Two interesting games this Saturday. As we know Derry blow hot & cold, so it will be interesting to see which team shows up. Could the run of games take a toll on London? Kildare will have to be on their toes in Ballina especially if Higgins is playing. You would fancy Kildare and London to progress, but you never know with the CRC.

portavogielad (Down) - Posts: 446 - 11/05/2015 18:38:57    1722559

Kildare to win...unless Higgins starts for Mayo. Derry V London too tight to call!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 11/05/2015 21:57:21    1722616

Derry by a point! Kildare came through in the end...& Higgins played for Mayo!!!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 16/05/2015 15:55:28    1724224

Quaterfinals are Kildare V Meath & Down V London. Mayo V Wicklow in relegation play-off. There'll be a draw for home venues, I presume.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 16/05/2015 17:45:41    1724254

The Christy Ring Cup has a tidy format. After 2 rounds all teams have a 3rd match to be preparing for.
The two teams that reach the semi-finals undefeated should be given the home game. It should be a reward for not requiring a second chance to get there.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7871 - 19/05/2015 10:39:30    1725332

Some fall for London. Christy Ring champions 2012. Relegation from the McCarthy Cup last year. Losing out in the quarter-finals today.

Kerry and Derry have been joined in the semi-finals by today's quarter-final winners Down and Kildare. My understanding is that Kerry and Down can't be a pairing as they played in the 1st round. We'll be looking at a repeat of last year's final and an all Ulster semi-final.

Kerry will still be favourites but it's anyone's to win. Down and Kildare are the 2013 and 2014 winners respectively. Derry have been solid all year. It's all to play for over the next two weekends.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7871 - 23/05/2015 18:14:00    1727456

Some fall for London. Christy Ring champions 2012. Relegation from the McCarthy Cup last year. Losing out in the quarter-finals today.

Kerry and Derry have been joined in the semi-finals by today's quarter-final winners Down and Kildare. My understanding is that Kerry and Down can't be a pairing as they played in the 1st round. We'll be looking at a repeat of last year's final and an all Ulster semi-final.

Kerry will still be favourites but it's anyone's to win. Down and Kildare are the 2013 and 2014 winners respectively. Derry have been solid all year. It's all to play for over the next two weekends.
I'll be putting my money on Kerry, definitely one of the most-improved sides of the year.

shwag (Galway) - Posts: 2 - 23/05/2015 20:44:39    1727506

Looking forward to the semi finals. Big crowd expected in Owenbeg. With Antrim in free fall Derry maybe the new force in Ulster Hurling! They have 6 or 7 Derry City lads on the county panel from the Na Magha club with several on the starting 15. Apparently they have a ton of coaches going into the schools teaching the kids. Great work by the Derry county board tapping into the huge population centers Derry City & Coleraine/Portstewart. It is similar to the Dublin model, but on a much smaller scale. The Christy Ring is a fantastic competition, it's a pity that it ramed in late May early June. Derry vs. Kildare final with the Lilywhite retaining the CRC.

doubletree (Dublin) - Posts: 164 - 24/05/2015 20:36:44    1727858

The Derry v Down semi looks pretty interesting, a replay of the 2013 quarter final. Its really encouraging to hear about the work going on in Derry. While I'd love to see Kerry back in the Liam McCarthy (or Kildare for that matter), and Kerry eventually back in the Munster Championship, it would be great if the winner of the Derry/Down semi went on to win the final. With Antrim being relegated today, we face the prospect of having no Ulster representation in next years Liam McCarthy, and that's unhealthy.

Marlon_JD (Tipperary) - Posts: 1823 - 24/05/2015 21:16:28    1727881

After a poor year Wicklow retained Christy Ring status v Mayo, 1-18 to 1-11 on Saturday. We are going through a huge transition at present with old stalwarts such as Jonathan O'Neill retiring after the game. This guy won a Dublin Senior Championship with Cuala a few years back scoring 0-10 in the final. Wicklow's only other win this year was against Derry interestingly enough. We have contested quite a few Christy Ring finals. It will be a while before we are back at that level.

Wicklowman (Wicklow) - Posts: 1139 - 24/05/2015 21:18:47    1727882

Championship hurling is different to league. While Kerry have been consistent in the league, it hasn't transferred into championship. Kildare favourites for next Saturday.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7871 - 24/05/2015 21:59:18    1727912

Cant wait for semi versus Down. Its going to be a tight one but I think we can get over the line. Im a Na Magha man and its great to see our 6 lads out there. There is good work going on but we are still good bit behind all other clubs which is to be expected as we only got a pitch 5 years ago and the clubhouse is currently under construction.
It would give hurling in Derry a real boost to make it to Croke Park

christy sting (Derry) - Posts: 262 - 25/05/2015 10:35:12    1727971

Id expect Kerry to win this. The question is will they be aloud hold onto their outsiders when they join the Leinster Round Robin qualifier next year?

highking (Mayo) - Posts: 168 - 25/05/2015 11:45:25    1728027

Id expect Kerry to win this. The question is will they be aloud hold onto their outsiders when they join the Leinster Round Robin qualifier next year?

If they have any players currently playing under the Special Provisions then no they won't be able to play these either in the NHL Div 1B or the Liam McCarthy if they enter it next year (either via Munster or if they go down the Leinster route - if that was an option). Not sure how many players that affects though - have tried asking a few times but when you are from Antrim and ask these questions then its put down to being bitter and no one gives an actual answer.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 25/05/2015 12:02:38    1728037

While Derry are at home & have been decent all season, Down seem to be coming good at the right time - hard to call. Kildare not as hot as they were last year so could be another Kerry V Down final.

With Antrim being relegated, Dónal Óg again put forward his Team Ulster proposal on the Sunday Game. If Derry or Down don't win this year's Christy Ring could this be feasible for next year after each county has finished in the Ring/Rackard/Meagher Cups?

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 25/05/2015 16:05:38    1728196

You can never predict a Derry Down match, there wont be more than 1 or 2 in it and I wouldn't bet against a draw either!

bosch (Derry) - Posts: 873 - 25/05/2015 17:05:23    1728232

I already pointed out here on multiple occasions that 16/17 of the Kerry team that played against Antrim with the other having a Kerry parent (i.e eligible to play Div1/ LMc Cup next year if he so wishes) but unfournuately on both occasions you chose to ignore that fact and play the victim card

KYTitletown (Kerry) - Posts: 816 - 25/05/2015 17:20:11    1728245

I already pointed out here on multiple occasions that 16/17 of the Kerry team that played against Antrim with the other having a Kerry parent (i.e eligible to play Div1/ LMc Cup next year if he so wishes) but unfournuately on both occasions you chose to ignore that fact and play the victim card

KYTitletown (Kerry) - Posts: 816 - 25/05/2015 17:25:51    1728248

Counties below both Division 1B and McCarthy Cup level are designated counties. Antrim qualify as a designated county after yesterday's relegation. Kerry's promotion to 1B means Kerry is no longer a designated county. The Christy Ring winner will also cease to being a designated county.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 7871 - 25/05/2015 20:45:44    1728352

I already pointed out here on multiple occasions that 16/17 of the Kerry team that played against Antrim with the other having a Kerry parent (i.e eligible to play Div1/ LMc Cup next year if he so wishes) but unfournuately on both occasions you chose to ignore that fact and play the victim card

Case and point :-)

Just I know in Antrim we have a squad of around 25 to 30 for the County team and I had presumed that all Counties operated on a similar squad number. I just didn't realise that Kerry operated with a squad of 17. Some achievement in those circumstances.

Offside_Rule (Antrim) - Posts: 4058 - 26/05/2015 10:47:26    1728464