Christy Ring Cup
Founded2005–present
Country Ireland
Number of teams6
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toJoe McDonagh Cup
Relegation toNicky Rackard Cup
Current champions Meath
(2023)
Most championships Kildare (4 titles)
TV partnersTG4
WebsiteOfficial GAA site
Current: 2024 Christy Ring Cup

The Christy Ring Cup (Irish: Corn Chriostóir Uí Rinn)[1] is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. Originally introduced as a second-tier competition, it is currently the third tier overall in the inter-county hurling championship system. Each year, the champions of the Christy Ring Cup are promoted to the Joe McDonagh Cup, and the lowest finishing team is relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup. The competition is named in honour of Christy Ring, a legendary player from Cork.

The Christy Ring Cup, which was introduced in 2005, replaced the All-Ireland B Hurling Championship (1974-2004). Between 2005 and 2017 the Christy Ring Cup was the second tier hurling championship. With the introduction of the Joe McDonagh cup, the Christy Ring Cup is the highest tier of the championship system without entry to that year's All-Ireland finals series (the top two teams in the Joe McDonagh Cup usually gain entry to preliminary quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship).

At present (2021), Wicklow holds the longest tenure in the Christy Ring Cup. They have appeared in every season of the cup. Down and Kildare had appeared in every season until 2021, when they participated in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

The title has been won by 9 different counties, 5 of whom have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Kildare, who have won the cup on 4 occasions. Meath are the title-holders, defeating Derry by 1-23 to 1-21 in the 2023 final.

History

In 2003 the Hurling Development Committee (HDC) was charged with restructuring the entire hurling championship. The committee was composed of chairman Pat Dunny (Kildare), Liam Griffin (Wexford), P. J. O'Grady (Limerick), Ger Loughnane (Clare), Cyril Farrell (Galway), Jimmy O'Reilly (Down), Willie Ring (Cork), Pat Daly (GAA Games Development Officer) and Nicky English (Tipperary). Over the course of three months they held discussions with managers, players and officials, while also taking a submission from the Gaelic Players Association. The basic tenet of the proposals was to structure the hurling championship into three tiers in accordance with 2004 National Hurling League status. The top tier was confined to 12 teams, while the next ten teams would contest the second tier which was to be known as the Christy Ring Cup. There would also be promotion-relegation play-offs between the three championship tiers. The HDC also suggested that these games would be played as curtain raisers to All-Ireland quarter-finals and semi-finals.[2]

The proposal were accepted at the 2004 GAA Congress. The Christy Ring Cup and the Nicky Rackard Cup competitions were launched at Croke Park on 8 December 2004.

Format

Current format

The Christy Ring Cup employs a round-robin system, contested within a single group of 6 county teams. At the completion of the round-robin, the top two teams proceed to contest the Christy Ring Cup final.

Aside from the trophy itself, the reward for victory in the competition is automatic promotion to the following year's Joe McDonagh Cup, with their place in the following year's Christy Ring Cup taken by the bottom-placed team in that year's Joe McDonagh Cup.

The Christy Ring Cup is the highest tier in hurling competitions that does not provide a direct entry route to that year's All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. To do so, the counties have to get promoted to at least the McDonagh Cup (tier 2).

The bottom team in the group stage are relegated to the fourth-tier Nicky Rackard Cup for the following year, being replaced by the champions of the Nicky Rackard Cup for that year.

Group Stage table and positional qualification

Pos Team Qualification
1 1st in Group Advance to final, where the winner is promoted to the Joe McDonagh Cup
2 2nd in Group
3 3rd in Group Will contest next seasons Christy Ring Cup
4 4th in Group
5 5th in Group
6 6th in Group Relegated to Nicky Rackard Cup

Previous formats

2005–2007

The ten participating teams were divided into two groups of five and played in a round-robin format. Each team was guaranteed at least four games each. The eventual group winners and runners-up qualified for the knock-out semi-finals of the competition.

The bottom two teams of both groups were involved in a four-way relegation play-off with the eventual loser being relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup. In 2006 the relegation play-off was limited to just the bottom teams in both groups, while in 2007 there was no relegation.

