Antrim, Mayo, Armagh and Sligo all qualified for hurling finals following a busy day of action in the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard, and Lory Meagher Cups on Saturday.

CHRISTY RING CUP

Antrim are through to the Christy Ring Cup Final for their first time since their last appearance in the competition in 2006 after they finished strongly to win their semi-final against Down.

Having trailed by six points at half-time, Antrim gradually closed the gap before hitting the last five points to once again edge past their neighbours in an exciting game at Loughgiel. Down started brightly by hitting the first three points, before Conor Johnston got Antrim off the mark. Down’s Danny Toner and Antrim’s Ciarán Clarke were on form with their free-taking, while Dónal Hughes, Conor Woods and Seán Ennis were also on target for the Mourne County, who changed ends with a 0-13 to 0-7 lead.

A goal from a free by Conor Carson kick-started Antrim’s challenge after the restart and they added five of the next seven points to draw level. The teams were on terms eight times in the following 25 minutes, but with Clarke taking his tally into double figures and goalkeeper Chris O’Connell making a vital save at the other end, Antrim went through on a 1-24 to 0-23 scoreline. Kildare and Meath contest the second semi-final on Sunday.

Just a year after reaching the Christy Ring Final, Derry are in danger of being relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup after falling to a heavy play-off defeat away to Wicklow.

Christy Moorehouse and Diarmuid Masterson were in prolific form as Wicklow opened up a 0-12 to 0-5 half-time advantage and although Derry improved in the third quarter, a goal by Danny Staunton kept the hosts in charge. Moorehouse continued to hit a strong of scores, including a second major, as Wicklow ran out 2-22 to 0-15 winners to secure their status in the second tier.

NICKY RACKARD CUP

Mayo and Armagh will contest the Nicky Rackard Cup Final after wins over Donegal and Fingal respectively.

Mayo held off a late comeback from Donegal to win by 1-18 to 2-11 in Letterkenny. Three Kenny Feeney scores helped Mayo race into a four-point lead, but Donegal got off the mark on 12 minutes with a goal from Ciarán Mathewson. Danny Cullen and Niall Cleary added points for the hosts, but four in a row by Seán Regan sent Mayo in leading by 0-13 to 1-5.

A brace by Darren McTigue and a Joe McManus goal moved Mayo 10 clear seven minutes into the second half, but three Lee Henderson frees gave Donegal a glimmer of hope and Cullen punished a Mayo error with a goal that closed the gap to two. Mayo held out, however, as substitute Fergal Boland responded and Feeney added his seventh point, while keeper Dónal O’Brien was equal to an effort on goal from Kevin Campbell.

Armagh are through to their second straight Nicky Rackard Final and their fifth in total after a 3-19 to 1-11 victory against Fingal at Naomh Barróg. Conor Corvan hit an early goal for Armagh, but John Matthew Sheridan led Fingal into the game and they led by five points at one stage.

Ryan Gaffney, Cathal Carvill, Stephen Renaghan and Eoin McGuinness brought Armagh level at 1-8 apiece by the end of the first half. Goals by Corvan – taking his tally to 2-2 – and Declan Coulter saw Armagh take control in the second half, outscoring the north-Dublin side by 3-11 to 0-2. Gaffney ended up with 0-7 as Armagh powered through.

Tyrone secured their place in the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2017 by beating Fermanagh in a play-off for the second time this year. Tyrone held a narrow lead for much of the first half at Dungannon and in a dramatic few minutes, they saw Conor McElhatton save a penalty at one end and Matthew Mulgrew score the opening goal at the other. Damian Casey hit a string of points for Tyrone, who saw an eight-point lead halved to four (1-9 to 0-8) by the half-time whistle after they had been reduced to 14 men.

Casey and Seán Corrigan hit three points each in the early stages of the second half, before the latter found the net to bring Fermanagh within one. Tyrone outscored their neighbours by 2-10 to 0-3 in the time that remained, with Casey ending up on a remarkable total of 1-16. Seán Óg Grogan added the third goal late on for Tyrone, who finished well clear on a 3-22 to 1-14 scoreline.

LORY MEAGHER CUP

Sligo booked their place in the Lory Meagher Cup Final against Louth thanks to a convincing win over Leitrim at Markievicz Park.

Sligo led throughout this game, despite conceding two goals in the first half. Leitrim’s second major brought them level at 2-1 to 0-7, but Sligo were 0-10 to 2-2 up at the interval and they dominated from then on. Leitrim’s challenge fell away after they were reduced to 13 men and Sligo pushed on, with Keith Raymond and goal-scorer Matthew Davey leading them to a 1-22 to 2-5 victory that has them in the final for the second year in a row.

Warwickshire finished third after a comprehensive win over Lancashire at Páirc na hÉireann. Lancashire were level at 2-6 to 1-9 at half-time, but a goal-hungry Warwickshire side found the net six times in the second period to sign off on their campaign with a 7-16 to 2-11 victory.

The finals will be played on Saturday, June 4 at Croke Park: Lory Meagher at 1.30pm, Nicky Rackard at 3.30pm and Christy Ring at 5.30pm.

RESULTS:

Saturday, May 21

Christy Ring Cup Semi-Final**

Antrim 1-24 Down 0-23

**Christy Ring Cup Relegation Play-Off **

Wicklow 2-22 Derry 0-15

Nicky Rackard Cup Semi -Finals

Donegal 2-11 Mayo 1-18

Fingal 1-11 Armagh 3-19

Nicky Rackard Cup Relegation Play-Off

Tyrone 3-22 Fermanagh 1-14

Lory Meagher Cup Round 5

Warwickshire 7-16 Lancashire 2-11

Sligo 1-22 Leitrim 2-5