2006 Christy Ring Cup

2006 Christy Ring Cup
Dates3 June 2006 – 6 August 2006
Teams8
ChampionsAntrim (1st title)
Karl McKeegan (captain)
Jim McKernan (manager)
Runners-upCarlow
Eoin Garvey (manager)
Tournament statistics
Matches played24
Top scorer(s)Paul Braniff (6-26)
← 2005 (Previous) (Next) 2007 →

The 2006 Christy Ring Cup is the second edition of the Christy Ring Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005 and is the second-tier of Hurling for senior county teams (the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is the first-tier trophy). It is contested by ten GAA county teams ranked 13–22 in the 2006 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The cup began on 3 June 2006 and ended on 6 August 2006.

Westmeath were the defending champions, however, they availed of their automatic right of promotion to the All-Ireland Championship.[1] Antrim and London contested the cup for the first time.

On 6 August 2006, Antrim won the Christy Ring Cup following a 5-13 to 1-7 defeat of Carlow in the final. This was their first Christy Ring Cup title.

Down's Paul Braniff was the championship's top scorer with 6-26.

Anthony Flaherty came out of retirement at the age of 49 to play for Roscommon against Meath in this competition. Flaherty had not played competitive hurling for eight years ("about 1998") at that time. Flaherty scored a goal against Meath in that game.[2]

Team changes

To Championship

Relegated from the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

Promoted from the Nicky Rackard Cup

From Championship

Promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

Relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup

Teams

General Information

County Last Provincial title Last All-Ireland title Position in 2005 Championship Appearance
Antrim 2005 — Lost relegation playoff (All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship) 1st
Carlow — — Semi-finals 2nd
Down 1997 — Runners-up 2nd
Kerry 1891 1891 3rd in Group B 2nd
Kildare — — Semi-finals 2nd
London — 1901 Champions (Nicky Rackard Cup) 1st
Mayo 1909 — 5th in Group B 2nd
Meath — — 3rd in Group A 2nd
Roscommon 1913 — 4th in Group A 2nd
Wicklow — — 4th in Group B 2nd

Personnel and kits

County Manager Captain(s) Sponsor
Antrim
Carlow
Down
Kerry
Kildare
London
Mayo
Meath
Roscommon
Wicklow

Format

Ten counties contested the 2006 competition for the Christy Ring Cup — the prize for the winners of Tier Two of the Guinness All-Ireland Hurling Championship. The inaugural competition involved the current middle rank of hurling counties:

These 10 counties are divided into two groups of five and play in a round-robin format, guaranteeing at least four games each. The eventual group winners and runners-up will qualify for the semi-finals of the Christy Ring Cup. The prize for the winners of the final will be promotion to Tier One of the Hurling Championship to contest the Liam MacCarthy Cup the following year.

The last team in each group will be involved in a relegation play-off with the eventual loser being relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup.

Group stage

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L SF SA Diff Pts Qualification
1 Down 4 4 0 0 8-76 2-43 51 8 Advance to Knockout Stage
2 Antrim 4 3 0 1 15-70 2-48 61 6
3 London 4 2 0 2 7-45 4-59 -5 4
4 Meath 4 1 0 3 2-65 10-50 -9 2
5 Roscommon 4 0 0 4 2-35 16-91 -98 0 Advance to relegation playoff

