Christy Ring/Nicky Rackard/Lory Meagher Cups 2015

Hammer Archer

Probably won't be a massive amount of interest in this, but thought I'd make a thread nonetheless.

The three lower level hurling championships are heading into their final stages over the next few weeks.

Today in the Christy Ring quarter finals, Wicklow will face up to Mayo in Arklow while Derry play Kildare in Owenbeg. Kerry have played both Derry and Kildare, so I'm assuming the winner of that game will play Meath in Trim while Wiclow/Mayo will play Kerry in Tralee.
Surprisingly, Down, who won last years Christy Ring, will play Armagh in a relegation playoff in 2 weeks time. Shows the unpredictability of this tournament.

In the Nicky Rackard Cup, the two top teams in Division 3A this year, Donegal and Roscommon, will be favourites to make the final when they play host to Fingal and Tyrone respectively in today's semi finals. The winners of the Nicky Rackard Cup will play the losers of the Down/Armagh relegation playoff to promote to the Christy Ring.
Sligo play Monaghan with the loser (I think) dropping to the Lory Meagher Cup.

In the Lory Meagher Cup, Longford will play Fermanagh in the final. These teams played out a draw in the final round robin game last weekend.

Still think it's a bit ridiculous that these competitions are played off so early in the summer. Already, Louth, Leitrim and Warwickshire's seasons are over for the year with another 4 or 5 teams' seasons finishing today.

Also, it's disgraceful that there is almost no TV coverage whatsoever of these tournaments. Last year I couldn't believe there were no cameras for the Meath - Down semi final which was one of the games of the season (finished 1-25 to 2-22 after extra time).

Kerrydude1981

The lack of TV coverage really pisses me off,the two finals we lost to Westmeath and Down had everything a top tier hurling game would have,but when it came to a highlights of the three finals they three games got a 5 minute slot on The Sunday Game.

Hopefully we will make the final again this year,I reckon Kildare will get there as well,they are improving as the year is going on,and had a right battle last week against our lads,barring the league result earlier on in the year there is never too much between ourselves and Kildare.

klairondavis

Good win this afternoon for Kildare up in Derry but the panel is probably not performing at the level it should be so far this year. There are a handful of players not featuring who probably should be.

iDave

Meath v Kildare in the semi so. Great opportunity for both the get to the final.

I do wonder how well these comps serve hurling outside the traditional areas. To me it seems to of crystallized most counties standing in hurling apart from maybe Carlow perhaps.
Personally I'd like the to see these 3 merged and then have a 2 tier All Ireland, the Liam McCarthy and a second competition. Give it a ridiculously grand name to add a bit of glamour. Perhaps the All Ireland Hurling Series or something like that. Bit how 2nd tier soccer is now call the Championship. The structure would be the Ulster championship and a new provincial competition for counties in Leinster, Connacht and Munster (Kerry) that are frozen out of existing provincial championships. Perhaps get the Connacht Council to do the admin to make sure they're pulling their weight hurling wise. You then have 2 provinces mirroring the Liam McCarthy structure. Have qualifiers etc and a final in August.

krazyklown

iDave wrote: »

I do wonder how well these comps serve hurling outside the traditional areas. To me it seems to of crystallized most counties standing in hurling apart from maybe Carlow perhaps.
Personally I'd like the to see these 3 merged and then have a 2 tier All Ireland, the Liam McCarthy and a second competition. Give it a ridiculously grand name to add a bit of glamour. Perhaps the All Ireland Hurling Series or something like that. Bit how 2nd tier soccer is now call the Championship. The structure would be the Ulster championship and a new provincial competition for counties in Leinster, Connacht and Munster (Kerry) that are frozen out of existing provincial championships. Perhaps get the Connacht Council to do the admin to make sure they're pulling their weight hurling wise. You then have 2 provinces mirroring the Liam McCarthy structure. Have qualifiers etc and a final in August.