2008

The competition was expanded to include twelve teams. The participating teams were divided into four groups of three and played in a round-robin format, thus limiting each team to just two games each. The eventual group winners and runners-up qualified for the knock-out quarter-finals of the competition.

The bottom team in each group went into the relegation play-offs. The eventual losers were relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup, however, the relegation play-offs in 2008 were rendered meaningless as all four bottom-placed teams were relegated.

2009–2017

In 2009 a double elimination format was introduced, thus guaranteeing each team at least two games before being eliminated from the competition.

The eight teams play four Round 1 matches.

  • The winners in Round 1 advance to Round 2A.
  • The losers in Round 1 go into Round 2B.

There are two Round 2A matches.

  • The winners in Round 2A advance to the semi-finals.
  • The losers in Round 2A go into the quarter-finals.

There are two Round 2B matches.

  • The winners in Round 2B advance to the quarter-finals.
  • The losers in Round 2B go into the bottom playoff. The losers of this match play a relegation/promotion match with the winners of the Nicky Rackard Cup. If they lose they are relegated to the Nicky Rackard cup for the following year.

There are two quarter-final matches between the Round 2A losers and Round 2B winners.

  • The winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals.
  • The losers of the quarter-finals are eliminated.

There are two semi-final matches between the Round 2A winners and the quarter-final winners.

  • The winners of the semi-finals advance to the final.
  • The losers of the semi-finals are eliminated.

The winners of the final (with the exception of Down in 2013, are promoted to the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the following year.

From 2018

2018 saw the reintroduction of a group phase format to all tiers of the hurling Championship structure. The eight participating teams are divided into two groups of four and will play in a round-robin format. Each team will be guaranteed at least three games each. The eventual group winners and runners-up will qualify for the knock-out semi-finals of the championship.

2020 and the coronavirus pandemic

The Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 significantly affected the GAA season, with the Chisty Ring Cup reverting for one season only to the partial double elimination format that existed until 2017.

Teams

2024 teams

Six counties will compete in the 2024 Christy Ring Cup, with Kildare relegated from the Joe McDonagh Cup and Wicklow promoted from the Nicky Rackard Cup:

County Location Stadium Province Position in 2023 Championship First year in Championship In Championship Since Championship Titles Last Championship Title
Derry Derry Celtic Park Ulster Runners-up 2005 2018 0
Kildare Newbridge St Conleth's Park Leinster 6th (Joe McDonagh Cup) 2005 2024 4 2022
London South Ruislip McGovern Park Britain 4th 2006 2022 1 2012
Sligo Sligo Markievicz Park Connacht 3rd 2020 2020 0
Tyrone Omagh Healy Park Ulster 5th 2023 2023 0
Wicklow Aughrim Aughrim County Ground Leinster Champions (Nicky Rackard Cup) 2005 2024 0

Personnel and kits

County Manager Captain(s) Sponsor
Derry Johnny McGarvey Errigal Group
Kildare
London Kevin McMullan Jack Goulding Clayton Hotels
Sligo Padraig Mannion Kevin O'Kennedy Clayton Hotels
Tyrone Michael McShane McAleer & Rushe
Wicklow

Participation by province

Province No. County No. Years participated
Leinster 6 Wicklow 19 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024
Kildare 18 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024
Meath 14 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2023
Carlow 6 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017
Westmeath 5 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Offaly 2 2020, 2021
Ulster 6 Derry 18 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Down 16 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Armagh 5 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018
Antrim 3 2006, 2016, 2017
Tyrone 2 2023, 2024
Donegal 1 2019
Connacht 3 Mayo 15 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023
Roscommon 9 2005, 2006, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
Sligo 5 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Britain 1 London 12 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024
Munster 1 Kerry 11 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

Relegated teams

Year No. Teams
2023 1 Mayo
2022 1 Wicklow
2021 1 Roscommon
2020 0
2019 1 Donegal
2018 2 Armagh, Mayo
2017 1 Roscommon
2016 1 Derry
2015 1 Mayo
2014 0
2013 0
2012 0
2011 1 Armagh
2010 0
2009 0
2008 4 Armagh, London, Meath, Roscommon
2007 0
2006 1 Roscommon
2005 1 Derry

Venues

Croke Park in Dublin, hosted the 2022 Christy Ring Cup final.