Results

10 June 2006 Round 1 Roscommon 0-10 - 2-10 London Athleague Sportsfield
R Mulry 0-4, B Kelly 0-3, G Fallon 0-1, D Loughnane 0-1, A Cunniffe 0-1. S Malone 0-4, S Quinn 1-0, P Fagan 1-0, G Smith 0-1, M Gordon 0-1, F McMahon 0-1, B Foley 0-1, K McMullen 0-1, T Simms 0-1. Referee: T McMahon (Fermanagh)
10 June 2006 Round 1 Down 1-23 - 1-7 Antrim McKenna Park
P Braniff 0-8, S Clarke 0-4, O Clarke 1-0, B McGourty 0-3, M Coulter 0-3, D Flynn 0-2, E Trainor 0-1. Brian McFall 0-4, K Kelly 1-0, John McIntosh 0-2, J Scullion 0-1. Referee: G Devlin (Armagh)
18 June 2006 Round 2 Antrim 9-39 - 0-5 Roscommon Casement Park
P Richmond (3-4), J McIntosh (2-8), L Watson (2-3), J Scullion (1-5), M Dallas (0-7), B McFall (1-3), B Delargy (0-3), M Molloy (0-3), D McKillop (0-2), M Scullion (0-1). B Kelly (0-3), G Fallon (0-1), R Kennedy (0-1).
18 June 2006 Round 2 London 3-15 - 0-20 Meath Emerald GAA Grounds
S Malone (2-2), K McMullan (1-1), F McMahon (0-3), M O’Meara (0-3), D Smith (0-2), P Fagan (0-2), B Foley (0-1), S Quinn (0-1). T Reilly (0-11), K Dowd (0-3), J Keena (0-2), G O’Neil (0-2), S Clynch (0-1), K Fagan (0-1).
24 June 2006 Round 3 Down 3-21 - 0-12 Roscommon
B Innes 1-3, S Clarke 1-4, E Clarke 1-2, P Braniff 0-5, E Trainor 0-3, S Wilson 0-2 B McGourty 0-1. R Mulry 0-7, B Kelly 0-2, A Cunniffe, G Fallon, Conniughton 0-1 each.
24 June 2006 Round 3 Antrim 3-12 - 0-13 Meath
L Watson 2-4, 2-2 frees; J McIntosh 0-4; K Kelly 1-1; M Dallas 0-2; P McGill 0-1. T Riley 0-6 (2f '65), S Clynch, J Keena 0-2 each, M Cole, P Coone, P Donnelly 0-1 each.
8 July 2006 Round 4 Down 2-15 - 0-11 Meath McKenna Park
Paul Braniff 2-2, S Clarke 0-5, B McGourty 0-4, E Trainor 0-2, Gabriel Clarke 0-1, S Wilson 0-1. N Hackett 0-4, M Cole 0-2, K Fegan 0-2, J Keenan 0-1, E Keogh 0-1, S Heavey 0-1. Referee: T Mahon (Fermanagh)
8 July 2006 Round 4 Antrim 2-12 - 1-7 London Casement Park
Paddy Richmond 1-2, Johnny McIntosh 1-2, Brian McFall 0-5, M Scullion 0-1, K Kelly 0-1, J Scullion 0-1. B Foley 1-1, J Ryan 0-2, D Smith 0-2, E Phelan 0-1, P Fagan 0-1. Referee: G McGrath (Westmeath)
15 July 2006 Round 5 London 1-13 - 2-17 Down Emerald GAA Grounds
E Conway 0-4, J Ryan 1-0, P Fagan 0-2, S Malone 0-2, F McMahon 0-2, K McMullan 0-1, M O’Meara 0-1, T Simms 0-1. Paul Braniff 0-5, E Trainor 0-5, S Clarke 1-1, S Murray 0-2, S Wilson 0-1, B McGourty 0-1, G Adair 0-1, M Braniff 0-1. Referee: C McAllister (Cork)
15 July 2006 Round 5 Meath 2-21 - 2-8 Roscommon Páirc Tailteann
P Coone 1-5, K Fagan 1-3, T Reilly 0-5, S Clynch 0-3, J Keenan 0-2, J Watters 0-2, N Hackett 0-1. M Connaughton 0-5, A Flaherty 1-0, T Reddington 1-0, G Waldron 0-1, A Cunniffe 0-1, M Kelly 0-1.

