Nickey Rackard Cup Final

Donegal v Wicklow, Saturday, 3.00, Croke Park * Live coverage on Spórt TG4 YouTube

Donegal and Wicklow meet for the fourth time in 2023 when they contest the Nickey Rackard Cup Final at Croke Park on Saturday.

It arrives just a fortnight after two much-changed sides clashed in Letterkenny, where Wicklow won to top the table, but with both having already secured qualification for the final. Wicklow had also claimed a convincing win at the same venue back in mid-March, only for Donegal to turn the tables on them by a single point in the Allianz Hurling League Division IIB semi-final.

After going on to produce a creditable performance in the league decider against Christy Ring Cup finalists Meath, Donegal won each of their next four games to book their place in a fifth appearance in this fixture. They already sit on top of the Nickey Rackard roll of honour, courtesy of their wins in 2013, 2018 and 2020. By contrast, Wicklow are aiming to take silverware home from Croke Park for the first time in over 50 years. Casey O’Brien is back in charge of the Garden County a decade after leading them to a couple of Allianz Hurling League titles and back-to-back Christy Ring finals in 2011 and 2012. Wicklow were ever-present at Christy Ring level until being relegated last year, but they are now within touching distance of a swift return.

Wicklow go into the weekend as the highest scoring team in the competition and with the best defensive record to boot. Donegal have averaged 26 points per game, but Wicklow’s 15-107 tally means their average is more than 30 points.

Mickey McCann is in his sixth year as manager of Donegal, who have been dealt a blow by the injury-enforced absence of experienced forward Declan Coulter. They have also been without the services of Tipperary native Davin Flynn, who was among the leading lights of their attack in recent years, but the likes of Liam McKinney and captain Ronan McDermott have stepped up in the current campaign. Danny Cullen remains a mainstay at centre-back, while Stephen Gillespie and Jack O’Loughlin make up a strong midfield partnership.

Boosted by success in the Celtic Challenge and with Bray Emmets having won the Leinster Club IHC last year, Wicklow have put last year’s demotion behind them. They have multiple scoring threats in Andy O’Brien (whose 6-11 haul from open play included a hat-trick against Roscommon), Mikey Boland, Luke Evans and Christy Moorehouse, with regular free-taker Gavin Weir named on the bench alongside the likes of Mikey Lee and Seánie Germaine. Wicklow captain John Henderson and Diarmuid Masterson are other influential players and are both part of a strong Bray contingent that makes up more than half of the starting team announced by Casey O’Brien.

The last two games between these counties produced a one-point win for Donegal and a two-point victory for Wicklow, so it’s all to play for.

Donegal’s Nickey Rackard Cup scorers 2023: Liam McKinney 2-29 (1-16f); Ronan McDermott 2-9; Declan Coulter 0-15 (5f); Seán Ward 2-4; Ruairí Campbell 1-6; Gerry Gilmore 1-5 (0-1 s-l); Conor Gartland 1-3; Stephen Gillespie, Danny Cullen, Oisín Marley (5f) 0-5 each; Dáire Ó Maoileidigh, Luke White (1f), Brian McIntyre 0-3 each; Ryan Hilferty, Richie Ryan 0-2 each; Gavin Browne, Jack O’Loughlin, Kevin Curran, Michael Donaghue 0-1 each.

Wicklow’s Nickey Rackard Cup scorers 2023: Gavin Weir 0-30 (21f); Andy O’Brien 6-11; Mikey Boland 0-14; Luke Evans 3-4; Christy Moorehouse 1-10 (0-7f); Mikey Lee 1-6; Daniel Staunton (0-3f), Luke Maloney 1-3 each; Diarmuid Masterson 0-6 (1f); Jack Doyle 1-2; Padraig Doyle 0-4 (3f); Eoin McCormack 1-1; Seánie Germaine 0-3 (2f); Eoghan Byrne, Pádraig Doran 0-2 each; Martin O’Brien, Conor McNally (f), Sam O’Dowd, Davy Maloney, Mark Murphy, John Doyle 0-1 each.

Nickey Rackard Cup top scorers 2023:

Fionntán Donnelly (Armagh) 3-36

Darren Geoghegan (Louth) 0-43

Luca McCusker (Fermanagh) 1-38

Liam McKinney (Donegal) 2-29

Gavin Weir (Wicklow) 0-30

Tomas Galvin (Armagh) 6-12

Armagh’s Fionntán Donnelly is the Nickey Rackard Cup’s top scorer with 3-36. That leaves him two points ahead of Darren Geoghegan, who hit 43 points in just four games for Louth, with Fermanagh’s Luca McCusker a couple of points further back in third. The top five is completed by a player from both of the finalists: Liam McKinney (Donegal) and Gavin Weir, who is currently tied with Armagh youngster Tomas Galvin, slightly ahead of another Wicklow forward, Andy O’Brien.