By Colm Shalvey

Christy Ring Cup

Mayo will attempt to build on a positive Allianz Hurling League campaign when they travel to Aughrim to face Wicklow in Round 1 of the Christy Ring Cup Group 1.

Just 12 months after needing a win to stay in Division 2B of the League, Mayo went all the way to win that title, seeing off Down in the final. 2017 Division 2B runners-up Wicklow narrowly missed out on contesting another decider, having lost by three points to Mayo in the penultimate round of group games.

Mayo dual star Keith Higgins focused on hurling for the League, although he has been named in the county’s football team for their Connacht Championship opener against Galway on Sunday. Higgins made up part of a prolific Mayo attack alongside the likes of Kenny Feeney and Shane Boland during the spring, while Seán Regan and team captain Cathal Freeman also have plenty to offer. Wicklow had the Division 2B top scorer in Andy O’Brien, who averaged more than 10 points per game, while they have been boosted by the return of Mikey Lee and the addition to their panel of former Wexford hurler PJ Nolan.

The other Group 1 game sees Kildare welcome Roscommon to Newbridge.

Kildare will be hoping to put a testing spring behind them after they failed to earn a point in being relegated from Division 2A, but Roscommon won’t have too many fond memories of their Allianz Hurling League campaign that saw them miss out on a place in the Division 3A Final. 2014 Christy Ring winners Kildare lost out to eventual champions Carlow at the quarter-final stage last year, while Roscommon lost the relegation play-off before getting a reprieve in a shake-up of the tiers.

James Burke is a rising star for Kildare, with Mark Delaney, Martin Fitzgerald and Éanna O’Neill other key players under former Limerick goalkeeper Joe Quaid. Daniel Glynn has emerged as the focal point of the Roscommon attack, with Éamon Flanagan, Shane Curley and Naos Connaughton also having much to offer.

Group 2 features three Ulster sides, alongside London, who were the top-ranked Christy Ring team in the 2018 Allianz Hurling League.

A final-round win over Kildare was enough to keep London up in Division 2A, while their first-round opponents Derry lost five straight games in Division 2B, only to maintain their status with a comprehensive play-off win over Armagh. After being relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup in 2016, Derry went all the way to win that title last year. 2012 Christy Ring champions London have been beaten quarter-finalists in each of the last three campaigns.

Derry should be able to call on several Slaughtneil stars like Chrissy McKaigue, Brendan Rogers, Sé McGuigan and Gerard Bradley, as well as top marksman Alan Grant. Free-taker Richard Murphy accounted for almost half of London’s scores in the League, with the likes of Martin Duggan, Colin Nelson and Shane Lawless also contributing.

Ballycran is the venue for a derby between Down and Armagh.

These teams had contrasting League campaigns, with Down reaching the Division 2B Final, where they lost to Mayo, while Armagh fell to a second consecutive relegation after losing a play-off against Derry. 2017 Nicky Rackard runners-up Armagh have had a turbulent month, with Paddy Kelly’s departure leading to Pádraig O'Connor coming in as interim manager. Three-time Christy Ring finalists and 2013 champions Down lost to Antrim in last year’s semi-finals.

Down comfortably defeated their neighbours at Saturday’s venue back in February and they have players on song like Paul Sheehan, Danny Toner, Daithí Sands and Declan McManus. Armagh will need big performances from marksman David Carville, Ryan Gaffney and Eoin McGuinness if they are to upset the form book.

Nicky Rackard Cup

****First up in the Nicky Rackard Cup is Louth v Warwickshire in a repeat of the Allianz Hurling League Division 3A Final.

Warwickshire won that decider to finish the campaign unbeaten, with their only draw in six games coming against Louth in round three. That was a second title in just over nine months for Warwickshire, who won the Lory Meagher Cup last June.

Warwickshire have been without last year’s talisman, former Antrim star Liam Watson, but Niall McKenna, Ian Dwyer, Paul Hoban, Paul Uniacke and Shane Caulfield play central roles for the Exiles. Louth have been boosted by the addition of Clare natives Niall and Gerry Arthur – with the former racking up a huge 7-50 in six League appearances – while Gerard Smyth and Shane Callan are other key men.

Monaghan host Longford in Inniskeen.

First-time Kehoe Cup winners Longford are coming off relegation from Division 3A of the Allianz Hurling League, while Monaghan (who lost to eventual champions Derry in last year’s Nicky Rackard semi-finals) were unable to build on an opening-round win over Saturday’s opponents.

Fergal Rafter has emerged as a leading light for Monaghan, along with Mark and Peter Treanor. Longford will hope to be able to call on Joe O’Brien, Cathal Mullane, Patrick Walsh and Séamus Hannon to lead their challenge, although they have reported several injury doubts.

Group 2 features a local derby between Tyrone and Donegal in Killyclogher.

These teams won this title in recent years – Donegal in 2013 and Tyrone 12 months later – although the semi-final stage has proven a hurdle too high for both since then. Donegal had a good league, earning three wins in Division 2B, while Tyrone had an identical record but at a lower level (Division 3A).

Lee Henderson, Danny Cullen, Ciarán Matthewson and former Armagh forward Declan Coulter should be prominent for Donegal. Tyrone’s chances depend largely on Damian Casey, who accumulated 2-60 in just five League games, with support from Aidan Kelly, Ryan McKernan and a fit-again Seán Óg Grogan.

FIXTURES

Saturday, May 12

Christy Ring Cup Group 1 Round 1**

Wicklow v Mayo, Aughrim, 3pm

Kildare v Roscommon, Newbridge, 3.30pm

Christy Ring Cup Group 2 Round 1

Derry v London, Ballinascreen, 1pm

Down v Armagh, Ballycran, 3pm

Nicky Rackard Cup Group 1 Round 1

Louth v Warwickshire, Dowdallshill, Dundalk, 1pm

Monaghan v Longford, Inniskeen 4.30pm

Nicky Rackard Cup Group 2 Round 1

Tyrone v Donegal, Killyclogher, 3pm