By Colm Shalvey

The group stages of the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cups conclude this Saturday, with plenty at stake.

Christy Ring Cup

Down will be looking to book their place in the Christy Ring Cup semi-finals in Saturday’s all-Ulster clash with Donegal in Letterkenny.

2013 champions Down started this campaign with a derby loss to Derry, but a win away to Wicklow last time out leaves their fate in their own hands. Despite injuries robbing them of some of their top players, Donegal have acquitted themselves well in their first campaign at this level, but they fell just short against both Wicklow and Derry. Down have already beaten Donegal this year in the league.

Down will hope to have Paul Sheehan, Oisín McManus, Daithí and Eoghan Sands and Tim Prenter on form. Lee Henderson joined Declan Coulter in being sidelined through injury last time out for Donegal, who will need big performances from Danny Cullen and Ciarán Matthewson, Joe Boyle and Seán McVeigh.

Derry are on the brink of qualification as they host Wicklow at Owenbeg.

Derry, who edged out Down by the narrowest of margins on score difference in the group stage last year, currently lead the way after wins over Down and Donegal. Wicklow started with a win over Donegal, but their hopes are in the balance after their round-two defeat at home to Down. These teams contested this year’s Allianz Hurling League Division IIB Final, where Wicklow got the better of Derry for the second time in the space of a week.

Cormac O’Doherty has been in prolific form for Derry, who will also be looking for impacts from Brian Óg McGilligan, Liam Óg Hinphey, Sé McGuigan and Gerard Bradley. Christy Moorehouse, Andy O’Brien and Gary Hughes should be to the fore for Wicklow, who could be without Warren Kavanagh due to injury.

Things are more straightforward in Group 2, where Meath and Roscommon have secured their progression with a round to spare.

Those two teams clash in Athleague, where the winners will top the group.

Meath won the Christy Ring for the first time in 2016, before being relegated from the Joe McDonagh Cup last year. They were also the highest-ranked Christy Ring competitor in the league, where they stayed up in Division IIA, so they will already have been expected to go well, ahead of convincing wins over London and Kildare. Roscommon’s form has raised eyebrows, as they followed their promotion from Division IIIA by avenging a heavy defeat against last year’s winners Kildare, before running out convincing winners in London.

Jack Regan, Pádraig O’Hanrahan, Eamonn Ó Donnacadh and Alan Douglas should be among the main men for Meath. Roscommon will hope for Cathal Dolan, Shane Curley, Pádraig Kelly and Gearóid and Cillian Egan to continue their good form.

London and Kildare will be battling to retain their status when they clash at Ruislip.

Back-to-back defeats for both teams leave them needing a win here to avoid the relegation play-off. These sides had gone all the way to the final last year, where Kildare won their second title in the last five years. Neither will be happy with their league campaigns, as Kildare stayed put in Division IIB and London were relegated from Division IIA.

London will hope to have top scorer Aaron Sheehan back in their starting team, alongside the likes of Shane Lawless, Mark O’Dwyer and Kevin Reid. Kildare have been depending on Brian Byrne for the bulk of their scores. The outgoing champions will need big showings from Jack Sheridan, Martin Fitzgerald, Paul Divilly and James Burke.

Nicky Rackard Cup

Armagh and Warwickshire share the driving seat in the Nicky Rackard Cup Group 1 ahead of Saturday’s final round.

Armagh are away to Longford as they look to make it three games unbeaten.

Armagh followed up a derby win over Monaghan by drawing at Páirc na hÉireann a fortnight ago, having been pegged back by a late goal from Warwickshire. Longford lost to Warwickshire, but put themselves in contention with a remarkable comeback from nine points down to turn Monaghan over. Three-time Nicky Rackard runners-up lost the Division IIIA Final in this year’s league, while Longford went one step further in Division IIIB.

Armagh should be able to rely on the likes of Dean Gaffney, Danny Magee, Nathan and Odhrán Curry and Dylan McKenna, while Longford are led by Tipperary native David Buckley, with good support from Cathal Mullane, Paddy Corcoran and Bart Hanley.

Warwickshire will hope to secure their place in the knock-out stage when they face Monaghan in Inniskeen.

2018 runners-up Warwickshire, who retained their Allianz Hurling League Division IIB status via a play-off win over Christy Ring newcomers Donegal, took three points from their opening two games. The Exiles finished strongly to pip Longford, before grabbing a late goal to draw with Armagh. Monaghan are out of contention after letting promising positions slip against both Armagh and Longford. Warwickshire have had a couple of narrow wins when these sides have met in recent years.

Warwickshire will hope to have players like Niall Kennedy, Ian Dwyer, John Collins, Emmet McCabe and Kelvin Magee available to lead their challenge. Monaghan will need Fergal Rafter, Mark and Peter Treanor and Taidhg Campbell at their best.

Group 2 leaders Sligo end the round-robin stage with a Connacht derby at home to Mayo.

Sligo have caught the eye with back-to-back wins over Louth and Tyrone to put themselves in pole position, although it’s still all to play for, with Mayo and the Red Hands within striking distance if the 2018 Lory Meagher winners lose on Saturday. Mayo lost out to Tyrone in their opener, before dominating the second half of their win over Louth. Mayo were relegated from the Christy Ring Cup last year and went on to avoid relegation from Division IIA of the league, three tiers above a Sligo side that lost the Division IIIB Final.

Sligo are led by Keith Raymond, along with Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch, Liam Reidy, Kevin Gilmartin and Gary Cadden, while Shane Boland, Cathal Freeman, Corey Scahill, Seán Kenny and Seán Regan are central to Mayo’s plans.

Tyrone will bid to return to winning ways and stay in the hunt when they welcome Louth to Omagh.

Tyrone made home advantage count against Mayo in the first round, but they were left frustrated by a second-half slump away to Sligo last time out. Louth are yet to earn a point in this year’s competition after losing to Sligo and Mayo. The Wee County also managed just one win in Division IIIA, where Tyrone just missed out on a top-two finish, having enjoyed a double-scores when they hosted Louth.

Tyrone talisman Damian Casey has continued to run up big tallies, while Dermot Begley, Matthew Mulgrew and Ryan McKernan can also contribute. Teenager Darren Geoghegan has been a leading light for Louth, who will also need big contributions from Gerry McKeown, David Kettle and Seaghán Connelly if they are to avoid being consigned to the relegation play-off for a second year in a row.

FIXTURES

Saturday, June 1

Christy Ring Cup Group 1 Round 3 (3pm)

Donegal v Down, Letterkenny

Derry v Wicklow, Owenbeg

Christy Ring Cup Group 2 Round 3 (1pm)

London v Kildare, McGovern Park, Ruislip

Roscommon v Meath, Athleague

Nicky Rackard Cup Group 1 Round 3 (1pm)

Longford v Armagh, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park

Monaghan v Warwickshire, Inniskeen

Nicky Rackard Cup Group 2 Round 3 (3pm)

Sligo v Mayo, Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence

Tyrone v Louth, Healy Park, Omagh