Group stage

Fixtures in the five group stage rounds of the cup are played at the home ground of one of the two teams. Each team is guaranteed at least two home games. During the inaugural staging of the competition some teams had three home games.

Final

The Christy Ring Cup final is played at Croke Park.

List of finals

Year Date Winners Runners-Up Venue Captains Winning Margin Referee
County (titles) Score County Score Winning captain Losing captain
2023 3 June Meath (3) 1-23 (26) Derry 1-21 (24) Croke Park 2
2022 21 May Kildare (4) 2-29 (35) Mayo 0-19 (19) Croke Park Brian Byrne Shane Boland 16 Michael Kennedy (Tipperary)
2021 1 August Offaly (1) 0-41 (41) Derry 2-14 (20) Croke Park Ben Conneely Cormac O'Doherty 21 Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)
2020 22 November Kildare (3) 3-16 (25) Down 0-22 (22) Croke Park Brian Byrne Stephen Keith 3 Chris Mooney (Dublin)
2019 22 June Meath (2) 4-19 (31) Down 2-15 (21) Croke Park Seán Geraghty Stephen Keith 10
2018 23 June Kildare (2) 3-19 (28) London 1-11 (14) Croke Park Brian Byrne Liam Gavaghan 14
2017 10 June Carlow (3) 5-23 (38) Antrim 4-15 (27) Croke Park Marty Kavanagh Conor Carson 11
2016 4 June Meath (1) 2-17 (23)
4-21 (33)
Antrim 1-20 (23)
5-17 (32)
Croke Park James Toher Neal McAuley 1
2015 6 June Kerry (2) 1-20 (23) Derry 0-12 (12) Croke Park John Griffin Seán MacCullagh 11
2014 7 June Kildare (1) 4-18 (30) Kerry 2-22 (28) Croke Park Niall Ó Muineacháin John Egan 2
2013 8 June Down (1) 3-16 (25) Kerry 2-17 (23) Croke Park Paul Braniff Paud Costello 2
2012 9 June London (1) 4-18 (30) Wicklow 1-17 (20) Croke Park Colm Quinn Enan Glynn 10
2011 4 June Kerry (1) 2-21 (27) Wicklow 2-08 (14) Croke Park Mikey Boyle Jonathan O'Neill 13
2010 3 July Westmeath (3) 2-16 (22) Kerry 1-18 (21) Croke Park Andrew Mitchell Colin Harris 1
2009 11 July Carlow (2) 1-15 (18) Down 0-14 (14) Croke Park Mark Brennan Graham Clarke 4
2008 3 August Carlow (1) 3-22 (31) Westmeath 4-16 (28) O'Connor Park Edward Coady Brendan Murtagh 3
2007 5 August Westmeath (2) 2-15 (21) Kildare 0-13 (13) Croke Park Darren McCormack Colm Buggy 8
2006 6 August Antrim (1) 5-13 (28) Carlow 1-07 (10) Croke Park Karl McKeegan Robbie Foley 18
2005 14 August Westmeath (1) 1-23 (26) Down 2-18 (24) Croke Park John Shaw Simon Wilson 2

Roll of honour

Performance by county

County Titles Runners-up Years won Years runner-up
Kildare 4 1 2014, 2018, 2020, 2022 2007
Westmeath 3 1 2005, 2007, 2010 2008
Carlow 3 1 2008, 2009, 2017 2006
Meath 3 0 2016, 2019, 2023
Kerry 2 3 2011, 2015 2010, 2013, 2014
Down 1 4 2013 2005, 2009, 2019, 2020
Antrim 1 2 2006 2016, 2017
London 1 1 2012 2018
Offaly 1 0 2021
Derry 0 3 2015, 2021, 2023
Wicklow 0 2 2011, 2012
Mayo 0 1 2022

Performance by province

Province Titles Runners-up Total
Leinster 14 5 19
Ulster 2 9 11
Munster 2 3 5
Britain 1 1 2
Connacht 0 1 1

Team records and statistics

Team results

Legend

For each year, the number of counties (in brackets) are shown.

