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Round-up: Weekend's Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Cup action

28 April 2024 - 7:13PM

Seán Óg Grogan netted two goals for Tyrone. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

The Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup groups continued to take shape over the weekend.

Christy Ring Cup

Kildare took another step towards a Christy Ring Cup Final place when they won Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash at home to Derry.

A brace of goals from Jack Sheridan proved pivotal as Kildare claimed their third win from three in a game which they led from start to finish. Cormac O’Doherty hit eight points from frees for Derry, while Ruairí Ó Mianáin managed four from play, but it wasn’t enough to avoid their first defeat of the season. Sheridan finished with 2-13 to his name as Kildare remained in pole position for qualification.

London remain in step with Kildare at the top after another home win over Wicklow.

Wicklow threatened to rip up the form book for long spells, helped by six points from the returning Seánie Germaine, but they were outscored by 1-7 to 0-1 down the home straight as London maintained their winning start. Jack Goulding and Owen Sheil hit 13 points between them for the Exiles, who added goals from Ronan Crowley and Kevin Reid to stay top on score difference.

Tyrone got off the mark with an important win away to Sligo.

Tyrone’s Aidan Kelly and Sligo’s Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch continued their prolific form for either side in a game where two goals from Seán Óg Grogan book-ended a strong first-half performance from the visitors, who changed ends with a healthy lead at 2-8 to 0-6. Rory McHugh netted a couple of placed balls as Sligo rallied during the final quarter, but despite being reduced to 13 men at one stage, Tyrone held on.

Nickey Rackard Cup

Donegal are the pace-setters in the Nickey Rackard Cup after a comprehensive win at home to Monaghan.

Liam McKinney got the only goal of a strong first-half display by Donegal, who led by 1-14 to 0-7 at the break. The 2023 runners-up continued to dominate after the restart, with Oisín Grant, Declan Coulter and top scorer Gerard Gilmore (who ended up with a tally of 1-10) all finding the net. Niall Arthur accounted for more than half of Monaghan’s scores as Donegal cruised to their third win of the campaign, with the added bonus of introducing the long-serving Danny Cullen for his first appearance of 2024.

Mayo got back to winning ways in style at the expense of Louth.

After seeing their attack blunted by Donegal in round two, Mayo rediscovered their scoring form at Dowdallshill, with an Eoin Delaney goal helping them to a 1-13 to 0-7 interval lead. Cormac Philips racked up 2-5 for Mayo, who also had Shane Boland in form as they kept a Darren Geoghegan-led Louth at arm’s length.

Roscommon also have maximum points after they edged out Armagh on Sunday.

Armagh had finished on the right side of a one-point game against Louth in round two, but they ended this one empty-handed after James Hardiman’s late winner for Roscommon.

Building on his hat-trick against Monaghan, Cian Murray landed a string of scores from play for Roscommon, who led by 0-14 to 0-10 at the end of a first half where all but one of Armagh’s total came from free-taker Alex O’Boyle.

With O’Boyle racking up 0-13 and Tomás Galvin marking his return off the bench with three points, Armagh turned things around to move ahead late on, but Roscommon surged for the finish line. Four points from Conor Cosgrove helped the Rossies tie it up again at 0-20 apiece, before Hardiman sealed their third straight win.

Lory Meagher Cup

Cavan remained on course in the Lory Meagher Cup with a win over Lancashire.

Nicky Kenny, Liam O’Brien and Seán Keating hit a combined 19 points for Cavan, who eventually shook off a stubborn Lancashire challenge in the closing stages. David Lynch and Eoghan Clifford helped Lancashire stick with the favourites for an hour, but Cavan, who had scored the only goal of the first half through Dillon Mulligan, repeated the trick via sub Canice Maher to set the tone for a strong finish by the joint-leaders.

Longford stayed in contention as they saw off neighbours Leitrim.

An early goal from Cian Darcy got Longford off to a flying start and they were in command by the end of the first half at 1-11 to 0-6. Darcy finished with 1-9 to his name for Longford, with the likes of David Buckley and Cathal Mullane also contributing up front. Leitrim managed a spirited comeback with majors from Stephen Goldrick and James McNabola (two), but Joe Rabbitt responded to keep Longford well clear in the end.

Fermanagh remain unbeaten following a convincing win away to Warwickshire on Sunday.

Warwickshire had beaten Fermanagh in this year’s Allianz League Division 3B Final, but they couldn’t get to grips with a rampant Erne County attack this time around. Seán Corrigan and Danann McKeogh hit 1-7 each for Fermanagh, while Brian Teehan also netted against a Warwickshire side who lost key player Kevin McKernan midway through the first half and would end up with just 12 men.

RESULTS:

Saturday, April 27

Christy Ring Cup Round 3

Kildare 2-19 Derry 0-18

London 2-20 Wicklow 0-14

Tyrone 2-17 Sligo 2-14

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 3

Donegal 4-27 Monaghan 0-15

Mayo 3-22 Louth 0-17

Lory Meagher Cup Round 3

Longford 2-22 Leitrim 3-9

Cavan 2-25 Lancashire 0-21