2016 Christy Ring Cup

2016 Christy Ring Cup
Dates23 April – 25 June 2016
Teams8
ChampionsMeath (1st title)
James Toher (captain)
Martin Ennis (manager)
Runners-upAntrim
Neal McAuley (captain)
Dominic McKinley (manager)
Tournament statistics
Matches played16
Goals scored40 (2.5 per match)
Points scored540 (33.75 per match)
Top scorer(s)Ciarán Clarke (2-38)
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The 2016 Christy Ring Cup was the 12th staging of the Christy Ring Cup hurling championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005. The competition began on Saturday 23 April 2016 and ended on Saturday 25 June 2016.

Kerry were the 2015 champions and were promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.[1]

In the first final on 4 June 2016 a mistake was made in recording the score. Meath were presented with the Christy Ring Cup as the final score was believed to be Meath 2-18 to Antrim's 1-20.[2] On 7 June 2016 the CCCC[3] ordered that the final be replayed. Meath won the replay on 25 June 2016 after extra time, beating Antrim 4-21 to 5-17.

Format

The 2016 Christy Ring Cup was played in a double-elimination format. For clarity, the draw details are detailed in each round below.

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 Cup title Last Provincial title Last All-Ireland title Position in 2015 Championship Appearance
Antrim 2006 2015 — Group Stage (Leinster Senior Hurling Championship) 2nd
Derry — 2001 — Runners-up 11th
Down 2013 1997 — Semi-finals 12th
Kildare 2014 — — Semi-finals 12th
London 2012 — 1901 Quarter-finals 6th
Meath — — — Quarter-finals 11th
Roscommon — 1913 — Champions (Nicky Rackard Cup) 4th
Wicklow — — — Round 2 12th

Personnel and kits

County Manager Captain(s) Sponsor

Round 1

All eight teams play in Round 1.

23 April 2016 Round 1 Antrim 3-20 - 0-17 Kildare Parnell Park, Dublin
C Clarke 2-10, J Dillon 1-0, C Carson, N McKenna, J Connolly 0-2 each, C Johnson, C McKinley, M Dudley, R McCambridge 0-1 each. G Keegan 0-11, M Fitzgerald 0-2, M Grace, P Divilly, N Ó Muineacháin, B Byrne 0-1 each.
23 April 2016 Round 1 Down 2-12 - 2-17 London McKenna Park, Ballycran
C Egan 2-0, D Toner 0-3fs, P Sheehan, C Woods (2fs) 0-2 each, C Taggart, J McGrath, S Nicholson, D Hughes, S Dineen 0-1 each. Report K O'Loughlin 1-7 (0-6fs), S O'Donnell 1-1, G Mahon, M Duggan 0-3, B Walsh, K Reid, D Roberts 0-1 each. Referee: G McGrath (Wexford)
23 April 2016 Round 1 Meath 3-18 - 2-12 Wicklow St. Loman's Park, Trim
G McGowan (2-2), N Heffernan (1-3), A Gannon (0-5, 2fs), S Morris (0-4), J Toher (0-3, 1f), M O'Grady (0-1). Report J Henderson (1-0), P Doran (1-0), D Staunton (0-3), M Lee (0-3, 2fs), C Moorhouse (0-2, 1f 1 65), D Masterson (0-2. 1f 1 65), E Kearns (0-1), G Weir (0-1). Referee: J O'Brien (Tipperary)
23 April 2016 Round 1 Roscommon 2-20 - 0-15 Derry Athleague Sportsfield
J Fallon 0-7 (4f, 1 sideline), C Egan 1-3 (1-2f), J Lawlor 1-0, T Featherston 0-3, A Moore, M Kelly, C Dolan, A Murphy, E Flanagan, T Seale, N Connaughton 0-1 each. Report R Convery 0-7 (6f), B Quigley, A Grant, S Farren 0-2 each, T McCloskey, M McGuigan 0-1 each. Referee: J Keane (Galway)

Round 2

Round 2A

Contested by the four winners of Round 1.

