All Ireland Senior Hurling Lower Tier Championships 2024 (JM, CR,NR,LM Cups)

PTH2009

Joe McDonagh Cup 2024

Down

Kerry

Laois

Meath

Offaly

Westmeath

Top 2 qualify for the final with the winner promoted to the 2025 Leinster Championship(Kerry will enter the 2025 Munster Championship if they win) , the 6th place team will be relagated to the Christy Ring Cup for 2025

Round 1- 20th/21st April

Laois v Offaly

Down v Meath

Westmeath v Kerry

Round 2- 27th/28th April

Offaly v Westmeath

Kerry v Down

Meath v Laois

Round 3-4th/5th May

Down v Westmeath

Kerry v Laois

Meath v Offaly

Round 4- 18th/19th May

Offaly v Kerry

Laois v Down

Westmeath v Meath

Round 5- 25th May

Kerry v Meath

Down v Offaly

Westmeath v Laois

Sat 8th June- Final

PTH2009

Christy Ring Cup 

Derry

Kildare

London 

Tyrone 

Sligo

Wicklow

Top 2 qualify for the final with the winner promoted to the Joe McDonagh Cup for 2025, the 6th place team will be relagated to the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2025

Round 1- Sat 13th April

Wicklow v Derry

Sligo v Kildare

Tyrone v London

Round 2- Sat 20th April

Derry v Tyrone

London v Sligo

Kildare v Wicklow

Round 3- Sat 27th April

Sligo v Tyrone

London v Wicklow

Kildare v Derry

Round 4- Sat 11th May

Derry v London

Wicklow v Sligo

Tyrone v Kildare

Round 5- Sat 18th May

London v Kildare

Sligo v Derry

Tyrone v Wicklow

Sat 1st June- Final

PTH2009

Nicky Rackard Cup 2024

Armagh

Donegal

Roscommon

Louth

Mayo

Monaghan

Top 2 qualify for the final with the winner promoted to the Christy Ring Cup for 2025, the 6th place team will be relagated to the Lory Meagher Cup for 2025

Round 1- Sat 13th April

Mayo v Monaghan

Armagh v Donegal

Roscommon v Louth

Round 2- Sat 20th April

Monaghan v Roscommon

Louth v Armagh

Donegal v Mayo

Round 3- Sat 27th April

Armagh v Roscommon

Louth v Mayo

Donegal v Monaghan

Round 4- Sat 11th May

Monaghan v Louth

Mayo v Armagh

Roscommon v Donegal

Round 5- Sat 18th May

Louth v Donegal

Armagh v Monaghan

Roscommon v Mayo

Sat 1st June- Final

PTH2009

Lory Meagher Cup 2024

Cavan

Fermanagh

Lancashire

Leitrim

Longford

Warwickshire

Top 2 Qualify for the final with the winner promoted to the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2025

Round 1- Sat 13th April

Cavan v Warwickshire

Longford v Lancashire

Leitrim v Fermanagh

Round 2- Sat 20th April

Warwickshire v Leitrim

Fermanagh v Longford

Lancashire v Cavan

Round 3- Sat 27th April

Longford v Leitrim

Fermanagh v Cavan

Lancashire v Warwickshire

Round 4- Sat 11th May

Warwickshire v Fermanagh

Cavan v Longford

Leitrim v Lancashire

Round 5- Sat 18th May

Fermanagh v Lancashire

Longford v Warwickshire

Leitrim v Cavan

Sat 1st June- Final 

Eibhir

Apologies I opened a thread and missed this. Very interesting opening day across the grades.

CrabRevolution

This guy hedged his bets a bit, but still it was interesting to note before the game that Kerry have a very good record in Mullingar. https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/the-kerryman-north-kerry/20240417/282411289362773

Wouldn't really call Laois beating Offaly a shock. In the last 10 years or so Laois have beaten Offaly more often than vice versa.

Meath are in for a tough time. Down was our best shot at winning a game and we lost comprehensively.

Eibhir

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122047767#Comment_122047767

We only beat them in championship in 2015. The last few years, and in Joe McDonagh, they've reasserted supremacy!

U20 All Ireland finalists, some good results like a draw v Wexford in the league. They're rising. For Laois hurling people it was a shock!

Post Eddie Brennan we've lost all the big games in league and Joe Mc. We lost to Carlow in the league this year and were surprised to beat them in the final a month later.

Since the 50s Laois v Offaly in hurling is totally one sided. Today was our second championship victory in over 50 years.

CrabRevolution

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122047953#Comment_122047953

Offaly haven't beaten Laois in league or championship since 2018. Laois beat them in the league in 2017 and 2019, and also in the Joe McDonagh in 2019.

The reason they haven't met in the 5 years since is because they were in the division above Offaly in both the league and the championship for 5 years until this year.

