Hurling

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

19 April 2026 - 6:45PM

Andrew Kilcullen continues to impress for Sligo. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Christy Ring Cup

Meath claimed their first win of the Christy Ring Cup campaign away to Roscommon on Saturday.

Tom Shine led the first-half scoring for Meath, with Mark Leavy and Lorcan Byrne also weighing in with points as they built up a 0-16 to 1-4 interval lead, despite Conor Mulry finding the net for Roscommon.

Mícheál Hussey added a second goal for the Rossies, but Tom Shine finished with 12 points to his name, leading ten Meath scorers, as they wrapped up a convincing win.

Wicklow also got their first win by the narrowest of margins against Derry in Aughrim.

Goals from Pádraig and Jack Doyle were the key scores as Wicklow turned over a Derry side who had started with a strong display against Roscommon. Cormac O’Doherty (0-7) and Shea Cassidy (1-2) helped keep Derry in contention, but Jack Doyle’s green flag secured an excellent result for Wicklow.

Kerry are the only team with four points after they won a high-scoring clash with Donegal.

Josh Cronnolly-McGee’s early goal helped Donegal race into an early lead, but after being reduced to 14 men, they trailed by 1-12 to 1-10 at the break, with an added-time major from Kevin Goulding turning it in Kerry’s favour.

Goulding added a second major after the restart, while Pádraig Boyle hit a hat-trick and Ronan Walsh added eight points. Gerard Gilmore’s 0-13 points and a Luke White penalty kept Donegal valiantly plugging away, but Kerry had just too much firepower for the visitors.

Nickey Rackard Cup

Fermanagh produced a storming finish to pip Armagh in the Nickey Rackard Cup on Saturday in Kinawley.

Jack Loughran netted the opening goal as Armagh led by 1-14 to 1-9 after the opening 35 minutes, with Francis McBrien’s major keeping Fermanagh within touching distance.

Loughran and Barry Shortt kept the scoreboard ticking over for Armagh, but Danann McKeogh did likewise for Fermanagh in a dramatic conclusion that featured red cards for both teams and a penalty save by Erne County keeper Mark Slevin. Late points from Seán Corrigan, McKeogh and Jimmy Tormey saw Fermanagh time their run to perfection.

Sligo produced a dominant display to see off Louth.

Andrew Kilcullen hit 0-12 for the Division Four league winners, while Finnian and Thomas Cawley were also prominent among the scorers. A late goal from sub Patrick Walsh sealed a comprehensive win for Sligo as they bounced back from their first defeat of the season.

Tyrone’s goal-scoring touch proved crucial for a second game in a row as they pipped Mayo.

The Red Hands made a blistering start, hitting the net four times in the first ten minutes, courtesy of Turlough Mullin (two), Niall McGarel and Shea Munroe. They went on to lead by 5-7 to 1-12 at half-time, with McGarel’s second goal being matched by Eoin Delaney. Cormac and Adrian Phillips led the scoring as Mayo battled their way back into contention, but Tyrone held on for a high-scoring win by 5-16 to 1-25.

Lory Meagher Cup

Longford and Leitrim lead the way in the Lory Meagher Cup after wins at Páirc na hÉireann.

Longford made it two wins from two after they recovered from a slow start against Warwickshire. The Exiles raced into a big lead during the first half, but goals from Joe Rabbitt (two), Johnny Casey and Ronan Courtney turned the tide as Longford claimed their sixth win from nine games this season.

Leitrim pulled away from Lancashire in the second half to join their near-neighbours on four points. Leitrim were just a point up at the break (0-12 to 1-8), but Colm Canning and Daniel Miller finished with a combined 2-19 as they stretched their winning streak to six games.

Monaghan got off the mark with a big derby win over Cavan in Clones, inspired by Niall Arthur’s star turn up front.

A Niall Arthur free from distance dropped into the net to kick-start a purple patch for Monaghan, who had their second goal just two minutes through Dáire Ó Maoileidigh. A Rían Delaney goal brought Cavan right back into it, but Arthur had 1-8 to his name by half-time as Monaghan changed ends leading by 2-11 to 1-9.

Monaghan pushed on in the third quarter, adding an unanswered 1-3, including a superb goal from Eithan Flynn. Mark Moffett hit four second-half points for Cavan, but Monaghan remained well clear, with Arthur adding a string of late scores to take his tally to 1-15.

RESULTS:

Saturday April 18

Christy Ring Cup Round 2

Meath 0-28 Roscommon 2-12

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 2

Sligo 1-31 Louth 0-10

Fermanagh 2-20 Armagh 1-22

Sunday April 19

Christy Ring Cup Round 2

Wicklow 2-12 Derry 1-14

Kerry 5-18 Donegal 2-22

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 2