Round-up: Saturday's Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Cups action

The Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup finalists have been decided after the last round of the groups took place on Saturday.

Christy Ring Cup

Kildare are still in contention for a third Christy Ring Cup title in the space of five years after they emerged from an exciting contest with London with their 100% record intact.

Jack Goulding’s goal helped London grow into the game, but they were counting the cost of a series of first-half wides as they went in trailing by 0-13 to 1-8, with Jack Sheridan leading the charge for Kildare. A rapid brace of goals from James Dolan and David Qualter put the visitors in the box seat, but Kevin Reid responded to keep the contest alive. Goulding netted a free late on to take his tally to 2-10, but despite finishing with 14 men, Kildare ground out a fifth straight win.

It was more straightforward in round five for Derry, who powered to a comprehensive win in Sligo.

Callum O’Kane got the only goal of the first half to help a dominant Derry side to a 1-16 to 0-8 lead. Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch hit nine points for Sligo, who finished with 14 men as Derry moved through the gears en route to their second consecutive Christy Ring decider. Seán Quinn, Ruairí Ó Mianáin and John Mullan hit the net during the final quarter for Derry, whose only defeat from 11 league and championship games so far this year was against their next opponents, Kildare.

Tyrone signed off on their season with a six-point win at home to Wicklow.

Aidan Kelly led a prolific first-half showing by Tyrone as they built up a 0-16 to 0-6 advantage and although a Seánie Germaine goal gave Wicklow hope, Seán Duffin cancelled that out to keep the hosts in command. David Maloney netted another consolation score for Wicklow, but Tyrone had done enough to finish with a second win from their last three games.

Nickey Rackard Cup

Mayo squeezed through to their fourth Nickey Rackard Cup Final after surviving a late surge from neighbours Roscommon to salvage a draw at Dr. Hyde Park.

Seán Regan netted a penalty just after the half-hour mark to help Mayo lead by 1-10 to 0-9 at the interval. Shane Boland and Cormac Philips kept the visitors’ tally rising after the restart and when the latter hit their second goal, on his way to a personal haul of 1-6, they were in control. Roscommon sent the outcome down to the wire, however, with a storming finish; inspired by a Brendan Mulry goal and the introduction of U-20 prospect Seán Canning. The Rossies got back onto level terms, but despite creating chances to win it, they just couldn’t get over the line, so after the teams finished on seven points each, Mayo advance to the final due to their superior score-difference.

Donegal saw out the group with a fifth straight win after a test from Louth.

Donegal, who shuffled their pack having already qualified for a second consecutive Nickey Rackard Final, led by 0-11 to 0-9 at the end of an evenly-matched first half. Dáire Ó Maoileidigh was the chief marksman for a Donegal, with Darren Geoghegan keeping Louth in touch. Aaron McGuinness-Smith hit the net to move Louth ahead, but Donegal responded decisively with goals from Ruairí Campbell (two), Peter Kelly and sub Ronan McDermott. Geoghegan took his tally to 13 points as Louth kept battling, but Donegal will take an unblemished record into the decider.

Armagh signed off with a decisive derby win at home to Monaghan.

Alex O’Boyle and Tomás Galvin were on song for Armagh, who were 0-10 to 0-7 up at half-time, with Niall Arthur doing most to keep Monaghan in the contest. Galvin and O’Boyle finished with a combined 3-14 for Armagh, with Galvin’s 2-7 all coming from play, while Monaghan faded late on after being reduced to 14 men. The result rubber-stamped a quick return to the Lory Meagher Cup for 2023 winners Monaghan.

Lory Meagher Cup

Longford and Fermanagh will meet again in the Lory Meagher Cup Final after they finished all-square in a high-scoring clash.

Goals by David Buckley, Ronan Courtney and Cian Darcy (who top-scored with 1-10) had put Longford in charge of the first half, with Fermanagh needing a response from Tom Keenan just to remain within nine points at the break: 3-11 to 1-8. Dannan McKeogh and Seán Corrigan helped Fermanagh get back into contention during the second half and when sub Cahir McManus hit the net late on, the gap was down to the minimum. Another Fermanagh sub, Daniel Teague, sent Longford nerves jangling even more when he levelled it up, but the draw was enough to see the home side earn another crack at the Erne County at Croke Park.

Cavan missed out on the top two despite ending the group in style with a goal-hungry performance against Leitrim.

Nicky Kenny and Brian Fitzgerald got the first two to help Cavan to a 2-14 to 0-7 interval cushion. Kenny completed a hat-trick in a dominant display from Cavan, who added a glut of goals through Diarmuid Carney, Brian Fitzgerald and Cillian Sheanon, but seven points from ten wouldn’t be enough to get the Breffni men back into the top two, with a fourth-round loss to Longford proving decisive.

Lancashire and Warwickshire were already out of contention ahead of the clash of the Exiles at Páirc na hÉireann, but they still produced the highest-scoring game of the round. An eight-goal thriller saw six of the best for Warwickshire earn them a second win of the campaign.

RESULTS:

Saturday, May 18

Christy Ring Cup Round 5

London 3-14 Kildare 2-20

Sligo 0-19 Derry 4-30

Tyrone 1-25 Wicklow 2-16

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 5

Armagh 3-19 Monaghan 0-18

Louth 1-20 Donegal 4-19

Roscommon 1-19 Mayo 2-16

Lory Meagher Cup Round 5

Longford 3-18 Fermanagh 2-21

Cavan 7-19 Leitrim 0-18

Lancashire 2-24 Warwickshire 6-22