With the greatest of respect, i would have to disagree completely. The way things are currently structured, every team in the three lower tiers can genuinely believe they can win out the competition if they put in the effort.
The challenge in hurling is that there are enormous gaps between groups of counties and merging these groups will lead to massive mismatches and inevitably teams getting hammered.
Of course, the next challenge is to close the gap between groups but how to achieve that is another days work. [My personal opinion is that if you could get the likes of KK, Galway, Cork, Tipp to put out intermediate teams into these competitions, it would act as stepping stones for the weaker county to improve their hurling. This will never happen though]

However you rightly point out the lack of glamour - the reason for this is quite simply the shocking level of promotion by the GAA for these competitions. Its like they cannot get them out of way quick enough to make way for the 'real' championships. It would be incredible if TG4 would broadcast the finals - i remember them showing the Ross-Kildare U21 B Final a couple of years ago. That would at least raise the prestige for the sport within that county creating a profile of the players.

I was at the Mayo-Wicklow game yesterday - decent match, but i saw the most bizarre scene, where during the first half a screaming match started between a couple of the Wicklow forwards (and one of their coaches) and culminated in the corner forward headbutting his own full forward. I felt they were beaten after that.

Hammer Archer

Some shock results yesterday.
Both Roscommon and Donegal knocked out at home. Fingal lost to Donegal in the league by 14 but managed to beat them by 2 today. Tyrone were in the basement division this season yet beat the 3A finalists in Athleague.
Fingal and Tyrone will play in the final in a few weeks time with the winner playing the loser of the Down - Armagh relegation playoff to promote to the Christy Ring.
Mayo beating Wicklow in Arklow was also a big shock with Kildare's win in Owenbeg a slightly less one. Overall, it was a big day for the away teams yesterday.

krazyklown

Surprised to see Rosscommon beaten but off the field it was a tough week for them so perhaps it took away their focus.
Kildare & Meath will be some semi final - very little between those two with Meath probably shaving it.

Kerrydude1981

Mayo and Meath both got home advantage for the semi finals on next Saturday

Mayo V Kerry

Meath v Kildare

http://www.gaa.ie/fixtures-and-results/national-fixtures/christy-ring-nicky-rackard-lory-meagher/

Hammer Archer

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

Mayo and Meath both got home advantage for the semi finals on next Saturday

Mayo V Kerry

Meath v Kildare

That's odd. I always thought the team that has taken the "front door" route to the semi final got home advantage. What's the incentive to win all your games otherwise?

Kerrydude1981

Hammer Archer wrote: »

That's odd. I always thought the team that has taken the "front door" route to the semi final got home advantage. What's the incentive to win all your games otherwise?

It seems to change every year,Kerry played Wicklow in the 2010 semi final in Neangh,in 2011 we played away to Down in the semis and last year we had home advantage against Kildare and now this year they held a draw to see who got to play at home.

I suppose if right was right the semi finals should be played as a curtain raiser to a top tier championship game.

traco

Lads, what's the deal with getting tickets to the Christy Ring Final. Can't find them online via the tickets.ie site unless I'm missing something. Have some friends over from US so thought I'd let them experience a bit of Irish sport

Kerrydude1981

traco wrote: »

Lads, what's the deal with getting tickets to the Christy Ring Final. Can't find them online via the tickets.ie site unless I'm missing something. Have some friends over from US so thought I'd let them experience a bit of Irish sport

Dont think they sell them online,

Show up on the day and buy them outside Croke Park in the ticket offices near the ground,

There is one across the road from Gill's pub.

traco

Kerrydude1981 wrote: »

Dont think they sell them online,

Show up on the day and buy them outside Croke Park in the ticket offices near the ground,

There is one across the road from Gill's pub.

Thanks, was going to take them to Kilkenny v Offaly in Nolan Park but this would be much handier and I could have a few beers as there'd be no driving.

Kerrydude1981

traco wrote: »

Thanks, was going to take them to Kilkenny v Offaly in Nolan Park but this would be much handier and I could have a few beers as there'd be no driving.

Hopefully Il have a reason to go to it again this year

feargale

Roscommon beaten by Tyrone - what on earth has happened to Roscommon hurling?

feargale

Roscommon beaten by Tyrone - what on earth has happened to Roscommon hurling?

DDC1990

Kerry in complete control here vs Mayo in Castlebar. Great performance from the lads in the first time but Mayo just haven't shown up. 3-14 to 0-05.

Kerry dominating all over the pitch really. Superior skill level and first touch make all the difference. They are reading the game far better.

Hope they consolidate the lead in the second and don't pick up any injuries.

DDC1990

Kerry second best all over the field so far in the second.

3-19 to 1-16

Need to stem the tide.

Fr Tod Umptious

DDC1990 wrote: »

Kerry second best all over the field so far in the second.

