A general view of the Nicky Rackard, left, Christy Ring and Lory Meagher, right, cups at Croke Park.
The Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups continue this weekend.
Christy Ring Cup
Wicklow will be looking to build on first-round wins when they make the long trip to Letterkenny to face Donegal on Saturday.
Donegal fell short despite a competitive performance against neighbours Derry last weekend, while Wicklow got up and running at the expense of Tyrone. Wicklow pipped Donegal in the 2023 Nickey Rackard Cup decider, before the Ulster men bounced back to win last year’s final.
Pádraig Doran and Pádraig Doyle were on form up front for Wicklow in round one, while Donegal have their own threats up front in Gerard Gilmore, Liam McKinney and Conor Gartland.
Meath and Tyrone will both be searching for their first win of the campaign in Trim.
Meath, who dropped back down from the Joe McDonagh Cup last year, were blitzed by four first-half goals from London, while Tyrone’s second-half comeback proved fruitless against Wicklow.
Jack Regan, Nicky Potterton, Joey Cole and Dáire Shine should play key roles for Johnny Greville’s Meath side, with Tyrone depending on the likes of Aidy Kelly, Tiernan Morgan and Michael Little.
Sunday sees London host Derry, with both teams looking to build on winning starts.
Allianz Hurling League Division III runners-up London got their championship off to a flying start with an excellent win over Meath, while Derry held off a stern challenge from Donegal.
Paul Kennedy, Conor O’Carroll and Jack Morrissey all hit the net for London in their opener, while David Devine contributed seven points. Former Antrim hurler Christy McNaughton has starred in his first season with Derry, who will also hope to call on the likes of Cormac O’Doherty, Mark Craig and John Mullan.
Mayo hurler, Liam Lavin.
Nickey Rackard Cup
Round two of the Nickey Rackard Cup includes an all-Connacht clash of Sligo v Roscommon.
Sligo, who are returning to Nickey Rackard level for the first time since their 2019 success, had too much firepower for Louth last week, while Roscommon lost out to Mayo.
Andrew Kilcullen, Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch and Conor Hanniffy could lead the way for Sligo, while Roscommon will look for big displays from Robbie Fallon, Brendan and Conor Mulry and Cathal Kenny.
Armagh and Mayo will look to secure back-to-back wins when they face off on Saturday.
Mayo claimed their result with a bit more to spare, as they had a seven-point winning margin against Roscommon, while Armagh were made to sweat to get over the line v 2024 Lory Meagher champions Fermanagh. 12 wins from their last 13 league games have seen Mayo lift back-to-back titles and secure promotion to Division II.
Shane Boland, Liam Lavin and Cormac Phillips have all been in prolific form for Mayo, with David and Seán Kenny also to the fore. Armagh’s top scorer Shea Harvey missed out last week, increasing their reliance on Danny Magee, Conor Renaghan and Charlie McArdle.
Louth host Fermanagh on Sunday, in a repeat of the Allianz Hurling League Division IV decider, which the Wee County won.
Both counties are recent winners of the Lory Meagher Cup, with Louth lifting that title in 2022 and Fermanagh doing likewise last year. Despite competitive displays last weekend, they ended up empty-handed, with Louth losing to Sligo and Fermanagh being edged out by Armagh.
The free-scoring Darren Geoghegan and Offaly natives Conor Clancy and Leon Fox are among the main men for Louth. Ryan Bogue, Luca McCusker, Seán Corrigan and John Duffy can play key roles for Fermanagh.
Lory Meagher Cup
Glennon Brothers Pearse Park is the venue for a Lory Meagher Cup double-header on Saturday, beginning with Leitrim v Lancashire.
Both teams will have to regroup from opening-round losses: Leitrim against Monaghan and Lancashire at the hands of Longford. Dublin-based duo Joe Murray and Philip Burgess should be central to Leitrim’s prospects, while Eoghan Clifford, Pádraic Burke and Shane O’Boyle will be looking to help Lancashire to get back on track.
That will be followed by Longford hosting Warwickshire.
Two-time Lory Meagher winners Longford will be looking to complete a double over the English-based sides after beating Lancashire in round one, while Warwickshire will have to put their heavy loss to Cavan behind them. Reuben Murray, Evan Tully and Martin Farrell could provide the scores Longford need against a Warwickshire side depending on Jack Grealish, Miley Connors, Jordan Conway and Luke Hands.
Saturday’s other game is a derby between Cavan and Monaghan.
Following some encouraging displays in the league, Cavan started the Lory Meagher with a ruthless win over Warwickshire. 2023 champions Monaghan put their disappointing league behind them, meanwhile, to get the better of Leitrim.
Cavan manager Ollie Bellew can call on his fellow Antrim man Éamon Óg McAllister, as well as prolific Waterford native Liam O’Brien and Kilkenny duo Canice Maher and Nicky Kenny. Niall Arthur, Niall Garland and James Slevin should play central roles for Monaghan.
FIXTURES
Saturday, April 19
Christy Ring Cup Round 2
Donegal v Wicklow, Letterkenny, 2pm
Meath v Tyrone, Trim, 3pm
Nickey Rackard Cup Round 2
Armagh v Mayo, BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, 2pm
Mayo v Roscommon, Castlebar, 3pm
Sligo v Roscommon, Markievicz Park, 2pm
Lory Meagher Cup Round 2
Leitrim v Lancashire, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 12pm
Longford v Warwickshire, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 2pm
Cavan v Monaghan, Kingspan Breffni, 3pm
Sunday***, April*** 20
Christy Ring Cup Round 2
London v Derry, McGovern Park, Ruislip, 12.30pm
Nickey Rackard Cup Round 2
Louth v Fermanagh, Dowdallshill, 2pm