2007 Christy Ring Cup

The 2007 Christy Ring Cup is the third edition of the Christy Ring Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005 and is the second-tier of Hurling for senior county teams. It is contested by ten GAA county teams ranked 13–22 in the 2007 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
The 2007 Christy Ring Cup began on Saturday, 9 June 2007. The 2007 competition was won by Westmeath.

Team changes

To Championship

Relegated from the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

Westmeath

Promoted from the Nicky Rackard Cup

Derry

From Championship

Promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

Antrim

Relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup

Roscommon

Format

10 counties are contesting the 2007 competition for the Christy Ring Cup — the prize for the winners of Tier Two of the Guinness All-Ireland Hurling Championship. The 2007 competition involves the current middle rank of hurling counties:

Leinster: Carlow, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Wicklow
Ulster: Derry and Down
Connacht: Mayo
Munster: Kerry
Britain: 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. Unlike previous years the winners of this year Christy Ring Cup were not promoted to Tier One of the Hurling Championship to contest the Liam MacCarthy Cup the following year. This was decided by the GAA Congress in October 2006.
The last team in each group was involved in a relegation play-off with the eventual loser being relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup.

Group Stage

Group 2A

Teams	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts	Qualification
Meath	4	3	1	0	6-80	5-51	+32	7	Advance to Knockout Stage
Westmeath	4	3	1	0	6-60	4-53	+13	7	Advance to Knockout Stage
Kerry	4	2	0	2	4-63	5-53	+7	4
Down	4	1	0	3	7-57	7-66	-9	2
Mayo	4	0	0	4	3-43	7-74	-43	0	Advance to Relegation Playoff

Group 2B

Team	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts	Qualification
Carlow	4	4	0	0	8-59	7-42	+20	8	Advance to Knockout Stage
Kildare	4	3	0	1	4-77	5-54	+20	6	Advance to Knockout Stage
Derry	4	2	0	2	8-56	9-57	-4	4
Wicklow	4	1	0	3	6-59	7-62	-6	2
London	4	0	0	4	7-40	5-76	-30	0	Advance to Relegation Playoff

Miscellaneous

Westmeath won their 1st championship in 2 years, winning the 2005 Christy Ring Cup.
Westmeath became the first county to win the Christy Ring Cup 2 times.