3-19 to 1-16

Need to stem the tide.

You mean Mayo

Hammer Archer

Kildare leading 1-9 to 7 at half time. Goal was scored after about 15 seconds. Kildare look much sharper all over the pitch and seem to win every break. That's the disadvantage of having a three week break against a team playing week in week out.

Meath have the wind in the second and look like they have a goal in them so.

plumber77

Any update on the Kildare game?

DDC1990

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

You mean Mayo

No Kerry were hammered in the second half. Hung on for a 3-20 to 1-18 win.

Outscored 6 points to 1-13 in the second half. Half forwards got lazy and got cleaned out.

Referee made a bit of a game of it as well with some ludicrous frees.

Anyway a a win is a win, but Kerry cannot play like that in the final if they are to have any hopes of winning the Christy Ring

Stevecw

plumber77 wrote: »

Any update on the Kildare game?

Kildare ahead by 6 with around 10 mins left

Stevecw

Kildare won 1-18 to 0-13. Easier than expected

Hammer Archer

Left it behind us yet again. Didn't perform on the day. Third year in a row we've lost at the semi final stage.
Once Kildare got their goal in the first minute it was all over. Nothing went right for us in the second half. Got to within 2/3 points and then missed a penalty and had a 20m free hit the crossbar. Missed some easy frees that would have brought us level. Keeper also made some great saves in the first half.
There was still 3 points in it with 10/15 minutes to go but the shoulders dropped. Kildare certainly weren't 8 points better than us. Can only see a Kerry win in the final but I also said that last year.

Kerrydude1981

The second half seems to be a problem with our lads this year,they fly out of the blocks in the first half and try and put teams away early,playing Kildare for the third time this year,it should be a great final,the wide open spaces of Croke Park should suit both teams.

TheFIFAking

Disappointed in Meath today, they had been going well and had beaten Kildare earlier in the campaign I believe. They have now lost three semi-finals in a row.

Hammer Archer

TheFIFAking wrote: »

Disappointed in Meath today, they had been going well and had beaten Kildare earlier in the campaign I believe. They have now lost three semi-finals in a row.

Beat them in the Kehoe Cup earlier in the year. Also beat them in last season's Christy Ring. However, they've beaten us when it's really counted (like today and in the league final 2 years ago).
Surprising that in the three games we played, we didn't score a single goal. That's what killed us today.

feargale

Down v. Armagh today?

feargale

Down v. Armagh today?

Hammer Archer

Down won easily 5-24 to 2-15. Armagh now play the winners of the Nicky Rackard Final to stay in the Christy Ring.

TheFIFAking

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Beat them in the Kehoe Cup earlier in the year. Also beat them in last season's Christy Ring. However, they've beaten us when it's really counted (like today and in the league final 2 years ago).
Surprising that in the three games we played, we didn't score a single goal. That's what killed us today.

They seem to be able to turn it on alright, although we beat them in the quarter final a couple of years ago in Navan. Always think they have excellent hurlers than us but never seem to be able to put good performances back to back.

Kerrydude1981

See RTE.ie have Mayo V Kildare in the Christy Ring Final next week,simple mistake to make I suppose,Kerry and Mayo do have green in their jerseys

paul0103

Hammer Archer wrote: »

Down won easily 5-24 to 2-15. Armagh now play the winners of the Nicky Rackard Final to stay in the Christy Ring.

I think this means that Armagh are automatically relegated and Down play the Nicky Rackard winners to see who plays in Christy Ring next year.

Mal-Adjusted

paul0103 wrote: »

I think this means that Armagh are automatically relegated and Down play the Nicky Rackard winners to see who plays in Christy Ring next year.

does that mean that the Ring is being reduced by a team as well? Is the Rackard?

paul0103

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

does that mean that the Ring is being reduced by a team as well? Is the Rackard?

There will still be the same number of teams in Christy Ring, Armagh have been relegated from Ring and are being replaced by London, and if the Kerry/Kildare win their promotion game they'll be replaced by Westmeath, if not they'll stay where they are.

The number of teams in Nicky Rackard will be increased to 8 next year.