30 April 2016 Round 2A Antrim 2-14 - 1-12 Roscommon Pearse Park, Dunloy
C Clarke 0-7 (4fs), J Connolly 0-4, C Carson, N Elliott 1-0 each, E McCloskey, N McKenna, J Dillon 0-1 each. Report C Egan, J Fallon (3fs) 0-4 each, J Lawlor 1-0, C Dolan 0-3, M Kelly 0-1. Referee: J Keane (Galway)
31 April 2016 Round 2A London 1-16 - 2-17 Meath Emerald GAA Grounds, Ruislip
K O'Loughlin 0-6 (5fs), M Duggan 1-2, K Reid 0-4, M O'Dywer 0-2, D Roberts, P Phelan 0-1 each. Report A Gannon 1-5 (0-3fs), G McGowan 1-1, N Heffernan, J Toher (1f) 0-2 each, S Quigley, S Heavey, S McGann (f), S Brennan, D Healy, R Sherlock, K Keena 0-1 each. Referee: D Hughes (Carlow)

Round 2B

Contested by the four losers of Round 1.

30 April 2016 Round 2B Wicklow 0-9 - 0-17 Kildare Pearse Park, Arklow
C Moorhouse 0-8 (7fs), S Kelly 0-1 ('65'). Report G Keegan 0-10 (9fs), M Moloney, M Fitzgerald 0-2 each, S Gainey, R Bergin, N O'Muineacháin 0-1 each. Referee: G McGrath (Wexford)
30 April 2016 Round 2B Derry 1-15 - 1-18 Down Owenbeg
S Farren 0-8 (4fs), O McCloskey 1-0, R Convery 0-3 (2fs), Se McGuigan 0-2 , T McCloskey, P Cleary 0-1. Report B Byers 1-1, D Toner (2fs), O McManus 0-4 each A O'Prey 0-3, F Conway, J McGrath, C Woods (f), S Nicholson, P Sheehan (f), C O'Prey 0-1 each. Referee: C Cunning (Antrim)

Quarter-finals

The two losers of round 2A (who won a match and lost a match) play the two winners of round 2B (who lost a match and won a match). These two matches are referred to as quarter-finals.

7 May 2016 Quarter-final Kildare 1-17 - 0-15 London St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge
14:00 G Keegan 0-9(4f), M Delaney 1-1, J Byrne, P Cocoman and J Sheridan 0-2 each, M Fitzgerald 0-1. Report K O'Loughlin 0-7(6f), S O'Donnell and M O'Dwyer 0-3 each, C Hickey and M Duggan 0-1 each.
7 May 2016 Quarter-final Down 1-14 - 1-7 Roscommon McKenna Park, Ballycran
14:00 C O’Prey (0-4, frees), D Toner (1-0), C Mageean (0-2), B Byers (0-2), S Nicholson (0-2), C Egan (0-1), O McManus (0-1), D Hughes (0-1), C Woods (0-1 free). Report N Connaughton (1-0), J Fallon (0-2, 0-1 free), J Lawlor (0-2), E Flanagan (0-2), T Fetherston (0-1). Referee: D Hughes (Carlow)

Semi-finals

The winners of round 2A play the winners of the two quarter-finals.

21 May 2016 Semi-final Antrim 1-24 - 0-23 Down St. Patrick's Park, Loughguile
C Clarke 0-16 (12f, 1 '65); C Carson 1-1; N McKenna 0-3; E McCloskey, J Dillon, E Campbell, Conor Johnston 0-1 each. Report D Toner 0-9 (5f); C Woods 0-4; C Taggart, D Hughes, C O'Prey (2f, 1 '65) 0-3 each; C Egan 0-1. Referee: D Hughes (Carlow)
22 May 2016 Semi-final Kildare 0-21 - 1-21 Meath St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge
G Keegan (9f, 1 '65) 0-12, M Delaney, M Fitzgerald 0-2 each; M Grace, P Cocoman, J Byrne, L Quinn and J Sheridan 0-1 each. Report J Toher (9f) 0-12, G McGowan 1-3; S Clynch 0-3; S Heavey, S Morris and N Heffernan 0-1 each. Referee: J Keane (Galway)

Final

The winners of this year's Christy Ring Cup final (tier 2) will be automatically promoted to play in the qualifier group of next year's Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.[4]

4 June 2016 Final Meath 2-17 - 1-20 Antrim Croke Park, Dublin
17:30 N Heffernan, S Quigley 1-1 each, J Toher 0-5 (5f), A Gannon, J Keena 0-3 each, K Keoghan 0-2, S Heavey, K Keena 0-1 each. Report C Johnston 1-2, C Clarke 0-5 (1f, 1 '65), J Connolly 0-4, E McCloskey, N McKenna 0-3 each, E Campbell, C McKinley, S McAfee 0-1 each. Referee: J O'Brien (Tipperary)

Controversy

During the final a point that wasn't actually scored was awarded to Meath on the official scoreboard. At the end of the match the score was recorded as Meath 2-18 Antrim 1-20 and the referee mistakenly confirmed this score. Meath were awarded the trophy. On 7 June 2016 the CCCC ruled that the final score was a draw, 2-17 to 1-20, and that the match should be replayed.[5][6]

Replayed Final

Charity donation

All proceeds from this game were donated to two charities nominated by Meath and Antrim.

