hurling

Preview: Weekend's Ring, Rackard, Meagher Cups action

25 April 2025 - 9:19AM

John Mullan continues to impress for Derry. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The group stages of the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups pass the halfway point this weekend.

Christy Ring Cup

Wicklow will be chasing a third straight win in the Christy Ring Cup when they host London in Aughrim on Saturday.

2023 Nickey Rackard winners Wicklow have started with back-to-back wins over Ulster sides Tyrone and Donegal, but they will face a stern test of their credentials from Allianz Hurling League Division Three runners-up London, who turned Meath over in round one and went close to backing that up against fellow contenders Derry.

Pádraig Doran and Pádraig Doyle have been in scoring form for Wicklow, while David Devine, Seán Glynn, Paul Kennedy and Conor O’Carroll could play important roles for London.

Derry host Meath in a much-anticipated Christy Ring Cup tie, a repeat of the 2023 decider.

Meath won that clash – one of three final losses for Derry since 2021 – but the Oak Leaf County have made an impressive start to the campaign by beating Donegal and London. Meath bounced back from their opening-round loss to London with a convincing win over Tyrone.

Former Antrim hurler Christy McNaughton continues to star in his first season with Derry, who will also be looking to Cormac O’Doherty, Mark Craig and John Mullan to lead the way. Jack Regan, James Kelly, Damien Healy and Dáire Shine should be among the main men for Meath.

An Ulster derby in Carrickmore will see both Tyrone and Donegal bid for their first win of the campaign.

2024 Nickey Rackard winners Donegal have fallen to narrow losses to both Derry and Wicklow (losing Conor Gartland to a late red card last time out), while Tyrone’s winless run continued against Wicklow and Meath. Tyrone will be depending on the likes of Aidy Kelly, Seán Duffin and Ciarán Magill, while Gerard Gilmore, Liam McKinney, veteran Danny Cullen and keeper Luke White (who has netted two penalties in two games) should be key to Donegal’s prospects.

Nickey Rackard Cup

Mayo will have a third win of this year’s Nickey Rackard Cup in their sights when they host Louth on Saturday.

Two-time Nickey Rackard winners Mayo, who reached another final last year, have hit the ground running with wins over Roscommon and Armagh. Louth lost out to Sligo in round one, but they got off the mark by repeating their Allianz Hurling League Division Four final win against Fermanagh.

Mayo trio Shane Boland, Liam Lavin and Cormac Phillips have all been in prolific form, as has Louth’s Darren Geoghegan, with Offaly natives Conor Clancy and Leon Fox also manning key positions for the Wee County.

Sligo make the short trip to Enniskillen to take on Fermanagh.

Sligo have made a positive start with a win over Louth and a draw against Roscommon, while 2024 Lory Meagher champions Fermanagh need to get points on the board after losing to Armagh and Louth.

Sligo will be hoping that Andrew Kilcullen, Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch and Darragh Flynn can impress, while Ryan Bogue, Luca McCusker, Seán Corrigan and Danann McKeogh are vital to Fermanagh’s chances of their first win.

Sunday’s only game sees Roscommon host Armagh, with both teams needing a win.

Roscommon ended up with just one point from back-to-back Connacht derbies against Mayo and Sligo, needing Jack Donnelly’s added-time goal to salvage a draw from the latter. Armagh edged Fermanagh in their opener, but they fell well short of Mayo. Roscommon will look for big displays from Robbie Fallon, Brendan and Conor Mulry and Cathal Kenny. Armagh, who have been without their NHL top scorer Shea Harvey, will need players like Tiarnán Nevin, Paul Gaffney and Charlie McArdle to step up.

Lory Meagher Cup

Leitrim make the short trip to Longford on Saturday for a big derby in the Lory Meagher Cup.

Leitrim have used Glennon Brothers Pearse Park as a temporary home venue for some games this year, including a tense win over Lancashire last week, which kept them in touch after their opening-round loss to Monaghan. 2024 runners-up Longford, meanwhile, boast a 100 per cent record to date after wins over Lancashire and Warwickshire as they look to qualify for a third final in four years.

Leitrim will be relying on Dublin-based duo Joe Murray and Philip Burgess, as well as Martin Feeney and Stephen Goldrick, while Reuben Murray, Evan Tully and Martin Farrell could point the way for Longford as they seek to overturn their league defeat in this fixture.

Cavan bid for a third consecutive win when they host Lancashire.

Wins over Warwickshire and Monaghan have underlined Cavan’s status as contenders in this competition, while Lancashire are playing catch-up after losing to Longford and Leitrim. The Exiles did compete much better last week, only to lose by a single point.

Waterford native Liam O’Brien has racked up 3-61 this year for Cavan, who can also call on Seán Keating, Canice Maher and Nicky Kenny. Lancashire will need big performances from Peter Boylan, Conor Levingstone, Eoghan Clifford and Shane O’Boyle.

Monaghan welcome Warwickshire to Inniskeen on Saturday in a must-win game for both sides.

After starting with a win over Leitrim, Monaghan lost out to neighbours Cavan last time out, leaving them needing to repeat their league victory at the expense of Warwickshire, who are still searching for their first points of this campaign, following defeats against Cavan and Longford, the latter by the narrowest of margins.

Monaghan should welcome Niall Arthur back to spearhead their attack, with support from Niall Garland and James Slevin. Warwickshire will hope to have Jordan Conway fit after he limped off v Longford, with Jack Grealish, Miley Connors and Luke Hands also central to their hopes.

FIXTURES

Saturday April 26

Christy Ring Cup Round 3

Tyrone v Donegal, Carrickmore, 12.30pm

Wicklow v London, Aughrim, 1pm

Derry v Meath, Celtic Park, 1pm

Nickey Rackard Cup Round 3

Mayo v Louth, Castlebar, 3pm

Fermanagh v Sligo, Enniskillen, 3pm

Lory Meagher Cup Round 3

Longford v Leitrim, Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, 12pm

Monaghan v Warwickshire, Inniskeen,12.30pm