The Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups got underway on Saturday with wins for Wicklow, Mayo and Longford.

Christy Ring Cup

Wicklow made a winning start to the Christy Ring Cup at the expense of Roscommon in Aughrim.

Wicklow got off to a flying start, with Gary Hughes hitting 1-2 inside the first five minutes. Cathal Dolan belatedly got Roscommon off the mark, but they trailed by 1-8 to 0-5 at half-time. Wicklow were reduced to 14 men when Gary Byrne was sent off, but although Dolan hit the net to bring Roscommon back within four points, the hosts regrouped to outscore them by 1-4 to 0-1 down the home straight. Mikey Lee got Wicklow’s second goal to push them clear, while Andy O’Brien took his tally into double figures.

Scorers for Wicklow: Andy O’Brien 0-10; Mikey Lee 1-4; Gary Hughes 1-2; Luke Evans 0-1; Eoin McCormack 0-1.

Scorers for Roscommon: Cathal Dolan 1-6; Cillian Egan 0-4; Peter Kellehan 0-1.

Nickey Rackard Cup

Mayo reversed last year’s Nicky Rackard Cup Final defeat against Donegal thanks to a grandstand finish in Letterkenny, inflicting a rare O’Donnell Park defeat on the hosts.

Declan Coulter led the way for Donegal as they hit seven of the game’s first nine points, but Adrian Phillips hit the net on the half-hour mark to reduce Mayo’s deficit to the minimum. Shane Boland sent over four points during the third quarter to help Mayo get back on level terms, although Coulter and Richie Ryan responded for Donegal, who looked set for victory when they led by 0-17 to 1-10 late on. Mayo produced a storming finish, however, hitting an unanswered 1-4 in the closing minutes via 1-1 from Keith Higgins and a hat-trick of scores by Boland.

Scorers for Donegal: Declan Coulter 0-9; Richie Ryan 0-3; Bernard Lafferty 0-2; Christopher McDermott 0-1; Niall Cleary 0-1; Seán McVeigh 0-1.

Scorers for Mayo: Shane Boland 0-9; Keith Higgins 1-3; Adrian Phillips 1-0; Eoin Delaney 0-1; Brian Hunt 0-1.

Lory Meagher Cup

Longford sent out a statement of intent in the Lory Meagher Cup with a prolific win at home to holders Louth.

Longford stunned Louth with a trio pf early goals by Cathal Mullane, Martin Coyle and Reuben Murray, with David Kettle producing a reply for the visitors. Further majors by Murray and David Buckley pushed a rampant Longford side further clear, with Murray completing his hat-trick just before half-time; making it 6-9 to 1-13. Coyle and Daniel Connell took Longford’s goals tally to eight and although Evan Maher and Feidhlim Joyce responded for Louth, with Darren Geoghegan tallying 0-10, the result had long been decided.

Scorers for Longford: Joe O’Brien 0-12; Reuben Murray 3-2; Martin Coyle 2-0; David Buckley 1-2; Daniel Connell 1-2; Steven Creaven 0-3; Cathal Mullane 1-0; John Mulhern 0-2; Bart Hanley 0-1; Aidan Quinn 0-1.

Scorers for Louth: Darren Geoghegan 0-10; Feidhlim Joyce 1-2; David Kettle 1-1; Evan Maher 1-0; Niall Keenan 0-2; Darren O’Hanrahan 0-1; Andrew Mackin 0-1; Ryan Walsh 0-1; Conor Quigley 0-1.

RESULTS:

Saturday, June 26

Christy Ring Cup Group A Round 1

Wicklow 2-18 Roscommon 1-11

Nickey Rackard Cup Group A Round 1

Donegal 0-17 Mayo 2-14

Lory Meagher Cup Group A Round 1

Longford 8-25 Louth 3-19