hurling

Preview: This weekend's Ring, Rackard, and Meagher Cups action

27 April 2024 - 7:57AM

Jack Sheridan will be a key man for Kildare in their top of the table Christy Ring Cup clash with Derry.

The Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup groups pass the midway stage this weekend.

Christy Ring Cup

Two of the Christy Ring Cup’s leading contenders clash when Kildare host Derry on Saturday.

Kildare have begun their bid for a third Christy Ring title in the space of five years with back-to-back wins over Sligo and Wicklow, while 2023 runners-up Derry also have maximum points after seeing off Wicklow and Tyrone. Both teams had strong Allianz Hurling League campaigns, with Kildare narrowly missing on the Division IIA semi-final and Derry winning the Division IIB title.

Jack Sheridan, James Burke, Cathal Dowling and Cian and Conan Boran are key men for Kildare, while Darragh McGilligan, Corey O’Reilly and Ruairí Ó Mianáin have been providing good support to Derry’s top scorer Cormac O’Doherty.

London will also be targeting a third straight win when they welcome Wicklow to Ruislip.

After just missing out on a place in the Division IIB knock-out stages, London have started their Christy Ring campaign with wins over Tyrone and Sligo. Wicklow’s return to this level after a brief stay in the Nickey Rackard, which they won at the first attempt last June, has begun with losses to Derry and Kildare.

Jack Goulding, who hit 2-13 last week, has been leading the scoring charts for London, with back-up from Seán Glynn, Owen Sheil and Ronan Crowley. Wicklow have been hit by injuries and will be hoping the likes of Luke Evans, Luke and Pádraig Doran can inspire a change in fortunes.

Sligo and Tyrone will both be chasing a first win of the campaign when they meet at Markievicz Park.

Neither team has yet brought their league form into the Christy Ring, with Division IIB finalists Tyrone losing to London and Derry and Division IIIA runners-up Sligo falling short against Kildare and London. Just a single point separated the sides on this weekend last year, when Sligo ground out the narrowest of wins in Carrickmore.

Aidan Kelly has continued his prolific form with 1-18 in the first two rounds for Tyrone, with Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch shouldering much of Sligo’s scoring threat.

Gerard Gilmore has been in prolific form so far this year for the Donegal hurlers.

Nickey Rackard Cup

The first of this weekend’s Nickey Rackard Cup games sees Mayo travel to Louth.

After lifting the Division IIIA title last month, following a convincing defeat of Louth in round four, Mayo started their bid for a quick return to the Christy Ring with a big win over Monaghan, but they were brought back down to earth by Donegal. Louth were competitive in both of their opening two games v Roscommon and Armagh, only to end up empty-handed.

Mayo will be looking to the likes of Cormac and Adrian Phillips, Liam Lavin and Shane Boland to rediscover their scoring touch, while Louth will need big performances from Darren Geoghegan, Peter Fortune and Conor Clancy.

Donegal will have a third straight win in their sights when they host Monaghan.

Three-time winners and last year’s runners-up, Donegal are on the right track to qualify for another final after seeing off Armagh and Mayo in the last two weeks. 2023 Lory Meagher Cup champions Monaghan are still searching for their first win of this campaign after losing to Mayo and Roscommon.

Gerard Gilmore and Liam McKinney have been in prolific form for Donegal, who have welcomed Declan Coulter back to their starting team, with the long-serving Danny Cullen also edging towards a return. Monaghan will need to provide more support to Niall Arthur up front if they are to get off the mark at the third attempt.

Sunday sees Armagh and Roscommon go head-to-head.

Wins over Louth and Monaghan have Roscommon top of the table and very much in contention to reach a second Nickey Rackard final in three years, while Armagh recovered from a loss to Armagh to stay in touch by pipping Louth. These teams have met regularly in recent years, with Roscommon generally holding the upper hand only for Armagh to win their last clash just over 12 months ago.

Roscommon will be hoping that hat-trick hero Cian Murray is fit after he limped off against Monaghan, while Paddy Fallon and Brendan Mulry are also among their threats up front. Armagh have been relying on Antrim native Alex O’Boyle for the bulk of their scores, with Tiarnán Nevin and Paul Gaffney anchoring their defence.

Former Tipperary hurler, Cian Darcy, is now playing for Longford.

Lory Meagher Cup

Longford and Leitrim contest a pivotal derby in the Lory Meagher Cup on Saturday.

With both teams having two points to their name after the first couple of rounds, this one could go a long way towards deciding if either can remain in the shake-up to return to the final. Longford beat Lancashire on home soil, only to lose to Warwickshire on their travels last weekend, while Leitrim put a loss to Fermanagh behind them to also defeat Lancashire. Leitrim beat their neighbours twice last year, but Longford have turned the tables in their last two meetings.

The addition of Tipperary man Cian Darcy is a major boost for Longford, who should also be able to call on David Buckley, Reuben Murray and Cathal Mullane. Joe Murray, Gavin O’Hagan and veteran keeper Clement Cunniffe are among the main men for Leitrim.

Glengormley is the venue for the Lory Meagher Cup clash of Lancashire and Cavan.

Division IIIA semi-finalists Cavan share top spot after two rounds, having followed a win over Warwickshire with a dramatic derby draw against Fermanagh. Lancashire, who fell at the final hurdle against Monaghan last year, have ground to make up after following a disappointing league with losses to Longford and Leitrim.

Former Waterford U-20 Liam O’Brien, Kilkenny native Nicky Kenny and Seán Keating have been on song for Cavan, with a much-changed Lancashire side relying on David Lynch and Eoghan Clifford.

Sunday’s Lory Meagher action takes place at Páirc na hÉireann, where Warwickshire will be looking to make it back-to-back wins when they face Fermanagh in a repeat of this year’s Allianz League Division IIIB Final.

Warwickshire’s win that day was Fermanagh’s only defeat to date this season, so the Erne County will be keen to make a statement on Sunday. They have made an unbeaten start to the Lory Meagher with a win over Leitrim and a draw with Cavan. A win over Longford has kept Warwickshire in touch with the early front-runners after they lost their opener in Cavan.

Warwickshire will be depending on Jack Grealish, David Devine, Kevin McKernan and Luke Hands to lead their challenge, while Fermanagh could be boosted by returns for Luca McCusker, Daniel Teague and Dylan Bannon.

FIXTURES

Saturday, April 27

Christy Ring Cup Round 3

Kildare v Derry, Manguard Park, 1pm

London v Wicklow, Ruislip, 1pm

Sligo v Tyrone, Markievicz Park, 3pm

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 3

Louth v Mayo, Dowdallshill, 1pm

Donegal v Monaghan, Letterkenny, 3pm

Lory Meagher Cup Round 3

Longford v Leitrim, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 1pm

Lancashire v Cavan, Glengormley, 2pm