2008 Nicky Rackard Cup
The 2008 Nicky [Rackard Cup] was the 4th annual third tier hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. Sligo beat Louth in the final.
Team changes
To Championship
Entered ChampionshipFrom Championship
Promoted to the Christy Ring CupFormat
Ten county teams participated in the 2008 Nicky Rackard Cup, with Fingal and "South Down" bringing the total to twelve.- Group 3A: Fingal, Longford, Louth
- Group 3B: Fermanagh, Leitrim, South Down
- Group 3C: Donegal, Monaghan, Tyrone
- Group 3D: Cavan, Sligo, Warwickshire
Group A
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | SF | SA | Diff | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Fingal | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3-29 | 4-20 | +6 | 2 | Advance to Knockout Stage |
| 2 | Louth | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1-26 | 0-29 | 0 | 2 | Advance to Knockout Stage |
| 3 | Longford | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3-22 | 3-28 | -6 | 2 |
Group B
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | SF | SA | Diff | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | South Down | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7-31 | 4-29 | +11 | 4 | Advance to Knockout Stage |
| 2 | Leitrim | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4-29 | 4-27 | +2 | 2 | Advance to Knockout Stage |
| 3 | Fermanagh | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3-24 | 6-28 | -13 | 0 |
| Date | Team | Score | Team | Score |
| 28 June | South Down | 3-16 | Leitrim | 2-16 |
| 5 July | Leitrim | 2-13 | Fermanagh | 1-11 |
| 12 July | Fermanagh | 2-13 | South Down | 4-15 |
Group 3C
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | +/- |
| Monaghan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3-32 | 4-23 | 4 | +6 |
| Tyrone | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5-20 | 5-24 | 2 | -4 |
| Donegal | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3-26 | 2-31 | 0 | -2 |
Group 3D
| Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | +/- |
| Sligo | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4-30 | 3-17 | 4 | +16 |
| Cavan | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1-23 | 3-27 | 2 | -10 |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2-22 | 1-31 | 0 | -6 |
Miscellaneous
2008 season facts
- Sligo, the eventual winners of the competition finished the preceding league tournament without a win, resulting in relegation to division 4 next year. Donegal, who won every game of the league, were eliminated from the Championship at the first hurdle.
- Sligo had the opportunity of defending their crown in 2009 after losing 1–17 to 1–13 to Roscommon in the championship promotion/relegation play-off. However a change in the Hurling competition structures with the introduction of a 4th tier championship Lory Meagher Cup meant that sligo and Roscommon both played in the 2009 Nicky Rackard Cup.