25 June 2016 Replayed Final Meath 4-21 - 5-17
(AET)		 Antrim Croke Park, Dublin
J Toher 0-12 (0-11 fs); N Heffernan 2-0, S Clynch 1-3 (0-2 fs), G McGowan 1-0, A Gannon, S Quigley 0-2, S Morris, J Keena 0-1. Report C Clarke 1-5 (0-1 f; 0-1 65), N McKenna 1-5, C Johnston 1-2, D Hamill, J Connolly 1-0, D McKiernan 0-2, N Elliott, E Campbell, S McAfee 0-1. Attendance: 2,938
Referee: C McAllister (Cork)

Christy Ring/Nicky Rackard play-offs

Bottom play-off

Contested by the two losers from round 2B. Both these teams lost their first two matches.

21 May 2016 Bottom play-off Wicklow 2-23 - 0-15 Derry Páirc Esler, Newry
3:30 pm C Moorhouse (8fs) 1-11; D Staunton 1-3; D Masterson 0-4; M Lee 0-2; P Doran, T Storey, A Byrne 0-1 each. Report R Convery (6fs) 0-7; M McGuigan 0-3; J O'Dwyer, O McCloskey, M McGrath, D Foley, A Grant 0-1 each. Referee: J O'Brien (Tipperary)

Relegation/Promotion play-off

The bottom team in this year's Christy Ring Cup (tier 2) plays the winner of this year's Nicky Rackard Cup (tier 3). If the Nicky Rackard champions win the match, they are promoted to next year's Christy Ring Cup in the place of this year's bottom team.

11 June 2016 Play-off Derry 1-14 - 1-21 Mayo Seán O'Heslin Park, Ballinamore
R Convery (0-8, 5f), S Farren (1-3), A Grant (0-2), M McGrath (0-1). Report K Feeney (0-11, 8f), J McManus (0-4), D McTigue (1-0), S Regan (0-1), K McDermott (0-1), C Charlton (0-1), C Freeman (0-1), D Kenny (0-1), J Cotter (0-1). Referee: J Keane

Scoring statistics

Overall
Rank Player County Tally Total Matches Average
1 Ciarán Clarke Antrim 3-43 52 5 10.40
2 Gerry Keegan Kildare 0-42 42 4 10.50
3 James Toher Meath 0-34 34 5 6.80
4 Ruairí Convery Derry 0-25 25 4 6.25
5 Christy Moorehouse Wicklow 1-21 24 3 8.00
6 Kevin O'Loughlin London 1-20 23 3 7.66
7 Gavin McGowan Meath 5-6 21 5 4.20
8 Danny Toner Down 2-13 19 4 4.75
Neil Heffernan Meath 4-7 19 5 3.80
10 Adam Gannon Meath 1-15 18 5 3.60
Top scorers in a single game
Rank Player Team Tally Total Opposition
1 Ciarán Clarke Antrim 2-10 16 Kildare
Ciarán Clarke Antrim 0-16 16 Down
3 Christy Moorehouse Wicklow 1-11 14 Derry
4 Gerry Keegan Kildare 0-12 12 Meath
James Toher Meath 0-12 12 Kildare
James Toher Meath 0-12 12 Antrim
7 Gerry Keegan Kildare 0-11 11 Antrim
Kenny Feeney Mayo 0-11 11 Derry
9 Kevin O'Loughlin London 1-7 10 Down
Gerry Keegan Kildare 0-10 10 Wicklow

References

  1. ^ "Nolan inspires Kingdom to Ring Cup final win over Derry". GAA.ie. 6 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  2. ^ Mooney, Francis (5 June 2016). "Scoreline controversy overshadows Royal win". GAA.ie. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  3. ^ CCCC - Central Competitions Control Committee
  4. ^ See motion 24 passed at 2015 GAA Annual Congress 28 February 2015
  5. ^ "Confirmed: Christy Ring final between Meath and Antrim to be replayed". RTE Sport. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Antrim lose Christy Ring Cup final against Meath after claims of scoreline blunder". BBC. Retrieved 5 June 2016.