Team 2005 (10) 2006 (10) 2007 (10) 2008 (12) 2009 (8) 2010 (8) 2011 (8) 2012 (8) 2013 (8) 2014 (8) 2015 (8) 2016 (8) 2017 (8) 2018 (8) 2019 (8) 2020 (7) 2021 (5) 2022 (6) 2023 (6) 2024 (6) Total
Antrim AI 1st AI AI AI AI AI AI AI AI AI 2nd 2nd JM JM JM AI JM AI AI 3
Armagh NR NR NR GS NR NR R2 NR R2 RPO NR NR NR GS NR NR NR NR NR NR 5
Carlow SF 2nd SF 1st 1st AI AI AI AI AI AI AI 1st JM AI JM JM JM JM JM 6
Derry RPO NR GS SF QF R2 QF QF QF QF 2nd RPO NR SF SF R2 2nd 3rd 2nd 18
Donegal NR NR NR NR LM LM LM NR NR NR NR NR NR NR RPO NR NR NR NR NR 1
Down 2nd SF GS QF 2nd QF SF SF 1st RPO SF SF SF GS 2nd 2nd JM JM JM JM 16
Kerry GS RPO GS QF SF 2nd 1st R2 2nd 2nd 1st AI AI JM JM JM JM JM JM JM 11
Kildare SF SF 2nd QF QF SF SF QF SF 1st SF SF QF 1st GS 1st JM 1st JM 18
London NR GS GS GS NR NR NR 1st AI AI QF QF QF 2nd RPO 4th 4th 12
Mayo RPO GS GS QF SF R2 R2 R2 R2 SF RPO NR RPO GS NR NR NR 2nd 6th NR 15
Meath GS GS SF GS NR QF QF SF SF SF QF 1st AI JM 1st JM JM JM 1st JM 13
Offaly AI AI AI AI AI AI AI AI AI AI AI AI AI AI JM SF 1st JM JM JM 2
Roscommon RPO RPO NR GS NR NR NR NR NR NR NR QF RPO GS SF SF QF NR NR NR 9
Sligo NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR LM LM LM LM NR R2 SF 5th 3rd 5
Tyrone NR NR NR NR LM NR LM LM NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 5th 2
Westmeath 1st AI 1st 2nd RPO 1st AI AI AI AI AI AI AI JM JM JM JM AI AI JM 5
Wicklow RPO GS GS SF RPO SF 2nd 2nd QF QF RPO RPO SF SF GS R2 SF 6th NR 19

Debut of teams

Year Debutants Total
2005 Carlow, Derry, Down, Kerry, Kildare, Mayo, Meath, Roscommon, Westmeath, Wicklow 10
2006 Antrim, London 2
2007 None 0
2008 Armagh 1
2009-18 None 0
2019 Donegal 1
2020 Offaly, Sligo 2
2021-22 None 0
2023 Tyrone 1
Total 17

Seasons in Christy Ring Cup

The number of years that each county has played in the Christy Ring Cup between 2005 and 2024. A total of 17 counties have competed in at least one season of the Christy Ring Cup. Wicklow have participated in the most seasons. The counties in bold participate in the 2024 Christy Ring Cup.

Years Counties
19 Wicklow
18 Derry, Kildare
16 Down
15 Mayo
13 Meath
12 London
11 Kerry
9 Roscommon
6 Carlow
5 Armagh, Sligo, Westmeath
3 Antrim
2 Offaly, Tyrone
1 Donegal

