Any thoughts on this years Christy Ring Cup. Kerry & Down are probably the favourites. Kerry had a great chance last year but fell to Westmeath at the last hurdle. Down have had an impressive league run beating three Liam McCarthy level counties. Wicklow is probably the only other potential contender with their rise in recent form. I believe Kerry & Down's division 2 play will stand by them well and it's hard to look past these two counties. Any odds out there?, and does the winner make the qualifiers of Liam McCarthy?

doubletree (Dublin) - Posts: 164 - 20/04/2011 18:04:33    915888

My own Meath have an outside chance, did well winning the Kehoe cup using several of the leinster 'B' winning team of last year, then collapsed for the first three round of the league, but got back to winning ways against Cill Dara, and Ard Mhacha. Playing Ard Mhacha again in the first round in the Athletic Grounds, probably our best possible draw given our decline in hurling in recent years, though Ard Mhacha are a team on the up. There is no provision for the CR winners this year going into the Liam MacCarthy qualifiers, assumedly they just get to play in their provincial championship in 2012. I have always wondered though what happens if Maigh Eo win it. Do they resurrect the Connacht championship with themselves and Gaillimh? Or what about An Dun in Ulster?

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1677 - 20/04/2011 21:27:09    916007

Kerry will have to be favourites after last season. Down are one team I'd be worried about though we beat them in the league. Wicklow will be a threat as well with their rivals Derry the other likely challengers.

Looking forward, the GAA should allow the Christy Ring winner join the qualifiers. The best way for a county to know if they are ready for the step-up to the provincial championship is to be given a route to the qualifiers. Had Westmeath been able to take on Carlow or Laois in the qualifiers last year, they'd have been in a better position to tell if they were ready to join the Leinster Championship for this year.

The Christy Ring Cup final this year will be on the 4th of June. The hurling Preliminary Round Qualifiers will be on 18th of June. Why should a team have to wait an entire year?

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8725 - 20/04/2011 21:55:53    916031

With Carlow & Westmeath now in the MacCarthy, Down will have to be taking this seriously. Kerry are trying to consolidate on what they achieved last year & surviving in Div 2 was key for that end. Kildare won't be bad either. Wicklow have great momentum right now.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 21/04/2011 11:00:57    916125

Kerry hopefully.

890202 (Wexford) - Posts: 1278 - 21/04/2011 11:18:59    916144

Hopefully Wicklow - Semi-Finalists last year pipped by Kerry 2-17 to 2-14. Good momentum

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1142 - 21/04/2011 11:58:03    916176

The Christy Ring is a great tournament. On paper you would say that Down & Kerry are the favourites, but there is alway a surprise package each year in the Ring. On thier day Meath, Kildare, Armagh can all hold their own especially at home.

Of course i am hoping that the red & black can bring Christy to the Ards. We have a potential banana skin against Derry this weekend. Derry never fear Down with games alway going to the wire. With the game in Ballycran we should pull it of.

portavogielad (Down) - Posts: 446 - 21/04/2011 13:14:53    916250

Predictions

Down vs. Derry - Down by 4-5
Kildare vs. Kerry - Kerry by 2-3
Armagh vs. Meath - Armagh by 1 in ET
Mayo vs. Wicklow - Wicklow by 5-6

mournegael (Down) - Posts: 156 - 21/04/2011 13:31:00    916281

Predictions

Down vs. Derry - Down by 4
Kildare vs. Kerry - Kerry by 1
Armagh vs. Meath - Armagh by 3
Mayo vs. Wicklow - Mayo by 1

saulgael (Down) - Posts: 553 - 21/04/2011 18:09:36    916506

Roscommon beat Mayo in the 3b league final - Mayo don't stand a hope against a rampent Wicklow team.

Wins for Down, Meath, Wicklow and Kerry.

doubletree (Dublin) - Posts: 164 - 21/04/2011 18:12:05    916509

Wins for:
Down v Derry
Kildare v Kerry
Armagh v Meath
Mayo v Wicklow

I wouldn't take anything for granted in either game but the form teams should win.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8725 - 21/04/2011 19:17:22    916539

Why are London Hurlers not in the Christy Ring?, i beleive they are good enough.

mournegael (Down) - Posts: 156 - 22/04/2011 13:04:44    916754

down or kerry have to be favourites for the christy ring. my own beloved derry have the hardest possible start with a trip to down. if derry manage to pull off a master stroke and beta the mourne man then that will give the lads a great confidence boost, and who knows where they can go. i just hope the heads havent dropped too much after last week

pig.ignorant (Derry) - Posts: 655 - 22/04/2011 13:52:16    916787

Hello Pig,

It will be a close encounter. The form book goes out the Window when Down play Derry. I was disapointed you didn't beat Wicklow as it would have been nice to have 3 Ulster teams in the second tier next year. Last year you lost in the first round in extra time to Westmeath in Mullingar. Let remember who went on to win the CRC Westmeath. I think home field advantage might just tip the balance in our favor - i hope.

portavogielad (Down) - Posts: 446 - 22/04/2011 14:10:16    916803

London lost the Nicky Rackard final to Armagh by a point last year. That's why they're not in the Christy Ring.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 22/04/2011 14:44:13    916826

in my opionion i think it will be down vs kerry final this year and after that its literally the toss of a coin between these two teams to who will win it although im not ruling out wicklow or derry or even kildare i just think the fact down and kerry played in division 2 this year will stand to them in the long run and they should be two strong for the rest of the teams although on there day wicklow and derry are as good as them but with down having derry at home its hard to see past a down win in this one to be honest but it will be close in my opinion. Also the winners of the christy ring should be placed in the qualifiers with the competition finishing on the 4th of june this means the window for these lads inter county year is only 5-6 months at the max were talking about promoting hurling in the country but if these lads are only hurling for 6 months of the year then babck to there clubs surely this is not helping them two much now to be honest at least if they new that they will still have another month or two left to play hurling in the summer with dry pitches in front of a couple of thousand people against a liam mccarth team then that should be incentive for these lads to but in the long hard hours or training and matches so that they no they will get there day in the sun at the end of it

ITSCHOLAR (Carlow) - Posts: 311 - 22/04/2011 16:47:53    916900

Totally agree!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 22/04/2011 17:49:02    916932

It would be great to see the Christy Ring winners playing the likes of Laois, Clare, Offaly, Wexford, Carlow, Antrim etc.... in Thurles or Tullamore on a nice sunny summer afternoon. This would be great reward for all the hard winter nights that they have put in. Down & Kerry are not bad teams - Down give Limerick a real run for their money up in Portaferry and they also beat Laois, Carlow, and Westmeath. They should put together a Ring select to compete in the Liam McCarthy - that would be fun.

CoraFinne87 (Clare) - Posts: 44 - 22/04/2011 19:52:00    916974

Wins for Derry, Wicklow, Meath, and Kerry. All four home teams lost. Derry destroyed Down which is a big upset.

doubletree (Dublin) - Posts: 164 - 23/04/2011 16:19:03    917228

Delighted for Derry bounced back well from the Division 3A Final defeat Wicklow. Plenty of Down supporters on here discounting Wicklow's chances of winning the Christy Ring saying it could only be between Down and Kerry to win the tournament. Yeah it still could be - but yesterday was a wake-up call to show you that Meath and Wicklow are in the running. Kildare are pretty decent too. And also that home advantage means very little in this competition.

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1142 - 24/04/2011 12:39:35    917484