Carlow cruise into Joe McDonagh Cup final while Derry secure spot in Christy Ring Cup decider

May 16, 2026

Carlow's Chris Nolan and Martin Kavanagh celebrate after the game ©INPHO/James Lawlor

Carlow advanced to the Joe McDonagh Cup final with a round remaining thanks to an emphatic 5-27 to 0-10 victory over London at Netwatch Cullen Park this afternoon.

Having led by 0-11 to 0-8 at the halfway stage, the hosts hit the Exiles net five time after the change of ends to put a seal on their place in the Croke Park decider on June 6th.

Martin Kavanagh (penalty), Jack Treacy and Conor Kehoe were among the goalscorers for the Barrowsiders as they won their fourth straight outing in the competition, with the second tier’s other games, which see Antrim and Westmeath clashing and Laois hosting Down, taking place at 5pm.

In the Christy Ring Cup, Derry defeated Kerry by 2-15 to 0-19 at Celtic Park to book their place in the competition’s final.

With their own place in the decider already secured, Kerry led by 0-12 to 0-6 at half-time but the home side closed the gap to one with the help of Cormac O’Doherty’s frees before Conor Melaugh netted them in front in the 58th minute.

Another Derry goal from Eunan Boylan eight minutes later put a seal on the win for the Oak Leafers who will now face their Munster counterparts again at the end of the month at headquarters.

Derry's late win sees Meath missing out on a final place on score difference despite their 2-18 to 1-16 victory over Donegal in Letterkenny, where Damien Healy and Mikey Cole grabbed the goals for the Royals.

Meanwhile, Wicklow inflicted Roscommon with their fourth defeat of the campaign on a 3-12 to 1-11 scoreline in Aughrim.

A tight encounter saw the home side landing a major blow with Seanie Germaine’s goal in the 58th minute, which put them up by 1-10 to 0-9, and they’d fire in back-to-back goals via Fionn Darcy and Jack Doyle in the closing 10 minutes to secure the win which relegates the Rossies to the Nickey Rackard Cup for 2027.

Mayo made sure of their place in the Nickey Rackard Cup semi-final against New York next Saturday in Mullingar (2pm) thanks to a convincing win away to Louth this afternoon.

It finished 3-22 to 0-19 at Dowdallshill, where Eoin Delaney (2) and Adrian Phillips supplied the goals for the victors who are now a win away from a final date against Tyrone.

The Red Hands were ruthless in dealing neighbours Armagh their fifth straight loss of the campaign, hitting the net eight times in an 8-15 to 1-22 win at Garvaghey.

The Orchard men’s relegation to the Lory Meagher Cup means that Fermanagh survive despite suffering a 3-29 to 2-10 defeat at the hands of Sligo in Markievicz Park.

After having dominated large portions of the first-half, Andrew Kilcullen’s point put the hosts up by 0-17 to 0-7 a minute into the restart and they’d add goals through Kilcullen (penalty), Robert O’Kelly-Lynch and Conor Hanniffy on their way to what was an emphatic win.

The Lory Meagher Cup final will be a derby showdown between Leitrim and Longford following wins for both counties this afternoon.

Leitrim, who qualified for the decider ahead of this weekend's games, handed neighbours Cavan a 1-23 to 1-16 defeat in Carrick-on-Shannon to maintain their 100% record in the competition thus far.

The scoreboard read 0-9 to 0-4 in their favour when Dhani Keane fired in the game’s first goal in the 23rd minute and, from there, the points of Gavin O’Hagan and Kevin Clerkin would help them safely see out the win.

Longford booked their final berth by making their goals count in a 4-16 to 1-14 victory over Monaghan at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park.

Evan Tully’s goal helped the Midlanders to lead by 1-6 to 0-7 at the halfway stage and David Buckley, Stephen Murray and Martin Farrell (free) would raise their green flags in the second-half as they cruised into the Croke Park decider, while Warwickshire got their second win in the bottom tier on a comprehensive 6-20 to 4-12 scoreline against Lancashire at Páirc na hÉireann in Birmingham.

The CCCC are set to confirm dates and times early next week for the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Cup finals which will take place on May 30/31.


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