Good luck to the Kerry hurlers today. Hopefully the experience of it being our 3rd final in 4 years will be of help. It's going to be a tough game against Down. Ciarraí abú!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 08/06/2013 10:19:24    1401644

I fancy Down to win this today, momentum is a big thing and I feel it's in Down's favour. Coupled with the hurt of two previous Christy Ring final defeats at Croker (05 and 09), I feel Down will win by 2.

An Dún Abú

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 08/06/2013 10:52:58    1401662

WHAT A GAME.

Down score a last minute goal to beat Kerry by 2 points and win the Christy Ring Cup.

Final Score: Down 3-16 Kerry 2-17

MourneArmy (Down) - Posts: 1787 - 08/06/2013 17:31:52    1401901

What a game and the result is exactly the same as was in the first round , but Kerry won that day 3/16 to 2/17 now that's weird.

knowtherules (UK) - Posts: 181 - 08/06/2013 17:45:43    1401911

3 good games today more over the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard games. Kerry Down was as good a game that will be played all year yet one sided hammerings Kilkenny and the likes will get more coverage

moomoo (Kerry) - Posts: 4023 - 08/06/2013 18:22:44    1401941

So proud of Down Hurlers. Great never say die attitude. Kerry were very good, but they couldn't shake us off. Great shot in the arm for Down & Ulster Hurling. Congrats to Donegal on their Rackard success.

saulgael (Down) - Posts: 553 - 08/06/2013 18:24:55    1401943

am absolutely devastated foe the kerry hurlers today.

WHY CAN'T THE BIG NOBS GET COVERAGE FOR THESE 3 FINALS TODAY?

kerryluck (Kerry) - Posts: 2517 - 08/06/2013 18:52:17    1401968

Christy Ring 2014 - I believe Carlow, London, Westmeath should all move down and join the current 8 teams in the CRC. Donegal should be promoted to make it 12 teams. We then could have 4 groups of three teams with each team getting 2 games with the top two teams progressing to 1/4 final with group winner getting home draw. Semi finals played before all Ireland hurling semis and CRC final played before the all Ireland hurling final. Thoughts?

doubletree (Dublin) - Posts: 164 - 09/06/2013 14:57:47    1402247

Congratulations to Down. Welcome to the Christy Ring top table!

Naturally I'm disappointed for my own country. It was the result I feared. Down seemed to gain a momentum in this year's championship that we have not seen for a few years. For Kerry hurling, it'll be interesting to see how they respond to yesterday's defeat. Next year the Ring winner will advance to a promotion/relegation play-off to join the provincial play-off group.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 09/06/2013 19:26:38    1402486

Delighted for Down! Kerry were slicker in the 1st half but Down's defence got on top in the 2nd half. Couldn't understand moving Magic Johnson out to half forward line - 1st 2 balls sent into him at full forward he scored 1-1. The winning goal came when they eventually moved him back in there. Great to see class hurlers like Shane Nolan & Paul Braniff in action.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4105 - 09/06/2013 19:32:38    1402493

exciting stuff, thought at least one and maybe two of downs goals could have been disallowed, well inside the 20m line for a penalty rebound and a few feet inside the small square for last minute winner????

onceaponatime (Louth) - Posts: 210 - 10/06/2013 10:07:46    1402723

having watched the winning goal again it was a good goal and a great call from the umpires and the referee

onceaponatime (Louth) - Posts: 210 - 10/06/2013 10:20:52    1402743

I see Carlow have a bye in Round 1 of the Qualifiers. Why couldn't Down, as Christy Ring Cup winners be playing them instead of having a bye???

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4105 - 10/06/2013 11:13:01    1402812

Well done Down hurlers and what a game, winning goal in injury time from the big man himself Magic - An dun abu

Tim_Burr (Down) - Posts: 460 - 10/06/2013 15:03:43    1403147

Why did they not leave Magic at full forward the whole time???

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4105 - 10/06/2013 16:51:22    1403303

keeper7
County: Longford
I see Carlow have a bye in Round 1 of the Qualifiers. Why couldn't Down, as Christy Ring Cup winners be playing them instead of having a bye???

Excellent point, it would make perfect sense, especially as there's clearly a gap there. I guess its difficult to have the CR champs play in the AI qualifiers until some kind of promotion/relegation is in place. But, as far as I know, we're going to have such promotion/relegation in place some time soon (I think), so they really need to seriously consider having the CR winners going into the qualifiers. If they insist on finishing the Christy Ring ridiculously early, it only makes sense for the winner to go into the qualifiers.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 10/06/2013 17:28:29    1403361

Does Down now join the Leinster Championship 2014? Donegal Hurlers come up, so who goes down to the Rackard from the Ring? I'm guessing Mayo or Armagh?

doubletree (Dublin) - Posts: 164 - 10/06/2013 17:29:33    1403362

keeper7
County: Longford

I see Carlow have a bye in Round 1 of the Qualifiers. Why couldn't Down, as Christy Ring Cup winners be playing them instead of having a bye???

You have to keep in mind the number of teams in the McCarthy Cup increased when Carlow came in followed then by Westmeath and London. The GAA's plan a few years ago appeared to allow expansion until 16 teams would be in the McCarthy. Following London's promotion and expansion of the Leinster championship to include them, it seems to have led for a reverse on the number of teams.

This time next year the Ring winner will be preparing for a relegation/promotion play-off to join the provincial play-off group. It'll be interesting to see if the provincial play-off does as intended. It protects 10 counties anyways which is the GAA's only priority. They will have to bring in some criteria at some stage for provincial qualifier counties like Antrim and Laois to gain full provincial championship status. For example if a provincial qualifier makes a provincial semi-final, should that earn them provincial status or should the bar be set higher to having to make a provincial final or the final round of the qualifiers?

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 10/06/2013 17:31:49    1403370

legendzxix
County: Kerry
This time next year the Ring winner will be preparing for a relegation/promotion play-off to join the provincial play-off group. It'll be interesting to see if the provincial play-off does as intended. It protects 10 counties anyways which is the GAA's only priority.

What 10 counties are being protected, what are they being protected from? How are they being protected?

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 10/06/2013 17:35:32    1403376

doubletree
Does Down now join the Leinster Championship 2014?

No. Next year's championship is already set in stone. 5 counties in the Munster Championship as normal. 5 counties - Kilkenny, Galway, Dublin, Wexford and Offaly in the Leinster championship. Two more spots are available in the Leinster Championship. Antrim, Laois, Carlow, Westmeath and London will contest a qualifier group where they will each play each team. The top 2 in the group will advance to the Leinster championship quarter-finals. The bottom team in the group will be relegated to the Ring Cup 2014. The team 2nd bottom in the group will take on the Ring winner in a promotion/relegation play-off. This will reduce the championship from 15 to 14 for 2015. This will be repeated in 2014 but with a qualifier group of 4 in order for the championship to reduce from 14 to 13 for 2016. 13 is the number of teams they've decided they want in the championship so the reduction of teams will stop there. In 2016 only 3 teams will be in the qualifier group. Top 2 will go into the Leinster championship with the bottom team of the 3 taking on the Ring winner in a promotion/relegation play-off.

Personally with the plan they have, I think they should just reduce to 14. A group of 3 will mean one team not playing any given weekend. Two teams on the last day could fix a result to advance ahead of the team with 2 games already played.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9798 - 10/06/2013 17:40:04    1403382