2006 Nicky Rackard Cup


The 2006 Nicky Rackard Cup was the 2006 campaign of the Nicky Rackard Cup and began on Saturday June 10, 2006. 2006 was the second 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 weaker hurling counties and to give them the chance of playing more games. The final will be played on Sunday, August 13 in Croke Park, Dublin City.
Donegal, Armagh, Longford and Derry played in the semi-finals. Longford qualified by defeating the other two group runners-up. After winning their semi-finals, Donegal and Derry contested the final in Croke Park on August 12. Derry won easily and were promoted to the 2007 Christy Ring Cup.

Format

Twelve teams participate in the 2006 Nicky Rackard Cup. The teams were divided into three groups of four roughly based on geographical criteria. The groups are identical to the Nicky Rackard Cup 2005 except that in 3C Derry replace London, who have been promoted.
The group winners advance to the semi-finals. The runners-up in Groups 3A and 3B meet in the quarter-final playoffs, with the winners meeting the runner-up in Group 3C in the quarter-final.

Team changes

To Championship

Relegated from the Christy Ring Cup

From Championship

Promoted to the Christy Ring Cup

Knockout stage

Final

Derry are promoted to the 2007 Christy Ring Cup.

Stadia and locations

CountyLocationProvinceStadiumCapacity
ArmaghArmaghUlsterAthletic Grounds18,500
CavanCavanUlsterBreffni Park32,000
DerryDerryUlsterCeltic Park22,000
DonegalBallybofeyUlsterMacCumhaill Park18,000
FermanaghEnniskillenUlsterBrewster Park18,000
LeitrimCarrick-on-ShannonConnachtPáirc Seán Mac Diarmada9,331
LongfordLongfordLeinsterPearse Park10,000
LouthDroghedaLeinsterDrogheda Park3,500
MonaghanClonesUlsterSt Tiernach's Park36,000
SligoSligoConnachtMarkievicz Park18,558
TyroneOmaghUlsterHealy Park17,636
WarwickshireSolihullBritainPáirc na hÉireann4,500

Statistics

Scoring events

Miscellaneous