Laois beating Offaly wasn't a big shock.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122050909#Comment_122050909

I was thinking that. My memory is of Laois being a grade above Offaly for a fair while now.

Eibhir

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122050909#Comment_122050909

Offaly beat Laois in the Joe McDonagh last year. Both were in that competition last year. You're completely wrong.

https://offaly.gaa.ie/2024/04/22/offaly-lose-out-to-laois-in-joe-mcdonagh-cup-rd-1/#:~:text=A%20dramatic%20conclusion%20to%20the,come%20from%20behind%20and%20win.

It was a shock result. One county's star rising, the other falling.

I'm Laois hurling background, I know what was expected from us. I know Offaly hurling people expected to beat us.

Eibhir

No. Both Joe McDonagh last year. Offaly had reasserted dominance.

Laois had their 2nd championship win v Offaly hurlers in over 50 years yesterday.

https://offaly.gaa.ie/2024/04/22/offaly-lose-out-to-laois-in-joe-mcdonagh-cup-rd-1/#:~:text=A%20dramatic%20conclusion%20to%20the,come%20from%20behind%20and%20win.

CrabRevolution

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122050909#Comment_122050909

Some posts seem to have disappeared, but I wish to correct the record and admit Offaly did beat Laois by 3 points in last years Joe McDonagh.

PTH2009

Jesus Westmeath are really going downhill.

Looking like Kerry vs Offaly will be more or less the Semi final with the winner facing Laois in the final

callaway92

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122097290#Comment_122097290

There is no semi-final

Straight Top 2 into final

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122098671#Comment_122098671

Meant the game would be a 'defacto semi final'

PTH2009

Final weekend of the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher group stages

Kildare already into the Christy Ring final with London or Derry looking to join them. London face Kildare while Derry face already relagated Sligo

Donegal already into the Nicky Rackard final where they'll face the winners of Mayo vs Roscommon

Lory Meagher final is still wide open

breezy1985

Laois absolutely going to town again today.

PTH2009

Christy Ring final- Kildare vs Derry

Relagated to Nicky Rackard for 2025- Sligo

Nicky Rackard Final- Donegal vs Mayo (drew with Roscommon and went through on scoring difference)

Relagated to Lory Meagher for 2025- Monaghan

Lory Meagher Final- Fermanagh vs Longford

supernova5

that's 5 straight wins by Laois [4 Joe Mac + League final] and putting up big scores as well

on that kind of form they would be fancied to beat Offaly or Kerry [probably Offaly] in the final

breezy1985

Offaly Vs Laois final will be tasty.

Proper statement win form Offaly today.

CrabRevolution

Westmeath have underperformed this year, and I've seen a lot of talk of how their best players aren't playing, lot of debuts etc.

But I compared the team that lined out vs. Meath to last year and 16 of the 19 players they used in their famous win vs. Wexford are on the panel this year, including 13 of the starting team.

Now 2 of the missing were Niall O'Brien and Derek McNicholas who are big players for them, but I can't help but feel the "new team" excuse got thrown out a bit quickly once results went poorly. Unless the team which beat Wexford is only thought of as an average Westmeath lineup….

callaway92

Same for every losing team in GAA

‘We are a young team’

‘This is a team in transition’

‘This is a project’

It’s such a defeatist thing that they do

PTH2009

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122167760#Comment_122167760

Hate the term

'We'll be there or there abouts'

Basically saying "we're not good enough"

PTH2009

Christy Ring Cup final

Derry v Kildare, Croke Park, 2.15pm - Sport TG4

Nickey Rackard Cup final

Donegal v Mayo, Croke Park, 4.15pm - Sport TG4

Lory Meagher Cup final

Fermanagh v Longford, Croke Park, 12.15pm - Sport TG4

PTH2009

Up and down

Meath winners of the Christy Ring last year going back down to it for 2025 after getting relagated from the Joe McDonagh

Kildare relagated from the Joe McDonagh last year, winning the Christy Ring and going back up. Good showing by Derry in the final

supernova5

Fermanagh's 3rd goal was a thing of beauty, a flashed in volley from a left sided cross, something we seldom see in today's intercounty hurling

CrabRevolution

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122213341#Comment_122213341

Yo-yos should be renamed "Kildares". They've won the Christy Ring in 2018, 2020, 2022 and 2024, and been relegated from the Joe McDonagh every year in between.

Kildare have the terrible luck with format tinkering; in 2014 and 2018 they won the CR, but there was no automatic promotion and instead they'd to play in a playoff to earn promotion (losing both). Yet Meath won the CR in 2016 and 2019 and were automatically promoted both times. Then on top of that, Meath have twice finished bottom of the group but been saved by a competition restructuring which kept them in the Joe McDonagh.

sligeach

That was some finish by Duignan for Offaly. I don't think any keeper would have saved that goal.

eggy81

Laois backs have got well on top last 5 minutes.

evolvingtipperary101

Laois throwing this away with wide after wide.

sligeach

Exciting game, level, it could go either way. A minute left plus added time.

castletownman

'Four minutes to determine which one of these teams will get trounced by Cork next week in the most pointless box-ticking exercise in championship history".

evolvingtipperary101

How are Laois in this position? 18 wides?

