The 2021 Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups get underway this weekend.

Christy Ring Cup

The first game of the Christy Ring Cup sees Wicklow host Roscommon in Aughrim.

Roscommon have maintained their status in this tier since winning the 2015 Nicky Rackard Cup and they qualified for back-to-back semi-finals in 2019 and 2020. Wicklow have been ever-present in the Christy Ring Cup, having lost consecutive finals back in 2011 and 2012. Both teams go into this one in need of a win to rediscover some form, however, after being relegated in the Allianz Hurling League. Wicklow finished bottom of Division IIA, while Roscommon had a similar fate in Division IIB.

Christy Moorehouse continued his All-Star form from last winter by hitting 30 points during Wicklow’s league campaign. Andy O’Brien and John Henderson should also play key roles for Wicklow, who have All-Ireland winners Éamonn Scallan (Wexford) and Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny) on the sideline. Roscommon can call on last year’s Christy Ring Cup top scorer Cathal Dolan, who hit 2-25 in their three games and who also accounted for more than half of Johnny Keane’s side’s total in the recent league campaign. Roscommon will also need the likes of Cathal Kenny and Naos Connaughton on form if they are to avenge last year’s narrow first-round defeat.

Nickey Rackard Cup

The Nickey Rackard Cup gets underway with a repeat of last year’s final between Donegal and Mayo.

Donegal got the better of Mayo at Croke Park last November to lift their third Nickey Rackard title and they went on to comfortably repeat that win in the Allianz Hurling League Division IIB just over a month ago. The teams ended up in a three-way tie for second place in a competitive group behind 2020 Christy Ring Cup winners Kildare, with Mayo claiming a notable scalp against Derry and Donegal going within a point of their neighbours in a high-scoring derby.

Declan Coulter was the top scorer in Division IIB with 2-34 for Donegal, while Mayo had the leading marksman in the 2020 Nickey Rackard campaign with 1-42. Danny Cullen, Ciarán Matthewson, Ronan McDermott and Sean McVeigh are other key players for Donegal. The more regular return to the hurling fold of four-time All-Star footballer Keith Higgins has been a boost for Mayo, who will also be looking for big performances from Seán Regan and Adrian Phillips. Donegal’s hurlers have a formidable recent record in Letterkenny and they will be targeting a seventh straight win at O’Donnell Park.

Lory Meagher Cup

Longford and holders Louth are first into action in the Lory Meagher Cup.

Louth won their second Lory Meagher title in five years last November and they followed that up with more silverware via the Allianz Hurling League Division IIIB. Longford have also won this competition twice, back in 2010 and 2014, but their league trajectory went the opposite way to Louth last month as they were relegated from Division IIIA, having also dropped back down from the Nickey Rackard when losing at home to Leitrim in a 2020 play-off. Louth take a winning run of five games into their title defence, while Longford are aiming to stop a winless spell reaching double figures.

Darren Geoghegan led the scoring charts for Louth in 2020 and he did likewise in the league, while Andrew Mackin and Paul Matthews provide goal threats. Joe O’Brien, Cathal Mullane, David Buckley and Steven Creaven are among the main men for Longford.

FIXTURES

Saturday, June 26

Christy Ring Cup Group A Round 1

Wicklow v Roscommon, Aughrim, 4pm

Nickey Rackard Cup Group A Round 1

Donegal v Mayo, Letterkenny, 2.30pm

Lory Meagher Cup Group A Round 1

Longford v Louth, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 4pm