By Colm Shalvey

The Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups group stages concluded on Saturday as the pairings for the knock-out fixtures became clear.

Christy Ring Cup

Sligo are through to the Christy Ring Cup semi-finals for the first time after they pipped Roscommon in a dramatic finish.

The teams were level four times as they traded scores throughout the early stages and although Roscommon pulled away briefly with a handful of points from the likes of Cathal Dolan and Cathal Kenny, Sligo got back on terms twice before the end of the first half. Roscommon led by the minimum (0-15 to 0-14) at the interval and after Andrew Kilcullen had equalised once more, they hit the opening goal through Niall Kilroy and they maintained a narrow advantage until Mark Hannify hit the net for Sligo just short of the three-quarter mark. Sligo would play the final quarter with 14 men after James Weir was sent off, but even though the Rossies nudged ahead again with a brace of added-time points from Michael Brennan and Kenny, there was one last twist when Hannify’s second goal won it for the visitors, who will now face Derry.

Scorers for Sligo: Mark Hannify 2-1; Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch 0-6 (5f, 1 ‘65); Andrew Kilcullen 0-3; Thomas Cawley 0-3; Finnian Cawley 0-2; Joe McHugh 0-1; Conor Hannify 0-1; Gavin Connolly 0-1.

Scorers for Roscommon: Cathal Dolan 0-8 (5f); Cathal Kenny 0-4; Niall Kilroy 1-0; Ben McGahon 0-3; Oisín Kelly 0-2; Conor Mulry 0-2; Michael Brennan 0-1.

Nickey Rackard Cup

Free-scoring Armagh blitzed their way through to the Nickey Rackard Cup semi-finals at the expense of Leitrim in Cavan, led by a remarkable display of goal-getting by Danny Magee.

Armagh started brightly, but the eventual margin of their victory seemed a long way off when Eoin McGuinness was sent off at the end of the opening quarter. Diarmuid Kelleher added to his brace of goals against Donegal with his third major in two games to bring Leitrim level, but Danny Magee hit the net twice in quick succession to power Armagh into a 2-15 to 1-8 half-time lead. Magee repeated the trick with another quick-fire brace to put the result well and truly beyond doubt, with Fionntán Donnelly, Tiarnán O’Neil and Odhrán Curry adding a raft of scores for the Orchard County. Gavin O’Hagan took his personal tally into double figures for Leitrim, but they continued to leak goals, with Peter McKearney and Paddy McBride adding their names to the scoresheet, either side of a fifth of a dream performance by Magee. Mayo are next up for Armagh.

Scorers for Armagh: Danny Magee 5-2; Fionntán Donnelly 0-8 (3f); Paddy McBride 1-2; Peter McKearney 1-2; Tiarnán O’Neill 0-3; Odhrán Curry 0-3; Jim Shortt 0-2; Eoin McGuinness 0-1; Stephen McKearney 0-1; Marty Moan 0-1.

Scorers for Leitrim: Gavin O’Hagan 0-11 (8f); Ben Murray 0-3; Diarmuid Kelleher 1-0; Karl McDermott 0-3 (1f); James McNabola 0-1; Liam Moreton 0-1; Paul Lenehan 0-1; Lorcan Donnellan 0-1f.

Lory Meagher Cup

2020 runners-up Fermanagh are through to another Lory Meagher Cup semi-final after they saw off neighbours Monaghan.

Fermanagh had two Seán Corrigan goals and a hat-trick of points from John Duffy to thank for their 2-3 to 1-4 half-time lead, with Brian McGuigan having hit the net at the other end to keep Monaghan in touch. Goals by Fergal Rafter and Aidan Burns brought Monaghan level after the restart, but Fermanagh outscored them by 1-5 to 0-1 either side of the last water break to regain command, with Caolán Duffy adding their third goal and Corrigan landing some long-range scores. Rafter netted his second penalty to give Monaghan renewed hope late on, but added-time points by Francis McBrien and Corrigan sealed the win for Fermanagh, who will now meet Longford.

Scorers for Fermanagh: Seán Corrigan 2-5; Caolán Duffy 1-2; John Duffy 0-5 (3f); Barney McAuley 0-1f; Tom Keenan 0-1; Francis McBrien 0-1.

Scorers for Monaghan: Fergal Rafter 2-4 (2-0 pens, 0-2f); Aidan Burns 1-1; Brian McGuigan 1-0; Ciarán Guinan 0-1.

RESULTS:

Saturday, July 17

Christy Ring Cup Quarter-Final

Sligo 2-18 Roscommon 1-20

Nickey Rackard Cup Quarter-Final

Armagh 7-25 Leitrim 1-21

Lory Meagher Cup Quarter-Final

Fermanagh 3-15 Monaghan 4-6