By Colm Shalvey

Christy Ring Cup

Offaly welcome Wicklow to Tullamore for their Christy Ring Cup semi-final.

Four-time All-Ireland champions Offaly were relegated from the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2019 and they were dumped out of the Christy Ring Cup at this stage last year by Down after a thriller that ended up being decided by a penalty shoot-out. The Faithful County sent out signals that they may be on the way back with a series of comprehensive wins in the Allianz Hurling League that saw them claim the Division IIA title with a score difference of +91 and their only game to date in this year’s Christy Ring Cup was a comfortable victory against Sligo.

Perennial Christy Ring Cup competitors Wicklow were relegated from Division IIA of the Allianz Hurling League, but their win over Roscommon ended their lengthy losing run, before Derry won the Group A decider.

Eoghan Cahill has been in prolific form for Offaly throughout the last two seasons, accumulating a remarkable 2-135 in 12 games. Shane Dooley, Liam Langton and Brian Duignan could also play key roles. Andy O’Brien has racked up 22 points in Wicklow’s last two games, but they will need more up front from the likes of Mikey Lee and Christy Moorehouse as they bid to qualify for a first final at this level since 2012. John Henderson is another key man for Wicklow, who have All-Ireland winners Éamonn Scallan (Wexford) and Eoin Larkin (Kilkenny) on the sideline.

Owenbeg is the venue for Derry v Sligo.

Two-time Nickey Rackard winners Derry, who contested a Christy Ring Final in 2015, finished in a three-way tie for second place in Division IIB of the Allianz Hurling League, before defeating Wicklow and Roscommon to top Group A and take the direct route to this semi-final.

Sligo, who were in the Lory Meagher Cup as recently as three years ago, have been on an upward curve of late, having secured back-to-back championship promotions in 2018 and 2019. They have also been moving up in the Allianz Hurling League, winning two consecutive titles to reach Division IIB. Having put in a spirited performance in their Christy Ring opener against Offaly, they progressed to this stage for the first time with a dramatic late win over Roscommon.

Cormac O’Doherty has hit 50 points in 2021 for Derry, who have plenty of other scoring threats in the likes of Sé McGuigan, Gerald Bradley and Odhrán McKeever, who found the net twice last time out. Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch has 7-56 to his name this year for Sligo, who will also need big performances from Thomas Cawley, Kevin Banks and Mark Hannify.

Nickey Rackard Cup

Armagh will be bidding to reach an eighth Nickey Rackard Cup Final when they take on 2020 runners-up Mayo.

Having competed well in a keenly-contested Division IIB league, Mayo impressed in topping Group A of the Nickey Rackard with convincing wins over Leitrim and holders Donegal. Armagh, who fell just short of promotion from Division IIIA, lost their Group B derby against Tyrone, but they got back to winning ways in comprehensive style against Leitrim last weekend.

Danny Magee will be hoping to build on his goal-scoring exploits in that game for Armagh, with Fionntán Donnelly, Aaron Fox and Odhrán Curry also likely to play key roles. Four-time All-Star footballer Keith Higgins has underlined the importance of his availability to the Mayo hurlers with a couple of influential performances, but the suspension of Shane Boland could be a major blow to their chances of reaching the decider for the second consecutive year.

The second Nickey Rackard Cup semi-final is an Ulster derby between Tyrone and Donegal.

Defending champions Donegal lost their opener at home to Mayo, but they bounced back to get the better of Leitrim. Tyrone’s only game to date in this year’s competition saw them turn the tables on Armagh, just a couple of weeks after losing to their neighbours in the league. Donegal, who comfortably retained Division IIB status in the Allianz League, became the first county to win a third Nickey Rackard title last November, while Tyrone haven’t contested a final since their 2014 success.

Donegal have injury concerns over key men Declan Coulter and Danny Cullen, while Ronan McDermott is suspended. Richie Ryan, Gerard Gilmore and Seán McVeigh will be expected to lead their challenge. Damian Casey remains the talisman for Tyrone, with support from the likes of Bryan McGurk and Lorcan Devlin.

Lory Meagher Cup

Lory Meagher Cup holders Louth put their title on the line away to Cavan.

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. Despite being left stunned by a heavy loss to Longford in their Group A opener, Louth bounced back against Monaghan in round two. Cavan, who have yet to reach a final, edged past Fermanagh in the Group B decider.

Darren Geoghegan, Andrew Mackin, Feidhlim Joyce and Paul Matthews should be to the fore for Louth, with Cavan relying on big performances from Brian Fitzgerald, Diarmaid and Caoimhín Carney and Seán Keating.

Longford have home advantage for their Lory Meagher semi-final against Fermanagh.

A comprehensive win over Louth and a late comeback to draw with Monaghan saw Longford go through Group A unbeaten to rebound from their Allianz Hurling League Division IIIA relegation. Fermanagh, who lost to Louth in last year’s Lory Meagher final, were pipped by the Wee County again in the promotion race from Division IIIB of the League, but despite losing to Cavan at the start of this month, they knocked another local rival out in the quarter-final against Monaghan.

Joe O’Brien, Cathal Mullane, David Buckley and Steven Creaven are crucial to Longford’s chances, while Fermanagh will look to Seán Corrigan, Caolán and John Duffy and Francis McBrien to build on their form from last weekend.

FIXTURES

Saturday, July 24

Christy Ring Cup Semi-Finals

Derry v Sligo, Owenbeg, 2pm

Offaly v Wicklow, Bord na Móna O’Connor Park, 2pm

Nickey Rackard Cup Semi-Finals

Armagh v Mayo, Avant Money Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, 1.30pm

Tyrone v Donegal, Carrickmore, 2pm

Lory Meagher Cup Semi-Finals

Longford v Fermanagh, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm

Cavan v Louth, Kingspan Breffni, 2.15pm