brillianty win for derry yesterday in down marvellous achievement wevew seen how hard it is for division 2 teams to win there this year so for derry to win by what did was brilliant also good win for wicklow against mayo in mayo never an easy place to go i remember carlow barely scraping a win there a few years ago the same year they won the christy ring i think after the first round of matches the results showhow little is between these teams with no team winning by a cricket score i have to wonder tho could we be having a derry wicklow final instead of a down mayo one

ITSCHOLAR (Carlow) - Posts: 311 - 24/04/2011 15:54:41    917584

Christy Ring Draw (First team is at home)

Round 2A
Kerry v Meath
Wicklow v Derry

Round 2B
Mayo v Kildare
Down v Armagh

Winners of Round 2A qualify as semi-finalists.

Winners of Round 2B will play the losers of Round 2A in a Quarter-Final.

Losers of 2B will be eliminated.

Wicklow and Derry will now face-off for the 3rd time in 5 or so weeks. I fancy Wicklow at home, but Derry will be out for revenge.

Kerry at home should account for Meath.

Down will beat Armagh

Kildare to shade it over Mayo I think.

That would leave Kerry and Wicklow as Semi-Finalists and would leave Kildare, Down, Meath and Derry as Quarter-Finalists. Armagh and Mayo would be eliminated.

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1142 - 24/04/2011 19:45:08    917769

Predictions

Kerry over Meath
Wicklow vs. Derry will be a coin toss
Down should beat Armagh
Mayo to sneak past Kildare

Some great games this weekend and i hope the fans turn out to support their county.

portavogielad (Down) - Posts: 446 - 25/04/2011 13:06:03    917961

hello portavogie, it looks like ye slipped on that banana after all. a great result for derry, and followed up by a draw to wicklow. if derry are to win the christy ring this year it wont be the easy way, if there is such a thing

pig.ignorant (Derry) - Posts: 655 - 26/04/2011 15:46:17    918677

The better hungier team won

portavogielad (Down) - Posts: 446 - 26/04/2011 16:14:40    918702

CoraFinne87
County: Clare
Posts: 25

916974
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.

If they allowed the Ring winner to join the McCarthy qualifiers at the end of June, it'd be the best reward for winning the Cup. At least then they'd have an idea over the winter if they are ready to join the provincial championships or remain at Ring level.

Ring Predictions for next weekend:
Round 2A
Kerry v Meath
Wicklow v Derry

Round 2B
Mayo v Kildare
Down v Armagh

Down's defeat at the weekend was a surprise. kind of goes to show any team can win on the day.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8742 - 26/04/2011 18:27:36    918784

Down did have several key players injured for the Derry game - thats no excuse or any gloss of the Derry performance. Derry were by far faster and better with the ball. Glad we got Armagh with them being the best possible draw. I hope the Derry loss was a wake up call to our lads.

saulgael (Down) - Posts: 553 - 26/04/2011 20:47:59    918863

A lot of good games this weekend in the CRC. Wicklow are a very good side but will be fully tested by Derry. Home field advantage should pull them over the line, but expect another close encounter. Kerry must see themselves as favorites to win the Ring this year - should take care of Meath at home handy enough.

Down will be relieved to have drawn Armagh so that they can regroup. A trip to Castlebar or Newbridge would have been tough after the crushing defeat to Derry at home last weekend. Down to win easy enough. As Wicklow reliased last weekend Mayo are no push over at home, Also Kerry found that Kildare are no push over either. With the game in McHale, Mayo by a point or so. A lot of parity it the league this year which is great for the competition.

CoraFinne87 (Clare) - Posts: 44 - 27/04/2011 13:47:48    919203

Are the Ring and lower level Cups working?

I'd love to see all counties outside the McCarthy, who want to partake unlike Cavan, in a competition where they could join the McCarthy qualifiers. The 20 or so teams outside the McCarthy could be split into a North and South shield, being about 10 counties in each section. It'd be like having two second tier provinces north and south.

* The two shield winners would join the McCarthy qualifiers.
* The two losing finalists north & south and four losing semi-finalist north & south could battle for the Rackard as a secondary competition.
* The counties failing to make the shield semi-finals north & south could compete in the Meagher Cup as there secondary competition.
* The Ring then could be competed by qualifiers losers from the McCarthy Cup as a secondary competition, competed by counties not making the last 8.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8742 - 27/04/2011 20:50:23    919512

Is Shane Brick still out for Kerry?

fergie (Carlow) - Posts: 1119 - 28/04/2011 12:43:59    919720

Down Vs. Armagh - Down with a few to spare
Kerry Vs. Meath - Kingdom comes through
Mayo Vs. Kildare - Mayo bye the skin of their teeth
Wicklow Vs. Derry - Hinphey is a big loss and could be the difference.

saulgael (Down) - Posts: 553 - 29/04/2011 20:55:11    920780

Down Vs. Armagh - Down
Kerry Vs. Meath - Kerry
Mayo Vs. Kildare - God knows. A Draw ?
Wicklow Vs. Derry - Wicklow ( Hopefully Derry will go up next year )

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2926 - 30/04/2011 08:42:11    920846

Hopeful of a Wicklow victory today over Derry but taking nothing for granted. If any one is interested there is excellent highlights of the Wicklow V Derry League Final on www.wicklowgaaonline.com . If Wicklow can win today they will earn a home semi-final and you never know a place in the final could be a possibility.

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1142 - 30/04/2011 11:20:33    920889

I thought the semi finals were in neutral grounds? Last year the quarters and semis were played in neutral grounds anyway

CastleBravo (Meath) - Posts: 1677 - 30/04/2011 12:58:02    920939

Castlebravo - I heard that off a county player last night. He seemed very definite on it.

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1142 - 30/04/2011 14:03:27    920966

Yeah last year we played kerry in Thurles.

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2926 - 30/04/2011 14:08:02    920969

Latest from Aughrim. Wicklow 3-7 Derry 1-0. Big wind behind Wicklow in the first half.

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1142 - 30/04/2011 14:58:09    921007

Wicklow 3-13 Derry 2-5 About 8-10 minutes left.

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1142 - 30/04/2011 15:50:54    921032

Wicklowman it must be a gale !

sponger (Wicklow) - Posts: 2926 - 30/04/2011 15:52:01    921033

It is, sponger. All up now for Derry. Down to 14 men for a third instance of striking. 3-14 to 2-6.

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1142 - 30/04/2011 15:56:46    921039