Christy Ring Cup

Kildare topped the Christy Ring Cup Group 1 after super-sub Jack Sheridan inspired their high-scoring win over Wicklow in Aughrim.

Wicklow made a storming start, with Andy O’Brien causing problems for the visitors’ defence, and even though he had a penalty saved by Paddy McKenna, his side soon had a goal through Ronan Keddy that helped them to a six-point lead. Kildare came roaring back into the game, however, with Martin Fitzgerald netting a brace of goals and Sheridan making an immediate impact off the bench to turn it completely and move them ahead by 3-9 to 1-8 by half-time.

Wicklow were again quick out of the traps in the second half, with another goal from Keddy bringing them back into it, but with James Burke making a welcome return to help bring Kildare’s list of scorers to nine, they stayed ahead.

Sheridan would finish with 2-5, capped by a superb second goal and a sideline cut, and although PJ Nolan and sub Eoin Donohoe brought Wicklow within three points going into added time, Kildare sealed a dramatic 4-19 to 3-18 win.

Roscommon secured their Christy Ring status for 2019 when they turned the tables on Mayo in Athleague.

Roscommon put their poor form behind them to lead from start to finish and run out surprisingly easy winners on a scoreline of 1-17 to 0-11. An injury to top scorer Kenny Feeney hit Mayo’s chances badly and they were hit further when a point-attempt from a free by Daniel Glynn dipped into the net to help Roscommon to a commanding 1-10 to 0-3 interval advantage.

Mayo lost Kieran McDermott to a second yellow card after the restart and although Roscommon later lost Micheál Byrne for a second booking and Robbie Fallon on a straight red, with their defence well on top throughout, they earned a vital win.

Group 2 went right down to the wire, with three teams finishing on four points apiece and little to separate them on score difference.

London secured first place with a comprehensive win over Armagh at the Athletic Grounds.

There were three red cards in the opening quarter, with Armagh being reduced to 13 men. David McCreesh and Conor McAnallen helped to keep Armagh in contention, but with Aaron Sheehan on song, London were 0-14 to 0-8 up at half-time.

The Exiles completely dominated the second half, outscoring the hosts by 4-13 to 0-3, despite also being reduced to 13 for the closing stages. Shane Lawless, Colin Nelson and Kevin O’Loughlin were among the scorers as London finished top with a score difference of +28.

Down had appeared to have been on the brink of qualification going into their clash with Derry in Maghera, but a thrilling finish saw the Oak Leaf County grab second place in the group.

Cormac O’Doherty was in top form throughout for Derry and his scores helped the home side lead by 0-17 to 1-13 at the end of a closely-contested first half where the only three-pointer came from Down’s goal-poacher Daithí Sands. Down made a better start to the second half and when Sands notched his sixth major in three games, the Mourne men were a point to the good.

With Paul Sheehan also on form for Down and Derry having had Cormac McKenna sent off, the seven-point win for Collie McGurk’s side seemed unlikely. Meehaul McGrath and substitute Alan Grant regained the lead for Derry, however, and when a ’65 from O’Doherty landed in the net, it was game on. After drama at both ends, it came down to another O’Doherty ’65 at the end and the Slaughtneil man nailed it to take his tally to a remarkable 1-17 and give Derry the winning margin they needed at 1-29 to 2-19.

The Christy Ring Cup semi-finals will be Kildare v Derry and London v Wicklow.

Nicky Rackard Cup

Warwickshire topped Group 1 of the Nicky Rackard Cup after they ground out a 1-13 to 0-13 win away to Longford.

The teams were deadlocked at 0-6 apiece at the end of a tense first half where the scoring was dominated by Joe O’Brien (Longford) and Niall McKenna (Warwickshire). Longford had Cian McLoughlin dismissed early in the second half and they were also left to rue the absence of the injured Cathal Mullane on a day where O’Brien accounted for all but one of their scores.

Kelvin Magee got the only goal of the game and along with the accuracy of McKenna (0-9), Warwickshire had enough firepower to make it 15 games unbeaten in league and championship for last year’s Lory Meagher Cup winners.

A drawn local derby in Dundalk proved enough for Monaghan to make the semi-finals but wasn’t what Louth needed to avoid the relegation play-off.

The teams were level seven times in a game where Louth’s Paddy Lynch and Monaghan’s Fergal Rafter both hit double figures from frees. Louth looked set for their first win of the group when a Ronan Byrne free put them three points up with five minutes left, by which stage Monaghan had seen their influential midfielder Mark Treanor receive a second booking.

The visitors rallied, however, with Rafter and sub Cathal Power earning them a share of the spoils at 0-18 apiece.

Tyrone joined Donegal in progressing from Group 2 after they put Leitrim to the sword in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Damian Casey again led the scoring for Tyrone, but it was far from a one-man show, with 12 players getting on the scoresheet for the away side. Despite the best efforts of Clement Cunniffe and Zak Moradi for Leitrim, Justin Kelly and Pierse O’Kelly (who ended up with 0-5 from play) were to the fore as Tyrone changed ends ahead by 0-13 to 0-6 and they were as good as through after adding an unanswered 1-3, including a goal from talisman Casey.

Colm Moreton and James Glancy got a goal each for Leitrim to narrow the gap to eight points, but Tyrone regained the initiative with three subs getting points, before Aidan Kelly’s late goal helped them run out convincing winners by 2-25 to 2-14.

The Nicky Rackard semi-final pairings are Donegal v Monaghan and Warwickshire v Tyrone, while Leitrim will meet Louth in the relegation play-off.

RESULTS:

Saturday, June 2

Christy Ring Cup Group 1 Round 3

Wicklow 3-18 Kildare 4-19

Roscommon 1-17 Mayo 0-11

Christy Ring Cup Group 2 Round 3

Armagh 0-11 London 4-27

Derry 1-29 Down 2-19

Nicky Rackard Cup Group 1 Round 3

Longford 0-13 Warwickshire 1-13

Louth 0-18 Monaghan 0-18

Nicky Rackard Cup Group 2 Round 3

Leitrim 2-14 Tyrone 2-25