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122234748#Comment_122234748

A lot of those shots were a bit overconfident.

Fellas going for glamour shooting over shoulders or whipping on it straight from a rise. You only score a few of those a game.

eggy81

well we got out of jail big time there. Laois really looked like they would win there with 5 minutes to go. Pucked it away in the end. Great week for Offaly

evolvingtipperary101

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122234823#Comment_122234823

There were some very poor wides from around the D too. And goal opportunities. They owed the ball in the 2nd half.

Mantis Toboggan

Interesting to see if Offaly can be competitive next year.

legendary.xix

Good to see Offaly back. It will be good for the Leinster championship if they can bring big crowds as well.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122234837#Comment_122234837

I thought they looked good when attacking the ball and was really impressed by how quick thinking they were in the messy moments. Pity about the shooting.

Brussels Sprout

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122213638#Comment_122213638

I wanted to post a similar observation last week but couldn't find any thread about this.

It seems like there is a vast gap between the Joe McDonagh and the Christy Ring. The last two teams to get promoted went on to lose all of their games handily at the higher level. I wonder will Kildare do the same again next year.

Kildare, particularly, seem to exist in a no-man's land between the two competitions. Too good for one and not good enough for the other.

YabaDabaDooley

Enjoyed the Joe McDonagh final. It was, like last year, a very competetive game. Laois will feel they left it behind them. Nearly 20 wides killed them. Offaly more efficient.

I thought it was a very harsh call on John Lennon in time added on when Laois were trailing by jusy one point to be called for steps when he was clean through and almost certain to level it up. Technically he may have ran four or five steps but at such a crucial time in the game it killed Laois' momentum and Offaly went down the field scored a point and game was done. I thought Laois were the better team overall but Offaly have the big prize of Leinster hurling to look forward to next year.

castletownman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122236921#Comment_122236921

So hurlers shouldn't be pulled up for technically breaking the rules if they are a point down in injury time?

Is this go games or something? If anything the ref should be commended for making the call- they are quicker panned.

YabaDabaDooley

Usually when a player is called for steps they have taken quite a lot maybe 7 or 8 or over that and many times players never get called for that amount of steps. I rarely see a player pulled up for going four or five steps so in that regards it was harsh imo.

Mantis Toboggan

I think the ref made the correct call, he definitely over carried it.

callaway92

He 100% over carried - the slow-mo showed about 8 steps. It was a very good call when it would’ve been easy to ‘let it go’ wrongly

Laois cannot be pinpointing that as a reason they didn’t win

legendary.xix

The predecessor to the McDonagh Cup was the Leinster Qualifier group. The top 2 from the Leinster qualifier group qualified for the Leinster quarter-finals at the time. The qualifier group counties support for the provincial round was in exchange for access to the preliminary quarter-finals.

Technically with the McD still linked to the All-Ireland, it is more a Tier 1.5 than a Tier 2! A motion to cut that direct link to the All-Ireland series was defeated last year.

Theoretically a McD runner-up could win the All-Ireland and remain McD level. An unlikely scenario of course.

I think some of the calls for the McD winner only to enter the All-Ireland series is possibly the right call. If the McD winner went straight to the quarter-finals, they can have two weeks to prepare. The two third placed from Munster and Leinster could playoff for the remaining quarter-final spot.

CrabRevolution

They should keep both J McD teams or none at all. I'm not a fan of formats where lower tier teams are leapfrogged further into the competition ahead of better teams.

Having a Munster/Leinster playoff would make it even more lopsided. In that scenario a Leinster or Munster team would have to beat some of the best teams in Ireland, and then another top team in the playoff. The Joe McDonagh winner will have played against some far weaker teams (like Meath) and at best beaten the 13th ranked team in Ireland.

Yet the 2 of them advance to the same stage…? It'd be absurd.

TheRiverman

As an Offalyman I hope I'm wrong, but we will get annihilated by Cork next week.

ShamoBuc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122238549#Comment_122238549

Depending on which Cork show up.

eggy81

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122236921#Comment_122236921

it was 7 or 8 steps. He half sold a dummy and cut inside changing direction to gain a serious advantage without soloing. It was an obvious free imo.

eggy81

Of course we will. We’re no where near their level. But at least we’ve a round robin next year where we get to go up against Antrim Wexford and a Galway who look vulnerable. We’ll probably need to win 2 games to stay up. Kk obviously being way out of our league too.