The Lory Meagher, Nickey Rackard and Christy Ring cups. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Round three of the Christy Ring, Nickey Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups took place over the weekend.
Christy Ring Cup
Meath’s Christy Ring Cup campaign sprung to life when they ended Derry’s unbeaten record at Celtic Park.
Goals from Mikey Cole (two) and Damien Healy put Meath in charge, with Jack Regan also in scoring form as they built up a six-point lead with half an hour left. Shea Cassidy hit the net to give Derry hope, while Cormac O’Doherty ended up with 12 points as they cut their deficit to the minimum late on, but Meath held firm to make it back-to-back wins.
Josh McGee-Cronolly netted a hat-trick as Donegal got off the mark with in ruthless style against neighbours Tyrone in Carrickmore.
With both teams targeting their first win of the group, Donegal burst into a 2-3 to 0-1 lead early on, with McGee-Cronolly getting both goals. Seán Duffin and Rory Weir helped Tyrone belatedly get a foothold in the game, but with McGee-Cronolly (3-2) and Declan Coulter (1-5) combining for 4-7 from play and keeper Luke White firing home his third penalty in consecutive weeks, Donegal were comprehensive winners.
Wicklow preserved their unbeaten start by drawing with London in Aughrim.
Goals from David Devine and Jack Morrissey helped London lead by eight points just before half-time, but Luke Evans netted twice in the space of five minutes either side of the interval to bring Wicklow right back into it. Warren Kavanagh, Seánie Germaine and John Toomey all scored off the bench to help the hosts edge ahead, but a second point from London sub Donnacha Leahy meant the spoils were shred.
Nickey Rackard Cup
Mayo continue to top the table in the Nickey Rackard Cup after they held off a strong challenge from Louth.
Darren Geoghegan and goal-scorer Leon Fox helped Louth lead by 1-14 to 1-11 after plying with the breeze during the first half. Kieran McDermott had earlier found the net for Mayo, who made a flying start to the second half with a swift impact from sub Simon Thomas. Fox replied on his way to a tally of 2-3 to regain the momentum for Louth, but Mayo kicked on down the home straight, with points from Shane Boland, Cormac Phillips and Daniel Huane securing a third win for the 2024 runners-up.
Sligo trail their fellow Connacht side by a single point after their prolific second-half performance away to Fermanagh.
Luca McCusker and Seán Corrigan’s majors kept Fermanagh in touch in a competitive opening half, but Andrew Kilcullen netted twice in quick succession after the restart to complete his hat-trick and put Sligo in command. Fermanagh were subsequently reduced to 14 men and Sligo took full advantage, with Kilcullen ending up with 4-7 and Conor Griffin on 2-2, while Fergal O’Kelly-Lynch came on to add their seventh goal.
Roscommon did just enough to stay in the hunt in an all-Connacht top three when they claimed their first win of the campaign at home to Armagh.
Cian Murray, Conor Mulry and Robbie Fallon were among the scorers as Roscommon built up a 0-9 to 0-4 lead at the break, but with Shea Harvey marking his return to notch eight points for Armagh, they hung into the contest. Sub Seán Canning hit the only goal to move Roscommon nine clear midway through the second half, although Harvey and replacements Charlie McArdle and Danny McGee kept Armagh battling. They cut their deficit to two late on, only for Mícheál Hussey to ensure Roscommon’s much-needed win.
Lory Meagher Cup
Cavan continue to set the pace in the Lory Meagher Cup after they clinched their third consecutive win at home to Lancashire.
With Liam O’Brien continuing his prolific form and Stephen Sheridan hitting the net, Cavan raced into a big lead once again. Seán Keating and Nicky Kenny both raised green flags for the second week in a row for the hosts and although Pádraic Burke and Shane O’Boyle hit a string of scores for Lancashire, Cavan had long since done enough to stay top of the table.
Longford also remain unbeaten, but only after a late rally earned them a draw with neighbours Leitrim.
The sides traded points six times during the opening 25 minutes, before Niall Hawes’ goal for Longford eventually put some daylight between them. Leitrim regrouped to get back within a point at half-time (1-8 to 0-10), before they kicked on with Seán Ó Riordáin getting their first open-play goal of the championship. Leitrim went on to stretch their lead to five heading for the final quarter, with Joe Murray hitting 0-6, but his total was matched by Longford’s Reuben Murray and almost equalled by Martin Farrell as the home side hit the last four points of the afternoon to salvage a draw.
Monaghan stayed in contention with a high-scoring win over Warwickshire in Inniskeen.
James and Shane Slevin hit 3-3 between them in the first half to inspire Monaghan to a 3-8 to 0-10 lead, with Jack Grealish accounting for five points for Warwickshire. Grealish went on to hit the net twice during the second half to take his tally to 2-6, but with Leo Moloney keeping the scoreboard ticking over and Mike Lyons adding a fourth goal late on, Monaghan secured their second win of the group.
RESULTS:
Saturday April 26
Christy Ring Cup Round 3
Meath 3-18 Derry 1-22
Donegal 5-18 Tyrone 0-10
Wicklow 2-17 London 2-17
Nickey Rackard Cup Round 3
Mayo 2-25 Louth 2-18
Sligo 7-20 Fermanagh 2-18
Lory Meagher Cup Round 3
Monaghan 4-22 Warwickshire 2-15
Leitrim 1-14 Longford 1-14
Cavan 3-24 Lancashire 2-14
Sunday April 27
Nickey Rackard Cup Round 3
Roscommon 1-15 Armagh 0-15
