán Curry and Jack Loughran to rip up the form book and end their campaign on a positive.

Lory Meagher Cup

There is a crunch clash between Longford and Monaghan in the last round of the Lory Meagher Cup.

Two-time Lory Meagher winners Longford are on course for a second promotion of 2026, while Monaghan could still overtake them but only with a win. A narrow loss to Leitrim is Longford’s only blemish so far in the Lory Meagher, while they have rattled the net 12 times in their three wins; leaving runaway Christy Ring leaders Kerry as the only side with more championship goals this season.

Reuben Murray, Johnny Casey, Ronan Courtney and Paddy Lynam have been integral to Longford’s progress of late, with Joe Rabbitt set to miss this one through suspension. Niall Arthur, Eithan Flynn, Jack Guinan and Declan Hughes should be to the fore for Monaghan.

Cavan will be chasing a big win over Leitrim in Carrick-on-Shannon to give themselves a chance of qualifying for a second consecutive final.

2025 runners-up Cavan hampered their prospects by losing out to Longford last week, leaving them needing a comprehensive win in this one against a Leitrim team who have already booked their ticket to Croke Park. Leitrim have won their last eight games between league and championship, so they will be keen to preserve that record.

Philip Burgess, Gavin O’Hagan, Colm Canning, Daniel Miller and Joe Murray have been in fine form for Leitrim. Mark Moffett has had a prolific season for Cavan, with Seán Keating, Rían Delaney and Jack Barry also chipping in.

Lancashire and Warwickshire conclude their season with a derby at Páirc na hÉireann.

The Exiles have just one win between them so far in this campaign – via Warwickshire’s third-round defeat of Monaghan – leaving them out of contention. Lancashire will hope to have Peter Boylan and Shane Nugent available after they missed the loss to Monaghan, with Pádraic Burke and Ethan Costello also key to their hopes of a first win of 2026. Jack Grealish, John Collins and Darragh McGuinness should play big parts as Warwickshire look to repeat their narrow league victory in this fixture.

FIXTURES

Saturday, May 16

Christy Ring Cup Round 5

Derry v Kerry, Find Insurance Celtic Park, 1.30pm

Donegal v Meath, Letterkenny, 1.30pm

Wicklow v Roscommon, Aughrim, 1.30pm

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 5

Louth v Mayo, Dowdallshill, 1.15pm

Sligo v Fermanagh, Markievicz Park, 1.15pm

Tyrone v Armagh, Garvaghey, 1.15pm

Lory Meagher Cup Round 5

Lancashire v Warwickshire, Páirc na hÉireann, 2pm

Leitrim v Cavan, Heartland Credit Union Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, 2pm

Longford v Monaghan, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm