2018 Christy Ring Cup

2018 Christy Ring Cup
Dates12 May – 23 June 2018
Teams8
ChampionsKildare (2nd title)
Brian Byrne (captain)
Joe Quaid (manager)
Runners-upLondon
Brian Regan (captain)
Fergus McMahon (manager)
Tournament statistics
Matches played15
Official websitegaa.ie
← 2017 (Previous) (Next) 2019 →

The 2018 Christy Ring Cup[1] was the 14th staging of the Christy Ring Cup hurling championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005. It is the third tier[2] of senior inter-county hurling. The competition began on 12 May 2018 and ended on 23 June 2018.

Carlow were the 2017 champions, beating Antrim in the final. Both teams were included in the counties competing in the newly created Joe McDonagh Cup. Roscommon lost their play-off match against Mayo in 2017 – normally Roscommon would have been relegated but they remained in the 2018 Christy Ring Cup as a result of the restructuring of the hurling championship tiers.[3]

Kildare were the 2018 Chrisy Ring champions, defeating London by 3–19 to 1–11 in the final. Kildare lost the relegation/promotion game against Antrim and remained in the Christy Ring Cup for 2019.

Team changes

To Championship

Relegated from the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

  • None

Promoted from the Nicky Rackard Cup

From Championship

Promoted to the Joe McDonagh Cup

Relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup

  • None

Format

Beginning in 2018, the Christy Ring Cup changed to an initial stage of two groups of four teams. Previously it was a double elimination tournament. The top two teams from both groups advance to the semi-finals. In 2018, teams at the bottom of each group will automatically be relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2019. In subsequent years, the bottom teams will meet in a relegation playoff to decide the one team relegated to the following year's Nicky Rackard Cup.

The Christy Ring champions contest a promotion/relegation playoff with the second bottom team in the Joe McDonagh Cup with the winner earning the right to compete in the 2019 Joe McDonagh Cup.

Following the creation of the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2018, the Christy Ring Cup was reclassified as tier 3 (it was previously tier 2).

Teams

General Information

County Cup Titles Last Cup Title Position in 2017 championship
Armagh 0 - Runners-up (Nicky Rackard Cup)
Derry 0 - Champions (Nicky Rackard Cup)
Down 1 2013 Semi-finals
Kildare 1 2014 Quarter-finals
London 1 2012 Quarter-finals
Mayo 0 - Round 2
Roscommon 0 - Round 2
Wicklow 0 - Semi-finals

Personnel and kits

County Manager Captain(s) Sponsor
Armagh
Derry
Down
Kildare Joe Quaid Brady Family
London Clayton Hotels
Mayo Intersport Elvery's
Roscommon
Wicklow

Group stage

Group 1

Group 1 Table

Pos Team Pld W D L SF SA Diff Pts Qualification
1 Kildare 3 3 0 0 89 58 31 6 Advance to Knockout Stage
2 Wicklow 3 2 0 1 72 64 8 4
3 Roscommon 3 1 0 2 48 71 -22 2
4 Mayo 3 0 0 3 46 63 -17 0 Relegation to Nicky Rackard Cup

Group 1 Rounds 1 to 3

Group 1 Round 1
12 May 2018 Round 1 Kildare 4-26 - 1-09 RoscommonSt. Conleth's Park, Newbridge
B Cormack 0-15 (11fs, 1 '65'); M Fitzgerald 3-3; S Ryan 1-0; P Divilly 0-3 (1f); É O'Neill, M Grace, N O'Muineacháin, M Purcell, K Whelan 0-1 each. Report N Connaughton 1-2; D Glynn 0-4 (2fs); J Keane (f), J Kilkenny, R Fallon (f), A Moore 0-1 each. Referee: S Hynes (Galway)
12 May 2018 Round 1 Wicklow 1-20 - 2-11 MayoJoule Park, Aughrim
A O'Brien 0-8 (5f), M Lee 0-4, S Germaine 1-1, C Moorehouse, PJ Nolan 0-2 each, G Byrne, D Staunton, G O'Brien 0-1 each. Report K Feeney 0-9 (8f), C Scahill, E Ryan 1-0 each, P Kiely, S Boland 0-1 each. Referee: P Burke (Kilkenny)
Group 1 Round 2
19 May 2018 Round 2 Mayo1-15 - 2-14 Kildare MacHale Park, Castlebar
K Feeney 0-9 (7f)), K Higgins 1-1, B Morley, S Boland, E Ryan, P Kiely and D O'Brien (1f) 0-1 each. Report S Ryan 1-2, B Cormack 0-4 (4f), B Sheridan 1-1, P Divilly 0-3 (1f), N O'Muineachain, K Whelan, C Bonus and B Deay 0-1 each. Referee: R McGann (Clare)
19 May 2018 Round 2 Roscommon0-16 - 2-16 Wicklow Dr. Hyde Park, Roscommon
D Glynn 0-10 (5f, 1 '65), M Byrne, S Curley (sideline), E Flanagan, K Hardiman, W Boyle, N Connaughton 0-1 each. Report A O'Brien 1-4 (1-0 pen, 2 '65s, 1f), M Lee 0-4 (1f), D Staunton 1-0, PJ Nolan, R Keddy,C Moorehouse (1f) 0-2 each,E Kearns, G O'Brien 0-1 each. Referee: N Wall (Cork)
Group 1 Round 3
2 June 2018 Round 3 Wicklow3-18 - 4-19 Kildare Joule Park, Aughrim
A O'Brien 0-7 (2f), R Keddy 2-0, PJ Nolan 0-5, E Donohue 1-1, P Keane, G Byrne, P Doyle, G O'Brien, M Lee 0-1 each. Report J Sheridan 2-5 (1 sl), M Fitzgerald 2-1, B Cormack (3f), S Ryan 0-3 each, J Burke (1f), B Byrne 0-2 each, C Bonus, K Whelan, P Divilly 0-1 each. Referee: T Walsh (Waterford)
2 June 2018 Round 3 Roscommon 1-17 - 0-11 MayoAthleague Sportsfield, Athleague
D Glynn 1-3 (1-3f), J Keane 0-5 (5f), C Kenny 0-3, R Fallon 0-2, S Curley (sideline), N Connaughton, H Rooney, C Egan 0-1 each. Report S Boland 0-5 (5f), K Higgins & C Freeman 0-2 (1f) each, K Feeney (f) & B Morley 0-1 each. Referee: S Stack (Dublin)

Group 2

Group 2 Table

Pos Team Pld W D L SF SA Diff Pts Qualification
1 London 3 2 0 1 88 60 28 4 Advance to Knockout Stage
2 Derry 3 2 0 1 89 65 24 4
3 Down 3 2 0 1 92 69 23 4
4 Armagh 3 0 0 3 39 114 -75 0 Relegation to Nicky Rackard Cup

London, Derry and Down all finished on 4 points and were ranked on score difference.

Group 2 Rounds 1 to 3

Group 2 Round 1
12 May 2018 Round 1 Derry1-18 - 1-20 London Dean McGlinchey Park, Ballinascreen
1:00 pm C O'Doherty 0-11 (9fs), S McGuigan 1-0, N Waldron 0-3, C McKaigue 0-2, M McGuigan, C Waldron 0-1. Report A Sheehan 0-10 (6fs), K O'Loughlin 1-2, R Murphy 0-3 (2fs), K Reid, F Collins, H Vaughan, C Nelson, J Troy 0-1 each. Referee: J Keane (Galway)
12 May 2018 Round 1 Down 6-21 - 0-11 ArmaghMcKenna Park, Ballycran
D Sands 3-3, P Sheehan 0-7 (5fs), E Sands 1-3, O McManus 1-1, D McManus 1-0, M Magee, D Toner, C Bailie 0-2 each, M Fisher 0-1. Report N Curry 0-7 (6fs), D McCreesh 0-2, S Renaghan, D Magee 0-1 each. Referee: A Devine (Westmeath)
Group 2 Round 2
19 May 2018 Round 2 Armagh1-14 - 2-30 Derry Athletic Grounds, Armagh
1:00 pm D McCreesh 0-5, S Renaghan 1-1,C Rice 0-2, E McGuinness, D McKenna, J Corvan, N Curry (f), D Gaffney, S Toal 0-1 each Report A Grant 0-7 (4f, 1 '65); B Cassidy 0-6 (3f),M McGrath 1-3; N Waldron 1-1, S McGuigan 0-4; D Cartin, M McGuigan, G Bradley, C Waldron 0-2 each; P Cleary 0-1. Referee: L Gordon (Galway)
20 May 2018 Round 2 London1-23 - 2-22 Down McGovern Park, Ruislip
2:30pm C Nelson 1-6, A Sheehan 0-7 (2f, 1 '65'), S Lawless 0-4, K O'Loughlin 0-3, C Burke 0-2, R Murphy 0-1 (1f). Report D Toner 1-6, P Sheehan 0-7 (5f, 1 '65'), D Sands 1-2, P Og McCrickard 0-4, C Bailie 0-2, D McManus 0-1. Referee: P Murphy (Carlow)
Group 2 Round 3
2 June 2018 Round 3 Derry 1-29 - 2-19 DownWatty Graham Park, Maghera
1:00 pm C O'Doherty 1-17 (16f), M McGrath 0-3, B Cassidy, A Grant 0-2 each, R Convery (f), M McGuigan, C McKaigue, N Waldron, C Waldron 0-1 each. Report P Sheehan 0-9 (6f), D Sands 2-0, D McManus 0-3, O McManus 0-2, E Sands, P McCrickard, C Bailie, D Toner, R Branagan 0-1 each.
2 June 2018 Round 3 Armagh0-11 – 4-27 London Athletic Grounds, Armagh
1:00 pm C McAnallen 0-5 (5f), E McGuinness, S Renaghan, D McCreesh 0-2 each. Report C Nelson 0-6, S Lawless 1-2, A Sheehan (1f, 2'65's'), M Duggan, C Burke 0-4 each, J Troy 1-1, M Dwyer 0-3, F Collins 1-0, H Vaughan 1-0 M Ivors (f), R Murphy, C McAlinden 0-1 each. Referee: A Devine (Westmeath)

Knockout stage

Bracket

Semi-Finals Final
      
London 2-28
Wicklow 2-14
London 1-11
Kildare 3-19
Kildare 3-18
Derry 2-13

Semi-finals

The Group 1 winners play the Group 2 runners-up and the Group 2 winners play the Group 1 runners-up.

Semi-final
London2-28 - 2-14 Wicklow
A Sheehan 0-13 (6fs, 2 65s); S Lawless 2-1; H Vaughan 0-3; M Dwyer, J Troy, M Duggan 0-2 each; C Burke, S Conlon, M Ivors, S Lohan, R Murphy 0-1 each Report A O'Brien 1-5; (0-3fs, 0-1 65); G O'Brien 1-1; P Doyle 0-3; D Staunton 0-2; R Keddy, S Kelly, E Donoghue 0-1 each
Referee: J O'Brien (Laois)
Semi-final
Kildare3-18 - 2-13 Derry
J Sheridan 2-0, B Cormack 0-5f, J Burke 0-4(2f), M Fitzgerald 1-1, S Ryan 0-2, M Moloney, M Grace, N O’Muineacháin, B Byrne, P Divilly and K Whelan 0-1 each Report C O’Doherty 0-6(5f), S McGuigan 1-2, B Rogers 1-1, G Bradley 0-2, P Cleary and C Waldron 0-1 each

Final

Final
London1-11 - 3-19 Kildare
A Sheehan 0-6 (5f), C Nelson 1-0, K O’Loughlin 0-2 (2f), S Lawless, J Troy D O’Regan 0-1 each Report James Burke 0-8, Jack Sheridan 2-1, Shane Ryan 1-0, Eanna O'Neill 0-2, Mark Delaney 0-2, Niall Ó Muineacháin 0-2, Paul Divily 0-1, Martin Fitzgerald 0-1, Brian Byrne 0-1, Kevin Whelan 0-1
Referee: Patrick Murphy (Carlow)

Relegation/promotion playoff

Relegation/Promotion
Antrim 3-23 - 1-17 Kildare
Report

Antrim retain their place in the Joe McDonagh Cup for 2019, while Kildare remain in the Christy Ring Cup for 2019.

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
Armagh Armagh Ulster Athletic Grounds 18,500
Derry Derry Ulster Celtic Park 22,000
Down Newry Ulster Páirc Esler 20,000
Kildare Newbridge Leinster St Conleth's Park 8,200
London South Ruislip Britain McGovern Park 3,000
Mayo Castlebar Connacht MacHale Park 25,369
Roscommon Roscommon Connacht Dr Hyde Park 25,000
Wicklow Aughrim Leinster Aughrim County Ground 7,000

Stadiums and locations

County Location Stadium
Armagh Armagh Athletic Grounds
Derry Ballinascreen Dean McGlinchey Park
Down Ballycran McKenna Park
Kildare Newbridge St Conleth's Park
London South Ruislip McGovern Park
Mayo Castlebar MacHale Park
Roscommon Roscommon Dr Hyde Park
Wicklow Aughrim Joule Park

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall

Updated to 2 June 2018

Rank Player Club Tally Total Matches Average
1 Cormac O'Doherty Derry 1-28 31 2 15.50
2 Daithí Sands Down 6-05 23 3 7.66
Paul Sheehan Down 0-23 23 3 7.66
4 Andy O'Brien Wicklow 1-19 22 3 7.33
Barry Cormack Kildare 0-22 22 3 7.33
6 Aaron Sheehan London 0-21 21 3 7.00
7 Daniel Glynn Roscommon 1-17 20 3 6.66
8 Martin Fitzgerald Kildare 5-04 19 3 6.33
Kenny Feeney Mayo 0-19 19 3 6.33
10 Colin Nelson London 1-13 16 3 5.33

In a single game

Rank Player Club Tally Total Opposition
1 Cormac O'Doherty Derry 1-17 20 Down
2 Barry Cormack Kildare 0-15 15 Roscommon
3 Aaron Sheehan London 0-13 13 Wicklow
4 Daithí Sands Down 3-03 12 Armagh
Martin Fitzgerald Kildare 3-03 12 Roscommon
6 Jack Sheridan Kildare 2-05 11 Wicklow
Cormac O'Doherty Derry 0-11 11 London
8 Aaron Sheehan London 0-10 10 Derry
Daniel Glynn Roscommon 0-10 10 Wicklow

Miscellaneous

See also

References

  1. ^ For official fixtures and results see Christy Ring Cup at gaa.ie
  2. ^ Hurling tiers - 1. All-Ireland (Liam MacCarthy Cup) 2. Joe McDonagh Cup 3. Christy Ring Cup 4. Nicky Rackard Cup 5. Lory Meagher Cup
  3. ^ Healy, Paul (25 May 2017). "Hurlers get that sinking feeling again". Roscommon People. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.