2018 Christy Ring Cup


The 2018 Christy Ring Cup was the 14th staging of the Christy Ring Cup hurling championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005. It is the third tier of senior inter-county hurling. The competition began on 12 May 2018 and ended on 23 June 2018.
Carlow were the 2017 [Christy Ring Cup|2017 champions], beating Antrim in the final. Both teams were included in the counties competing in the newly created Joe McDonagh Cup. Roscommon lost their play-off match against Mayo in 2017 – normally Roscommon would have been relegated but they remained in the 2018 Christy Ring Cup as a result of the restructuring of the hurling championship tiers.
Kildare were the 2018 Chrisy Ring champions, defeating London by 3–19 to 1–11 in the final. Kildare lost the relegation/promotion game against Antrim and remained in the Christy Ring Cup for 2019.

Team changes

To Championship

Relegated from the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
  • None
Promoted from the Nicky Rackard Cup
Promoted to the Joe McDonagh Cup
Relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup
  • None

    Format

Beginning in 2018, the Christy Ring Cup changed to an initial stage of two groups of four teams. Previously it was a double elimination tournament. The top two teams from both groups advance to the semi-finals. In 2018, teams at the bottom of each group will automatically be relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2019. In subsequent years, the bottom teams will meet in a relegation playoff to decide the one team relegated to the following year's Nicky Rackard Cup.
The Christy Ring champions contest a promotion/relegation playoff with the second bottom team in the Joe McDonagh Cup with the winner earning the right to compete in the 2019 Joe McDonagh Cup.
Following the creation of the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2018, the Christy Ring Cup was reclassified as tier 3.

Teams

General Information

Personnel and kits

Group stage

Group 1

Group 1 Table

TeamQualification
1 Kildare33008958316Advance to Knockout Stage
2 Wicklow3201726484Advance to Knockout Stage
3Roscommon31024871-222
4 Mayo30034663-170Relegation to Nicky Rackard Cup

Group 1 Rounds 1 to 3

Group 1 Round 1
Group 1 Round 2
Group 1 Round 3

Group 2

Group 2 Table

TeamQualification
1 London32018860284Advance to Knockout Stage
2Derry32018965244Advance to Knockout Stage
3 Down32019269234
4 Armagh300339114-750Relegation to Nicky Rackard Cup

London, Derry and Down all finished on 4 points and were ranked on score difference.

Group 2 Rounds 1 to 3

Group 2 Round 1
Group 2 Round 2
Group 2 Round 3

Knockout stage

Bracket

Semi-finals

The Group 1 winners play the Group 2 runners-up and the Group 2 winners play the Group 1 runners-up.

Final

Relegation/promotion playoff

retain their place in the Joe McDonagh Cup for 2019, while Kildare remain in the Christy Ring Cup for 2019.

Stadia and locations

CountyLocationProvinceList of [Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums|Stadium]Capacity
Neutral venueDublinLeinsterCroke Park82,300
ArmaghArmaghUlsterAthletic Grounds18,500
DerryDerryUlsterCeltic Park22,000
DownNewryUlsterPáirc Esler20,000
KildareCounty Kildare|Newbridge]LeinsterSt Conleth's Park8,200
LondonSouth RuislipBritainMcGovern Park3,000
MayoCastlebarConnachtMacHale Park25,369
RoscommonRoscommonConnachtDr Hyde Park25,000
WicklowAughrimLeinsterAughrim County Ground7,000

Stadiums and locations

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall

Updated to 2 June 2018
RankPlayerClubTallyTotalMatchesAverage
1Cormac O'DohertyDerry1-2831215.50
2Daithí SandsDown6-052337.66
2Paul SheehanDown0-232337.66
4Andy O'BrienWicklow1-192237.33
4Barry CormackKildare0-222237.33
6Aaron SheehanLondon0-212137.00
7Daniel GlynnRoscommon1-172036.66
8Martin FitzgeraldKildare5-041936.33
8Kenny FeeneyMayo0-191936.33
10Colin NelsonLondon1-131635.33

In a single game

Miscellaneous