The Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups are all heading for the final round of the group stages next weekend. The top four teams in the Christy Ring are separated by just two points, with a single point between the top four in the Lory Meagher. It’s more clear-cut in the Nickey Rackard, where Wicklow and Donegal both retain 100% records.

Christy Ring Cup

Meath lead the way in the Christy Ring Cup when they eventually pulled away from Tyrone in Navan on Saturday.

In a game where 19 players got on the scoresheet – 10 from Meath – the hosts did enough to secure their third win out of four. Jack Regan top-scored once again for Meath with 11 points, while Éamon Ó Donnchadha also weighed in with 0-4. Seán Duffin, Michael Little and Ruairí Slane led a spirited challenge by Tyrone, but they couldn’t find a way past Meath keeper Charlie Ennis and the hosts hit six of the last seven points (three from sub Adam Gannon) to put the result beyond doubt.

Sligo kept pace with Meath thanks to a high-scoring win at home to Mayo.

Cormac Phillips, Joe Mooney and Fergal Boland were to the fore as Mayo built up a six-point lead by the half-hour mark and although Andrew Kilcullen netted a penalty to kick-start Sligo’s challenge, the home side promptly had Joe McHugh sent off. Mayo led by 0-16 to 1-10 at half-time, but Sligo hit seven of the next eight points to move ahead, with Diarmuid and Conor Hanniffy and Tomás Cawley chipping in. Kilcullen’s second goal capped another productive afternoon for Sligo’s top scorer, whose 2-8 tally brings his total in four games to 2-40. David Kenny poked in a late consolation goal for Mayo, but the 2022 runners-up are now destined to finish bottom of the table.

Derry remain just a point behind the joint-leaders after they won a thriller in London on Sunday.

A Ségdae Melaugh goal for Derry pegged London back after early points from Ronan Crowley and Jack Goulding had put the hosts ahead, but Conor McCormack responded to leave the Exiles 1-8 to 1-6 up at the end of a high-octane opening quarter. Derry rallied, however, to lead by 1-14 to 1-12 at half-time. London hit the net three times during the second half via Seán Glynn (two) and substitute Daithí Barron, but Derry refused to yield. Cormac O’Doherty and Ronan Crowley finished with 0-10 points apiece as the game built to a dramatic finish, where Derry hit five of the last six scores (with Corey O’Reilly, Darragh McGilligan, Meehaul McGrath and Paul Cleary) to boost their chances of qualifying for a second final in three years.

Nickey Rackard Cup

Wicklow and Donegal are poised to meet twice over the next few weeks, once in the final, after they both made it four straight wins on Saturday.

Wicklow continued their prolific form to see off Roscommon.

Jack Doyle’s goal helped Wicklow race into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead and even though a second from Luke Evans in first-half added time was cancelled out by Conor Mulry, the favourites were still 2-12 to 1-7 clear at the break. Any doubts over the outcome were dispelled within five minutes of the restart as a remarkable rapid-fire hat-trick by Andy O’Brien saw Wicklow kick on. Jack Dowling got one back for Roscommon, but with Michael Boland, Gavin Weir and Christy Moorehouse among ten scorers for Wicklow, this became a procession for the table-toppers.

Donegal are headed for their fifth Nickey Rackard Cup Final, having proved too potent for Louth in Letterkenny.

An early goal by Tom Matthews proved to be a false dawn for Louth, who were on the back foot for most of the first half, with Liam McKinney and goal-scorer Ronan McDermott to the fore as Donegal built up a 1-11 to 1-2 lead, despite a string of wides. Louth rallied at the end of the half and Matthews netted again after the restart, but Ruairí Campbell fired home to stretch Donegal’s advantage into double figures. Goals by Seán Hodgins and Ryan Walsh saw Louth cut their deficit to six by the end, but with Danny Cullen helping to keep Donegal clear, they sealed a fourth win.

Armagh came from nine points down to pip Fermanagh in Enniskillen to ensure that they will remain in the Nickey Rackard Cup next year.

Goals by Seán Corrigan and Caolán Duffy put Fermanagh in the driving seat and they were 2-9 to 0-6 to the good by the time a Tomas Galvin major kick-started Armagh’s comeback. Fermanagh were still 2-11 to 1-7 up at the break, but Galvin netted again just a few minutes into the second half. Fionntán Donnelly, Shea Harvey and Cormac Jennings all weighed in with important scores as Armagh slowly but surely caught up and passed the long-time leaders. Fermanagh went scoreless through most of the final quarter and although Luca McCusker and John Paul McGarry brought them back within one, they couldn’t find an equaliser.

Lory Meagher Cup

Longford and Cavan are both part of a three-way tie on five points at the top of the Lory Meagher Cup table after they played out a draw on Saturday.

Longford burst out of the traps, with John Mulhern’s goal helping them race into a six-point lead, but Canice Maher and Nicky Kenny were on song as Cavan changed ends on level terms at 0-12 to 1-9. Longford again started faster in the second half, helped by a David Buckley goal, but they had another ruled out from a penalty by keeper Pat Burke. Cavan gradually gained the upper hand and Maher’s 12th point looked set to earn them a third consecutive win, only for Paddy Lynam’s fourth to give Longford a share of the spoils.

Monaghan go into the final round top on score difference after they won away to Lancashire on Sunday.

An early goal by Pauric Malone for Monaghan was cancelled out by Cormac Kenny, but the visitors still led by 1-13 to 1-8 at the interval. Goals by Thomas Hughes (two), Niall Arthur and Fergal Rafter saw Monaghan take command and although Lancashire hit their 14th and 15th majors of the campaign late on, it was too late to change the result.

Part one of the double-header at Páirc na hÉireann had earlier seen Leitrim edge out Warwickshire.

Joe Murray hit 1-6 in the first half to put Leitrim four points up in added time, but a burst of 1-2 (the goal from a free by John Collins) saw Warwickshire earn the narrowest of advantages. The teams were level seven times in all, but Leitrim hit the pivotal score when Brendan Delaney found the net late on. Oisín Coffey responded in kind to make it a one-point game again, but Murray took his tally to 1-11 to secure Leitrim’s first win of the group stage.

RESULTS:

Saturday May 13

Christy Ring Cup Round 4

Meath 0-28 Tyrone 0-20

Sligo 2-26 Mayo 1-23

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 4

Donegal 2-19 Louth 4-7

Fermanagh 2-17 Armagh 2-18

Wicklow 5-23 Roscommon 2-11

Lory Meagher Cup Round 4

Longford 2-15 Cavan 0-21

Sunday May 14

Christy Ring Cup Round 4

London 4-19 Derry 1-30

Lory Meagher Cup Round 4

Warwickshire 2-15 Leitrim 2-17

Lancashire 3-18 Monaghan 5-19