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L SF SA Diff Pts Qualification
1 Kildare 4 4 0 0 9-62 7-43 25 8 Advance to Knockout Stage
2 Carlow 4 2 1 1 7-55 8-37 15 5
3 Mayo 4 2 0 2 4-34 7-48 -23 4
4 Wicklow 4 1 1 2 6-45 9-41 -5 3
5 Kerry 4 0 0 4 7-34 2-61 -12 0 Advance to relegation playoff

Results

3 June 2006 Round 1 Wicklow 2-8 - 1-11 Carlow Pearse Park
J Keogh 1-4, D Moran 1-0, D Hyland 0-1, G Doran 0-1, T McGrath 0-1, A O’Brien 0-1. D Roberts 1-1, D Runbar 0-4, P Cody 0-2, B Lawler 0-1, C Hughes 0-1, P Kehoe 0-1, B Cox 0-1.
3 June 2006 Round 1 Kerry 2-12 - 1-16 Kildare Austin Stack Park
M Boyle 2-0, M Conway 0-6, J Egan 0-5, J M Dooley 0-1. B Whyte 0-9, D Harney 1-2, P Reidy 0-2, C Divilly 0-1, C Buggy 0-1, O Lynch 0-1.
10 June 2006 Round 2 Kildare 3-14 - 2-11 Wicklow St. Conleth's Park
B White 0-7, A McAndrew 1-3, D Harney 1-0, B Byrne 1-0, C Divilly 0-1, P Reidy 0-1, M Moloney 0-1. A O'Brien 1-2, L Glynn 1-1, J Keogh 0-3, J Murphy 0-2, D Hyland 0-1, G Doran 0-1, E Glynn 0-1. Referee: D Magee (Down)
10 June 2006 Round 2 Carlow 3-15 - 0-5 Mayo Dr. Cullen Park
B Lawlor 1-3, D Shaw 1-0, A Brennan 1-0, P Coady 0-3, S McMahon 0-2, D Roberts 0-2, P Kehoe 0-1, R Foley 0-1, E Coady 0-1, S Kavanagh 0-1. K Higgens 0-2, S Broderick 0-1, S Coyne 0-1, P Higgins 0-1. Referee: C McAllister (Cork)
24 June 2006 Round 3 Mayo 1-12 - 2-19 Kildare McHale Park
P Higgins 1-1, S Broderick 0-6, S Coyle, D McDonald, P McConn, S Hunt, P Broderick 0-1 each. Report B White 1-7, A McAndrew 1-1, M Moloney 0-3, O Lynch 0-2, M Dowd 0-2, E Hannon, P Reidy, C Divill, B Byrne, D Harley 0-1 each.
24 June 2006 Round 3 Kerry 2-7 - 0-15 Wicklow Austin Stack Park
M Conway 1-4, M Boyle 1-0, A Keane, J Dooley, M Hanafin 0-1 each. Report J Keogh 0-6, L Glynn 0-2, A O'Brien 0-2, J O'Neill 0-2, D Moran, E Glynn, E Dunne 0-1 each.
8 July 2006 Round 4 Kerry 0-4 - 0-8 Mayo Austin Stack Park
J Egan 0-2 (2f), B O'Donovan and M Boyle 0-1 each K Higgins 0-4 (3f), S Barrett 0-2 (2f), P Higgins and D McDonnell 0-1 each.
8 July 2006 Round 4 Kildare 3-13 - 2-7 Carlow St. Conleth's Park
B White 0-7 5f, C Divilly 2-0, B Byrne 1-0, DHarney 0-3, O Lynch 0-2, M O'Sowd 0-1. P Coady 1-1 both f, A Brennan 1-0, D Roberts 1f and P Keogh 0-2 each, D Murphy and B Lawler 0-1 each.
15 July 2006 Round 5 Carlow 1-22 - 3-11 Kerry Dr. Cullen Park
P Coady 0-11, P Keohoe 1-4, D Murphy 0-3, B Lawler 0-2, R Foley 0-1, M Keating 0-1. I McCarthy 1-4, M Conway 1-2, A Keane 1-0, S Mounsell 0-2, N Whelan 0-1, G O'Grady 0-1, A Boyle 0-1. Referee: C Groome (Offaly)
15 July 2006 Round 5 Mayo 3-9 - 2-10 Wicklow James Stephens Park
P Broderick 2-2, S Barrett 1-0, S Broderick 0-2, D McDonald 0-2, D McConn 0-1, K Healey 0-1, A Freeman 0-1. A Brennan 1-3, G Doran 1-0, E Flynn 0-3, J Murphy 0-2, J Bermingham 0-1, D O'Haolain 0-1.

