Christy Ring Cup 2006

The Christy Ring Cup 2006 began on Saturday, June 3, 2006.

Down shocked Antrim on opening day, but the Glensmen came back to win their next three games by a combined 77 points. In Group B, Kildare won all their games while Carlow scraped the runner-up spot. In the semis Antrim led the Lilywhites 2-14 to 0-1 at half-time, while in a thrilling match Carlow beat Down by two points.

The final on Sunday August 6, played a curtain-raiser to the Cork-Waterford semi-final, was a complete non-event. After twenty-five minutes Antrim led by 3-6 to 0-0, Carlow having hit eight wides. Antrim eased off towards the end to win by 5-13 to 1-7. Joey Scullion, Johnny McIntosh (two), Ciaran Kelly and Brian McFall got the goals for Antrim, while the Carlow 'keeper Frank Foley scored his side's only goal from a late penalty. Report

Format

Ten counties contested the 2006 competition for the Christy Ring Cup — the prize for the winners of Tier Two of the Guinness All-Ireland Hurling Championship. The inaugural competition involved the current middle rank of hurling counties:

• Leinster: Carlow, Kildare, Meath, and Wicklow
• Ulster: Antrim and Down
• Connacht: Roscommon and Mayo
• Munster: Kerry
• England: London

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 will be promotion to Tier One of the Hurling Championship to contest the Liam McCarthy Cup the following year.

The last team in each group will be involved in a relegation play-off with the eventual loser being relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup.

Group A

Date	Venue	Winner	Score	Loser	Score
June 10		London	2-10	Roscommon	0-10
June 10	Ballycran	Down	1-23	Antrim	1-7
June 18		Antrim	9-39	Roscommon	0-5
June 18		London	3-15	Meath	0-20
June 24		Down	3-21	Roscommon	0-12
June 24		Antrim	3-12	Meath	0-13
July 8		Down	2-15	Meath	0-11
July 8		Antrim	2-12	London	1-7
July 15		Down	2-17	London	1-13
July 15		Meath	2-11	Roscommon	2-8

Table	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
Down	4	4	0	0	8-76	2-43	51	8
Antrim	4	3	0	1	15-70	2-48	61	6
London	4	2	0	2	7-45	4-59	-5	4
Meath	4	1	0	3	2-65	10-50	-9	2
Roscommon	4	0	0	4	2-35	16-91	-98	0

Group B

Date	Venue	Winner	Score	Loser	Score
June 3	Arklow	Carlow	1-11	Wicklow	2-8
June 3	Austin Stack Park, Tralee	Kildare	1-16	Kerry	2-12
June 10	St. Conleth's Park, Newbridge	Kildare	3-14	Wicklow	2-12
June 10		Carlow	3-15	Mayo	0-5
June 24	McHale Park, Castlebar	Kildare	2-19	Mayo	1-12
June 24	Austin Stack Park, Tralee	Wicklow	0-15	Kerry	2-7
July 8		Mayo	0-8	Kerry	0-4
July 8		Kildare	3-13	Carlow	2-7
July 15		Carlow	1-22	Kerry	3-11
July 15		Mayo	3-9	Wicklow	2-10

Table	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
Kildare	4	4	0	0	9-62	7-43	25	8
Carlow	4	2	1	1	7-55	8-37	15	5
Mayo	4	2	0	2	4-34	7-48	-23	4
Wicklow	4	1	1	2	6-45	9-41	-5	3
Kerry	4	0	0	4	7-34	2-61	-12	0

Relegation Match

Date	Venue	Winner	Score	Loser	Score
July 22	Cusack Park, Ennis	Kerry	2-17	Roscommon	1-7

Roscommon were relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2007.

Knockout Stages

Match	Date	Venue	Team A	Score	Team B	Score
Semi-Final	July 23	Cusack Park	Kildare	0-6	Antrim	2-21
Semi-Final	July 23	Cusack Park	Down	5-8	Carlow	2-19
Final	August 6	Croke Park, Dublin	Antrim	5-13	Carlow	1-7

See also