Saturday, June 4

Christy Ring Cup Final

Antrim v Meath, Croke Park, 5.30pm

By Colm Shalvey

Antrim will attempt to win the Christy Ring Cup for the first time since their last appearance 10 years ago when they take on first-time finalists Meath on Saturday.

Having dropped out of the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time since their Christy Ring success a decade ago, Antrim have put a turbulent spring behind them to take the direct route to the final.

The Ulster champions saw PJ O’Mullan step down as manager after they failed to challenge for promotion from the Allianz Hurling League Division 2A, losing their last three games. With former Antrim players Terence McNaughton, Dominic McKinley, Neal Peden, and Gary O’Kane taking the reins (the former duo also having managed from 2007 to 2009), wins over Kildare, Roscommon, and Down have steadied the ship and earned them this appearance at Croke Park.

Meath have been consistent competitors in this competition and after four unsuccessful semi-final appearances – including three in a row between 2012 and 2014 – they have finally jumped that penultimate hurdle. There were few precursors for this run in an underwhelming Allianz Hurling League Division 2B campaign, but after a first-round win over Wicklow, they turned London over at Ruislip to go straight into the last four, where they righted their poor recent record against Kildare.

Antrim have been doing without players of the calibre of Liam Watson and Neil McManus, but Ciarán Clarke has hit 2-33 in three Christy Ring Cup games (including 2-10 v Kildare and 0-16 v Down). Conor Carson, John Dillon, Niall McKenna, and James Connolly have also made important contributions, with Eddie McCloskey and Conor Johnston capable of stepping up.

Meath have three players with tallies in double figures in this championship, namely youngster Gavin McGowan (4-6), James Toher (0-17) and Adam Gannon (1-10). Steven Clynch – often Meath’s talisman in recent years – hit three points when he made a welcome return for their semi-final win, while Neil Heffernan and Seán Heavey can also play key roles. Meath’s run has been put together in the absence of Jack Regan – the second-highest scorer in the Christy Ring Cup last year – after the rising star suffered a broken wrist during the league.

Antrim’s 6-58 scored to date is just two points more than Meath’s, while the Ulster side have also conceded a point per game less (1-52 in total, compared to 3-49). Antrim have been the favourites since the tournament started and they will once again carry that status into this game.

**Antrim Christy Ring Cup scorers 2016: **Ciarán Clarke 2-33 (0-23f, 0-1 ‘65); Conor Carson 2-3; Niall McKenna, James Connolly 0-6 each; John Dillon 1-2; Nigel Elliott 1-0; Conor Johnston, Eddie McCloskey 0-2 each; Eoghan Campbell, Conor McKinley, Michal Dudley, Ryan McCambridge 0-1 each.

Meath Christy Ring Cup scorers 2016: Gavin McGowan 4-6; James Toher 0-17 (11f); Adam Gannon 1-10 (0-5f); Neil Heffernan 1-6; Stephen Morris 0-5; Steven Clynch 0-3; Seán Heavey 0-2; Shane McGann (f), Damien Healy, Ronan Sherlock, Kevin Keena, Shane Brennan, Seán Quigley, Michael O’Grady 0-1 each.

Christy Ring Cup top scorers 2016:

Gerry Keegan (Kildare) 0-42

Ciarán Clarke (Antrim)  2-33

Christy Moorehouse (Wicklow) 1-21

Kevin O’Loughlin (London)  1-20

Danny Toner   (Down)            2-13

Antrim sharp-shooter Ciarán Clarke is well within touching distance of the top of the Christy Ring Cup scoring charts, as his 2-33 in three games leaves him just three points behind leader Gerry Keegan, who hit 0-42 in Kildare’s four games. Fellow free-takers Christy Moorehouse (Wicklow), Kevin O’Loughlin (London) and Danny Toner (Down) complete the top five.