Christy Ring Cup 2005

The Christy Ring Cup 2005 began on Saturday, June 4, 2005. 2005 was the first time this new element of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was introduced. It was devised by the Hurling Development Committee to encourage some of the so-called "weaker" hurling counties and to give them the chance of playing more games. It is in effect a "Division 2" for hurling teams in Ireland. The final was played on Sunday, August 14 when Westmeath beat Down at Croke Park, Dublin.

Contents

Format

Ten counties contested this year's inaugural competition for the Christy Ring Cup — the prize for the winners of the new 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 on August 14 will be promotion to Tier One of the Hurling Championship to contest the Liam McCarthy Cup the following year. Westmeath were the champions so they will play in the Leinster Championship in 2006.

The bottom two teams of both groups will be involved in a four-way relegation play-off with the eventual loser being relegated to Tier Three of the championship. Derry was the team that was relegated from the competition so they will play in the Nicky Rackard Cup in 2006.

Results

Key to colours in group tables
Group winners and runners-up advance to the semi-finals
Bottom two teams enter the relegation playoff semi-finals

Group A

Team Pts Pld W D L SF SA SD
Down 6 4 3 0 1 14-72 (114) 9-57 (84) +30
Westmeath 6 4 3 0 1 10-64 (94) 8-49 (73) +21
Meath 5 4 2 1 1 9-67 (94) 7-52 (73) +21
Roscommon 2 4 1 0 3 4-46 (58) 13-83 (122) -54
Derry 1 4 1 1 2 7-49 (70) 7-57 (78) -8
Game Date Venue Winner Score Runner-Up Score
1st Round June 11 Lavey, Londonderry Down 3-17 Derry 3-14
1st Round June 11 Cusack Park, Ennis Westmeath 4-19 Roscommon 0-11
2nd Round June 18 Athleague, Roscommon Roscommon 1-15 Derry 1-13
2nd Round June 18 Páirc Tailteann, Navan Meath 3-16 Westmeath 2-10
3rd Round June 25 Ballinascreen, Londonderry Derry 1-14 Meath 2-11
3rd Round June 25 Ballycran, Down Down 5-25 Roscommon 2-8
4th Round July 2 Páirc Tailteann, Navan Down 3-16 Meath 1-14
4th Round July 2 Cusack Park, Ennis Westmeath 1-14 Derry 2-8
5th Round July 16 Páirc Esler, Newry Westmeath 3-21 Down 3-14
5th Round July 16 Athleague, Roscommon Meath 3-26 Roscommon 1-12

Group B

Team Pts Pld W D L SF SA SD
Kildare 6 4 3 0 1 11-54 (87) 7-50 (71) +16
Carlow 6 4 3 0 1 5-50 (65) 6-52 (67) -2
Kerry 5 4 2 1 1 12-59 (95) 8-46 (70) +25
Wicklow 3 4 1 1 2 9-52 (79) 9-52 (79) +0
Mayo 0 4 0 0 4 7-40 (61) 13-61 (100) -39
Game Date Venue Winner Score Runner-Up Score
1st Round June 4 Naas, Kildare Kildare 4-12 Kerry 1-17
1st Round June 4 Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow Carlow 2-13 Wicklow 1-13
2nd Round June 11 Arklow, Wicklow Kildare 2-13 Wicklow 2-12
2nd Round June 12 Pearse Stadium, Galway Carlow 1-12 Mayo 0-13
3rd Round June 25 Naas, Kildare Kildare 4-17 Mayo 4-4
3rd Round July 9 Austin Stack Park, Tralee Kerry 3-11 Wicklow 2-14
4th Round July 2 Pearse Stadium, Galway Kerry 5-16 Mayo 0-12
4th Round July 6 Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow Carlow 0-17 Kildare 1-12
5th Round July 16 Austin Stack Park, Tralee Kerry 3-15 Carlow 2-8
5th Round July 16 Arklow, Wicklow Wicklow 3-16 Mayo 3-12

Relegation playoffs

Game Date Venue Winner Score Runner-Up Score
Christy Ring Cup
Relegation Semi-Final
July 30 Páirc Tailteann, Navan Wicklow 2-27 Derry 3-22
Christy Ring Cup
Relegation Semi-Final
July 31 Athleague Roscommon 1-12 Mayo 0-14
Christy Ring Cup
Relegation Final
August 13 Markievicz Park, Castlebar Mayo 4-14 Derry 1-10

Finals

Game Date Venue Winner Score Runner-Up Score
Christy Ring Cup
Semi-Final
July 30 Páirc Tailteann, Navan Westmeath 7-14 Kildare 1-12
Christy Ring Cup
Semi-Final
July 31 Parnell Park, Dublin Down 4-23 Carlow 1-11
Christy Ring Cup
Final
August 14 Croke Park, Dublin Westmeath 1-23 Down 2-18

See also