List of Christy Ring Cup counties

Team Total years First year in championship Most recent year in championship Championship titles Last championship title Best Christy Ring Cup position Position in 2022 championship Current championship Lvl
Antrim 3 2006 2017 1 2006 1st 5th (Leinster Senior Hurling Championship) Leinster Senior Hurling Championship 1
Armagh 5 2008 2018 0 Group Stage 3rd (Nicky Rackard Cup) Nicky Rackard Cup 4
Carlow 6 2005 2017 3 2017 1st Champions (Joe McDonagh Cup) Leinster Senior Hurling Championship 1
Derry 18 2005 2024 0 2nd Runners-up Christy Ring Cup 3
Donegal 1 2019 2019 0 Group Stage Runners-up (Nicky Rackard Cup) Nicky Rackard Cup 4
Down 16 2005 2020 1 2013 1st 5th (Joe McDonagh Cup) Joe McDonagh Cup 2
Kerry 11 2005 2015 2 2015 1st 4th (Joe McDonagh Cup) Joe McDonagh Cup 2
Kildare 18 2005 2024 4 2022 1st 6th (Joe McDonagh Cup) Christy Ring Cup 3
London 12 2006 2024 1 2012 1st 4th Christy Ring Cup 3
Mayo 15 2005 2023 0 2nd 6th Nicky Rackard Cup 4
Meath 13 2005 2023 3 2023 1st Champions Joe McDonagh Cup 2
Offaly 2 2020 2021 1 2021 1st Runners-up (Joe McDonagh Cup) Joe McDonagh Cup 2
Roscommon 9 2005 2021 0 Semi-finals 4th (Nicky Rackard Cup) Nicky Rackard Cup 4
Sligo 5 2020 2024 0 3rd 3rd Christy Ring Cup 3
Tyrone 2 2023 2024 0 5th 5th Christy Ring Cup 3
Westmeath 5 2005 2010 3 2010 1st 6th (Leinster Senior Hurling Championship) Joe McDonagh Cup 2
Wicklow 19 2005 2024 0 2nd Champions (Nicky Rackard Cup) Christy Ring Cup 3

All time table

Legend

Colours
Currently competing in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship or the Joe McDonagh Cup
Currently competing in the Christy Ring Cup
Currently competing in the Nicky Rackard Cup

As of 1 July 2023 (After 2023 Christy Ring Cup).

# Team Pld W D L Points
1 Kildare 72 46 2 24 94
2 Down 65 36 3 26 75
3 Meath 52 31 4 17 66
4 Wicklow 64 26 3 35 55
5 Derry 64 26 2 36 54
6 Kerry 43 25 2 16 52
7 Carlow 31 22 2 7 46
8 London 47 19 2 26 40
9 Westmeath 25 18 1 6 37
10 Mayo 54 14 0 40 28
11 Antrim 15 11 1 3 23
12 Roscommon 37 9 0 28 18
13 Sligo 15 5 0 10 10
14 Offaly 6 4 1 1 9
15 Tyrone 5 1 1 3 3
16 Armagh 13 1 0 12 2
17 Donegal 4 0 0 4 0

Player records

Top scorers overall

Year Player County Score Total
2005 Mattie Dowd Kildare 2-39 45
2006 Paul Braniff Down 6-26 44
2007 Shane Brick Kerry
2008 Brendan Murtagh Westmeath 2-37 43
2009 Shane Brick Kerry 1-42 45
2010 Darragh O'Connell Kerry 1-38 41
2011 Darragh O'Connell Kerry 1-33 36
2012 Martin Finn London 5-29 44
2013 Paul Braniff Down 3-34 43
2014 Mikey Lee Wicklow 4-38 50
2015 Shane Nolan Kerry 2-35 41
2016 Ciarán Clarke Antrim 3-43 52
2017 Denis Murphy Carlow 0-45 45
2018
2019
2020
2021 Eoghan Cahill 0-36 36
2022 Shane Boland 1-52 55
2023

Top scorers in the final

Year Player County Score Total
2005 Andrew Mitchell Westmeath 0-9 9
2006 Johnny McIntosh Antrim 2-4 10
2007 Billy White Kildare 0-7 7
2008 Brendan Murtagh Westmeath 2-10 16
2009 Simon Wilson Down 0-7 7
2010 Darragh O'Connell Kerry 0-8 8
2011 Darragh O'Connell Kerry 1-9 12
2012 Jonathan Maher London 3-4 13
2013 Shane Nolan Kerry 1-9 12
2014 Shane Nolan Kerry 1-4 7
Gerry Keegan Kildare 1-4 7
2015 Shane Nolan Kerry 1-8 11
2016 James Toher Meath 0-12 12
2017 Ciarán Clarke Antrim 2-9 15
2018 James Burke Kildare 0-8 8
2019 Paul Sheehan Down 1-8 11
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024

See also

References

  1. "Ár gCluichí, Ár Laochra #5 – Niall Ó Muineacháin". gaa.ie.
  2. Keys, Colm (10 December 2003). "Hurling evangelists have radical tiers in their eyes". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
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