The GAA has confirmed that Croke Park will stage the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cup finals on July 11. The Saturday afternoon triple-header will see the Christy Ring Cup final between Down and Carlow take place at 4pm, while the Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher finals will precede it at 2pm and 12 noon respectively. GAA officials were eager to avoid a repeat of the controversy which surrounded the staging of last year's Christy Ring Cup final between Carlow and Westmeath. Orginally pencilled in for Friday, August 1 in Croke Park, the game was subsequently moved to the following Sunday in Tullamore after both competing counties slammed GAA authorities for scheduling the game for a Friday night. The GAA was later forced into issuing an apology to both Carlow and Westmeath, which both counties accepted. Following his side's recent Christy Ring Cup semi-final victory over Mayo, Down manager Jim McKernan claimed it would be a "disgrace" if the final wasn't fixed for GAA headquarters. Tweet

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