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

Christy Ring Cup

Kerry booked their place in the Christy Ring Cup final in comprehensive fashion as they put Wicklow to the sword in Tralee.

Michael Slattery and Kevin Goulding both netted hat-tricks as Kerry sealed a fourth consecutive win with plenty to spare. Pádraig Boyle, who had hit six goals in Kerry’s previous two games, didn’t hit the net in this one, but he contributed ten points for a rampant home side. Luke Rochford rattled in 2-2 off the bench for the former Joe McDonagh Cup finalists, who are now certain to top the table regardless of next week’s results.

Second place in the group remains very much up for grabs after a dramatic finish between Meath and Derry in Trim.

The teams were level at both half-time and full-time of a see-saw encounter. Lorcan Byrne’s second goal in as many games put Meath ahead in the 15th minute, but Darragh McGilligan responded to keep Derry in touch. Derry hit the first three points of the second half, only to be pegged back by a Damien Healy major. Tom Shine added a third goal as Meath built up a seven-point advantage down the home stretch, but a Rían Collins three-pointer gave Derry hope, before a Cormac O’Doherty ’65 was scrambled home by sub Éamon McGill. That edged the visitors ahead with time almost up, until Shine took his tally to 1-6 with a last-gasp equaliser for Meath.

It was also honours even between Donegal and Roscommon in Letterkenny.

Cian Murray’s goal helped Roscommon earn a 1-5 to 0-7 half-time lead and they retained a slender lead for much of the second half as they chased their first win of the campaign. Liam McKinney’s ninth and tenth points of the evening finally nudged Donegal ahead late on, but Keelan Ryan stepped up to get Roscommon off the mark with a draw (0-17 to 1-14).

Nickey Rackard Cup

Tyrone are through to a fourth Nickey Rackard Cup final after a high-scoring win over Fermanagh at Garvaghey.

Tyrone made good use of the wind advantage in the first half, by which stage they led by 2-15 to 0-6, with Niall McGarel and Ciaran Magill continuing the table-toppers’ goal-scoring form. Caolán Duffy and Tom Keenan hit the net for Fermanagh, but Rory Weir’s strike helped Tyrone remain in control for their fourth win from four.

Mayo are in pole position to make a third consecutive final after a hard-earned victory against Sligo.

Andrew Kilcullen’s five points helped Sligo lead by 0-12 to 1-6 at the interval, but after Ryan Duffy’s second goal in two matches, Mayo rattled in another, courtesy of a Cormac Phillips penalty. Kilcullen finished with 1-11 to his name as Sligo kept battling, but Shane Boland, Corey Scahill and Eoin Delaney were prominent among Mayo’s scorers as they secured their third win to move clear in second place.

Louth returned to winning ways by holding off a comeback from neighbours Armagh.

Louth looked to be cruising when they led by 2-13 to 0-6 at the break, powered by early goals from Darren Geoghegan and Ciarán McKelvey. Eoin McGuinness, Charlie McArdle and Jack Loughran (who hit 1-9) pulled the Orchard County back into it with second-half goals but McKelvey’s second major helped Louth seal it, confirming Armagh’s relegation.

Lory Meagher Cup

Leitrim are through to their first Lory Meagher Cup final since 2019, following a narrow win over Warwickshire in Carrick-on-Shannon.

James McNabola found the net to send Leitrim in at 1-7 apiece after they had faced the breeze and they kicked on in the third quarter to move clear. Jack Grealish hit 1-10 to keep Warwickshire in contention to the end, with Anthony Hands also raising a green flag, but late points from Colm Canning and McNabola retained a 100% record for Leitrim, who have now won eight consecutive games.

Longford are on course to join Leitrim at Croke Park after they produced a strong second-half surge to win in Cavan.

Mark Moffett, Dillon Mulligan and Rían Gillen were on target as Cavan bossed the first 35 minutes by 0-12 to 0-4. Losing Joe Rabbitt and David Buckley to red cards left Longford’s prospects of a revival looking bleak, but Cavan also saw Stephen Sheridan dismissed as tensions rose. Longford’s 13 men found an extra gear with the game in the melting pot, with goals from Mícheál Mulcahy and subs Seán Tiernan and Cathal Mullane turning the tide. Reuben Murray racked up 11 points for the visitors, who need a point next week to rubber-stamp their qualification for a sixth Lory Meagher final.

Monaghan kept their hopes alive with a comfortable win over Lancashire in Inniskeen.

Playing with a stiff breeze, Monaghan found their groove midway through the first half, with three points each from Niall Arthur and Dáire Ó Maoileidigh helping them stretch their lead. The hosts had nine players on the scoresheet in the opening 35 minutes, while Pádraic Burke accounted for four out of seven points for Lancashire, who trailed by 0-20 to 0-7 at the interval. A 44^th-minute goal by sub James Doyle briefly gave Lancashire hopes of a revival, but Burke was later sent off, while Arthur added six points to his tally to finish with 0-11 to his name as Monaghan got the result they needed to take it to the final round.

RESULTS:

Saturday, May 9

Christy Ring Cup Round 4

Meath 3-15 Derry 3-15

Kerry 8-25 Wicklow 0-17

Donegal 0-17 Roscommon 1-14

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 4

Armagh 3-16 Louth 3-19

Mayo 2-22 Sligo 1-21

Tyrone 3-21 Fermanagh 2-13

Lory Meagher Cup Round 4

Monaghan 0-28 Lancashire 1-13

Leitrim 1-18 Warwickshire 2-12

Cavan 1-15 Longford 3-18