Kerrydude1981

Just got this sent to me,info about tickets for the games on Saturday,its showing tickets for the Cusack Stand in the drop menu which is strange as in other years the Hogan Stand was the only part of the stadium opened for these games,



https://gaa.tickets.ie/Booking/EventTickets/19175/christy-ring-nicky-rackard-lory-meaghar-finals-2014-croke-park-dublin-7-June-2014

The Premier Man

Can someone tell me why these competitions are played off so early in the year? Would it not be better to play these later in the year before one of the big hurling matches?

Mal-Adjusted

I wondered this myself. The cup champions will have an extra match for promotion/relegation but there's two and a half months for that. The cynic in me wants to think the GAA just wants these championships over and out of the way but surely there's more to it than that?

DDC1990

Just heading to Croker now.

Best of luck to all teams involved, and from a personal standpoint I'd love to see Kerry walk away with the Christy Ring trophy at the end of the day and have a chance to move up to the Championship with 1 more win.

Kildare ran us close last time in Newbridge, and will have a big crowd up to support them, so it'll be tough.

€25 is quite steep and is pushing away a lot of Kerry fans who would just go up to watch the one game. It a lot of money to spend on top of a long way to travel. I know its a final, and you get 3 games, but I'd much rather pay €25 to see it packaged with a Leinster/Munster Hurling game.

Also lack of TV coverage is a disgrace. Let TG4 have it or something. Garner interest in the smaller Hurling counties by promoting these finals correctly.

klairondavis

DDC1990 wrote: »

Just heading to Croker now.

Best of luck to all teams involved, and from a personal standpoint I'd love to see Kerry walk away with the Christy Ring trophy at the end of the day and have a chance to move up to the Championship with 1 more win.

Kildare ran us close last time in Newbridge, and will have a big crowd up to support them, so it'll be tough.

€25 is quite steep and is pushing away a lot of Kerry fans who would just go up to watch the one game. It a lot of money to spend on top of a long way to travel. I know its a final, and you get 3 games, but I'd much rather pay €25 to see it packaged with a Leinster/Munster Hurling game.

Also lack of TV coverage is a disgrace. Let TG4 have it or something. Garner interest in the smaller Hurling counties by promoting these finals correctly.

I don't think there will be that big a Kildare crowd. Apart from the hurling die hards, most of the casual supporters will be giving this a miss with the footballers out tomorrow.

It's hard to criticise people for not attending considering the current climate. €50 just on tickets over one weekend, not taking into account travel/food etc is a lot for many people. As you say, people are only interested in watching their own county's game and the GAA should really factor this into their pricing instead of trotting out the 'value for 3 games' line.

I hope Kildare give this a right rattle today. We have nothing to lose as underdogs and no one would have expected to be here after a bit of a disaster of a league campaign. Our form is going the right way now and the Croke Park factor shouldn't be an issue after playing there last year before the footballers. It's our biggest hurling match in 7 years and I hope they do the county proud win, lose or draw.

DDC1990

Longford Fermanagh isn't a bad game.

Could be Limerick v Tipp slowed down a bit with the jerseys :P

2-14 to 2-10 now.

ciarriaithuaidh

Why isn't the hurling on TG4 today as DDC says? :rolleyes:

In previous years the Christy Ring and other finals were live on TG4, shame they haven't kept it up. Would like to have watched that game today. Hopefully Kerry round off what has been a decent year by winning the CR Cup. Still a shame they aren't in a higher division in the league for next year but there's good work being done at least.

DDC1990

2 corner backs sent off for Off the Ball incidents, one from either side.

Needless enough from a picky referee.

Longford still in control 3-17 to 2-15

Mal-Adjusted

If the Christy ring final is anything like the the under 21 final last September between the same two sides, it'll be very close.

Kieran81

is it online anywhere, incredibly disrespectful to the commitment the players give to not have at least the final on tv

Kieran81

Kieran81 wrote: »

is it online anywhere, incredibly disrespectful to the commitment the players give to not have at least the final on tv

Pity it's not online alright any score updates available?

KevIRL

Deleted User wrote: »

Pity it's not online alright any score updates available?

Kildare 3-10 Kerry 2-12 in the second half sounds like a cracker

KevIRL

4th Kildare goal 4-13 to 2-17 now

KevIRL

Believe the final score was Kildare 4-18 Kerry 2-22. Congrats to Kildare

KevIRL

KevIRL wrote: »

Believe the final score was Kildare 4-18 Kerry 2-22. Congrats to Kildare

Thanks for the updates, sounds like I should have gone to this after all!