The Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups continued with a full schedule over the weekend.

Christy Ring Cup

Down repeated their recent Allianz Hurling League Division IIB Final win over Derry after a dramatic finish to their Christy Ring Cup Round 2A clash in Ballycran on Saturday.

Down got off to a flying start with five of the game’s first six points, with Oisín MacManus accurate from frees into the wind and Pearse Óg McCrickard sending one over from a sideline cut. Derry grew into the game, with Cormac O’Doherty, Conor Kelly and Mark Craig hitting scores either side of half-time to edge the visitors ahead for the first time. `

Despite losing Paddy Kelly to a second booking near the end of the third quarter, Derry edged themselves into a strong position, via a hat-trick of points in quick succession by O’Doherty, but Down outscored them by 1-4 to 0-1 down the home straight. Dónal Hughes notched 1-1 in that vital spell for Down, while Paul Sheehan and Conor Woods were also on target as the 2019 runners-up advanced, helped by a late save by keeper Stephen Keith.

Scorers for Down: Oisín MacManus 0-7f; Dónal Hughes 1-2; Paul Sheehan 0-2f; Pearse Óg McCrickard 0-1 (s-l); Conor Woods 0-1.

Scorers for Derry: Cormac O’Doherty 0-7 (4f); Mark Craig 0-2; Conor Kelly 0-2; Jerome McGuigan 0-1; Mark McGuigan 0-1.

Kildare proved too strong for Wicklow in difficult conditions in Newbridge on Sunday.

The sides hit three points each during a low-scoring opening quarter, with Jack Sheridan grabbing a brace for Kildare and Christy Moorehouse matching that for Wicklow. Cathal Dowling added a pair of points for Kildare, who moved further clear when Sheridan hit the net. Moorehouse continued to carry the fight for Wicklow, but they trailed by 1-7 to 0-6 at half-time.

Brian Byrne sent over a couple of frees at the start of the second half for Kildare, but Wicklow got a shot in the arm when Eoin McCormack flicked a long-range free from Moorehouse into the net. A couple of well-taken scores from James Burke settled Kildare, who regained control through Sheridan’s second goal. Moorehouse took his tally to nine points as Wicklow continued to battle, but a 2-14 to 1-10 win sees Kildare through to the semi-finals.

Scorers for Kildare: Jack Sheridan 2-3 (0-2f); Brian Byrne 0-4 (3f); James Burke 0-3; Cathal Dowling 0-2; Conor Dowling 0-1; David Slattery 0-1.

Scorers for Wicklow: Christy Moorehouse 0-9 (5f); Eoin McCormack 1-1.

Nicky Rackard Cup

Two-time Nicky Rackard Cup champions Donegal are into another semi-final after seeing off Armagh in stormy Letterkenny on Saturday.

A hat-trick of second-half goals led Donegal, who had Danny Cullen and Davin Flynn back, to their second home win in the space of a week, despite an injury in the first-round game against Longford preventing Declan Coulter from facing his native county. Flynn was on song for Donegal in the first half (before having his afternoon cut short by injury), but Nathan Curry and Conor Corvan kept Armagh on level terms at the change of ends.

Donegal started the second half in style with a goal from Kevin Kealy, but Curry fired home a penalty to give Armagh renewed hope. Ronan McDermott diverted a Ciarán Mathewson ’65 home for his second goal in two games for Donegal and with substitute Conor O’Grady adding the hosts’ third major, they pulled away for a convincing win on a scoreline of 3-13 to 1-9.

Scorers for Donegal: Davin Flynn 0-5 (2f); Conor O’Grady 1-1; Ronan McDermott 1-0; Kevin Kealy 1-0; Jack O’Loughlin 0-2; Richie Ryan 0-2; Gerard Gilmore 0-1; Danny Cullen 0-1; Gavin Browne 0-1.

Scorers for Armagh: Nathan Curry 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-3f); Conor Corvan 0-3; Stephen Renaghan 0-1; Danny Magee 0-1.

Mayo have also taken the direct route to the semi-finals after a second comprehensive away win, this time against Tyrone in Omagh.

Mayo took charge of this game from early on, as they made it two commanding victories in Ulster in a row, with Shane Boland continuing his prolific form early on. Mayo were well clear at 0-14 to 0-3 at half-time and they quickly added the game’s opening goal through Jason Coyne. Damian Casey led Tyrone’s scoring as usual, but there was never any way back into the game for the hosts, with Boland, Corey Scahill, Adrian Phillips, Seán Kenny and Cathal Freeman among 11 Mayo scorers as they once again racked up a tally well over the 20-point mark.

Scorers for Tyrone: Damian Casey 0-6 (5f, 1 ‘65); Branán Molloy 0-2; John McGurk 0-1.

Scorers for Mayo: Shane Boland 0-8 (6f); Jason Coyne 1-2; Corey Scahill 0-3; Adrian Phillips 0-2; Seán Kenny 0-2f; Brian Morley 0-2; Eoin Delaney 0-1; Cathal Freeman David Kenny 0-1; Cormac Phillips 0-1; Seán Regan 0-1.

Lory Meagher Cup

Fermanagh are heading for the Lory Meagher Cup Final after another dramatic finish saw them salvage a draw at home to Cavan on Sunday.

Having finished with a late burst to pip Louth in round one, Fermanagh needed an equaliser deep into added time to peg back neighbours Cavan in Enniskillen after playing most of the second half with 14 men. Cavan went close to leading this one from start to finish after early points from Seán Keating, Colum Sheanon and Brian Fitzgerald got them off to a bright start. Seán Corrigan’s accuracy helped keep Fermanagh within striking distance, but they trailed by 0-10 to 0-6 at the interval and although they resumed with a second point from Conor McShea, they soon lost Mark Slevin to a red card.

Despite this setback, Fermanagh remained on the front foot, with Corrigan, Caolán Duffy and Tom Keenan gradually wiping out their deficit. Cavan went more than a quarter of an hour without scoring until Cillian Sheanon regained a narrow lead for the visitors, who looked set to go on and secure the victory when a deflected effort from Fiachra Hughes went in for the game’s only goal. Fitzgerald’s seventh point kept Cavan three clear, but Fermanagh rallied again, with John Duffy and Corrigan converting frees and the former holding his nerve from the last strike to make the final score 0-16 to 1-13.

Scorers for Fermanagh: Seán Corrigan 0-8 (6f); Conor McShea 0-2; Caolán Duffy 0-2; Tom Keenan 0-2; John Duffy 0-2f.

Scorers for Cavan: Brian Fitzgerald 0-7 (5f, 1 ‘65); Fiachra Hughes 1-1; Diarmaid Carney 0-1; Enda Shalvey 0-1; Colum Sheanon 0-1; Seán Keating 0-1; Cillian Sheanon 0-1.

RESULTS:

Saturday, October 31

Christy Ring Cup Round 2A

Down 1-13 Derry 0-13

Nicky Rackard Cup Round 2A

Donegal 3-13 Armagh 1-9

Tyrone 0-9 Mayo 1-23

Sunday, November 1

Christy Ring Cup Round 2A

Kildare 2-14 Wicklow 1-10

Lory Meagher Cup Round 2

Fermanagh 0-16 Cavan 1-13