Ring and Rackard cup draws made
Hot favourites Antrim have been drawn to face Ulster hurling rivals Down in the opening group matches of the 2006 Christy Ring Cup.
Both Antrim and last year’s losing finalists Down are the only Division One sides in the Ring Cup, which was won last year by Westmeath.
The draw for both the second-tier Ring and third-tier Nick Rackard Cups has also taken place.
Antrim will be itching to make an immediate return to top level championship hurling after losing last season’s Relegation SHC final to Laois.
Back with a new manager Jim McKernan, the Saffrons have been in impressive form in the National League to date - picking up heartening wins over Galway and Laois - and they will be all out to earn place in the Ring decider at Croke Park on August 6.
The draw details are as follows:
2006 Christy Ring Cup
Group A - Down, Antrim, Roscommon, London, Meath
Group A Fixtures:
June 10 - Down v Antrim, Roscommon v London
June 17 - Antrim v Roscommon, London v Meath
June 24 - Meath v Antrim, Roscommon v Down
July 8 - Down v Meath, Antrim v London
July 15 - London v Down, Meath v Roscommon
Group B - Kerry, Kildare, Wicklow, Carlow, Mayo
Group B Fixtures:
June 13 - Kerry v Kildare, Wicklow v Carlow
June 17 - Kildare v Wicklow, Carlow v Mayo
June 24 - Mayo v Kildare, Wicklow v Kerry
July 8 - Kerry v Mayo, Kildare v Carlow
July 15 - Carlow v Kerry, Mayo v Wicklow
Semi-finals - July 22
Final - August 6 (Croke Park)
***
2006 Nicky Rackard Cup
Group A - Fermanagh, Tyrone, Donegal, Sligo
Group A Fixtures:
June 10 - Fermanagh v Tyrone, Donegal v Sligo
June 24 - Sligo v Fermanagh, Tyrone v Donegal
July 8 - Sligo v Tyrone, Fermanagh v Donegal
Group B - Cavan, Armagh, Leitrim, Louth
Group B Fixtures:
June 10 - Cavan v Armagh, Leitrim v Louth
June 24 - Louth v Cavan, Armagh v Leitrim
July 8 - Louth v Armagh, Cavan v Leitrim
Group C - Derry, Longford, Warwickshire, Monaghan
June 10 - Derry v Longford (if Derry are involved in Ulster SHC final, game will be played on June 17), Warwickshire v Monaghan June 24 - Monaghan v Derry, Longford v Warwickshire July 8 - Monaghan v Longford, Warwickshire v Derry
Quarter-finals - July 15 and 22
Semi-finals - July 29
Final - August 13 (Croke Park).