Knockout stage

Bracket

Semi-Finals Final
      
Kildare 0-06
Antrim 2-21
Antrim 5-13
Carlow 1-07
Down 5-08
Carlow 2-19

Relegation final

22 July 2006 Relegation final Kerry 2-19 - 1-7 Roscommon Cusack Park
M Conway 2-6, B Donovan 0-4, M Boyle 0-4, I McCarthy 0-2, M Quilter 0-1, A Keane 0-1, P Lyons 0-1. M Kelly 1-1, B Hanley 0-2, R Mulry 0-2, M Connaughton 0-2.

Semi-finals

23 July 2006 Semi-final Kildare 0-6 - 2-21 Antrim Cusack Park
B White (0-3, two frees, '65), PB Byrne, D Harney, O Lynch (0-1 each). Report L Watson (0-12, seven frees, four '65s), P Richmond (1-2), B McFall (1-1), M Scullion, K Kelly (0-2 each), C Cunning, J McIntosh (0-1 each).
23 July 2006 Semi-final Down 5-8 - 2-19 Carlow Cusack Park
P Braniff (4-6, three frees), E Clarke (1-1), S Wilson (0-1, free) Report P Coady (0-6, three frees, '65), D Murphy (2-0), B Lawler (0-5), R Foley (0-3), F Foley, C Hughes, A Brennan, P Kehoe, K English (0-1 each).

Final

Main article: 2006 Christy Ring Cup final
6 August 2006 Final Antrim 5-13 - 1-7 Carlow Croke Park
J McIntosh (2-4, four frees), B McFall (1-2), K Kelly (1-1), J Scullion (1-0), P Richmond (0-2), M Molloy (0-2, one free, one 65), P McGill (0-1), B Delargy (0-1). Report F Foley (1-0, free), P Coady (0-3, frees), D Roberts (0-1), R Foley (0-2), S McMahon (0-1). Referee: J McGrath (Westmeath)

Stadia and locations

See also: List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums
County Location Province Stadium(s) Capacity
Neutral Venue Dublin Leinster Croke Park 82,300
Antrim Belfast Ulster Casement Park 31,661
Carlow Carlow Leinster Dr Cullen Park 21,000
Down Newry Ulster Páirc Esler 20,000
Kerry Tralee Munster Austin Stack Park 12,000
Kildare Newbridge Leinster St Conleth's Park 8,200
London South Ruislip Britain McGovern Park 3,000
Mayo Castlebar Connacht MacHale Park 25,369
Meath Navan Leinster Páirc Tailteann 11,000
Roscommon Roscommon Connacht Dr Hyde Park 25,000
Wicklow Aughrim Leinster Aughrim County Ground 7,000

Championship Statistics

Top scorers

  • Paul Branniff (Down) 6-26 (44)
  • Johnny McIntosh (Antrim) 5-21 (36)
  • Liam Watson (Antrim) 4-19 (31)
  • Mikey Conway (Kerry) 4-18 (30)
  • Pat Coady (Carlow) 1-26 (29)
  • Paddy Richmond (Antrim) 5-10 (25)
  • Brian McFall (Antrim) 3-15 (24)

Miscellaneous

See also

References

  1. ^ "Westmeath book place in the big time". Irish Examiner. 14 August 2005. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  2. ^ Keys, Colm (21 July 2006). "Roscommon hurlers ask 49-year-old to come out of retirement". Irish Independent.