2008 Christy Ring Cup

The 2008 Christy Ring Cup is the fourth edition of the Christy Ring Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005 and is the second-tier of Hurling for senior county teams (the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is the first-tier trophy). It is contested by twelve GAA county teams ranked 13–24 in the 2008 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

2008 Christy Ring Cup

Dates	2008
Teams	12
Champions	Carlow (1st title)
Runners-up	Westmeath
Relegated	Armagh, London, Meath, Roscommon
Tournament statistics
Matches played	23
← 2007 (Previous) (Next) 2009 →

Carlow beat Westmeath in the final after extra time. Carlow were beaten by Laois the bottom team in the Liam MacCarthy Cup and played in the Christy Ring Cup again the following year as a result.

Team changes

To Championship

Relegated from the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

• None

Promoted from the Nicky Rackard Cup

• Armagh
• Roscommon

From Championship

Promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

• None

Relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup

• None

Teams

General Information

County	Last Cup title	Last Provincial title	Last All-Ireland title	Position in 2007 Championship	Appearance
Armagh	—	—	—		1st
Carlow	—	—	—		4th
Derry	—	2001	—		3rd
Down	—	1997	—		4th
Kerry	—	1891	1891		4th
Kildare	—	—	—		4th
London	—	—	1901		3rd
Mayo	—	1909	—		4th
Meath	—	—	—		4th
Roscommon	—	1913	—		3rd
Westmeath	2007	—	—		3rd
Wicklow	—	—	—		4th

Personnel and kits

County	Manager	Captain(s)	Sponsor

Format

Twelve teams participated in the 2008 Christy Ring Cup.

• Group 2A: Roscommon, Westmeath, Wicklow
• Group 2B: Carlow, Down, London
• Group 2C: Kerry, Mayo, Meath
• Group 2D: Armagh, Derry, Kildare

Each team in the group played each other once in the first phase. The top two teams in each group advanced to the quarter-finals. The bottom team in each group went into the relegation play-offs.

Group stage

Group 2A

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	SF	SA	Diff	Pts	Qualification
1	Wicklow	2	2	0	0	4–39	1–27	+21	4	Advance to Knockout Stage
2	Westmeath	2	1	0	1	4–38	1–31	+16	2
3	Roscommon	2	0	0	2	0–25	6–44	−37	0

Matches

Westmeath v Roscommon

29 June 2008	Westmeath	3–23 – 0–13	Roscommon	Cusack Park
	J Shaw 1–5, A Mitchell 0–5, R Jackson 0–5, B Murtagh 0–4, D McNicholas 1–0, P Dowdall 1–0, E Price 0–2, D McCormack 0–1, L Smyth 0–1.		S Curley 0–3, G Fallon 0–3, M Connaughton 0–3, A Cunniffe 0–1, T Seale 0–1, T Lennon 0–1, J Moran 0–1.	Referee: A Kelly (Galway)

Roscommon v Wicklow

5 July 2008	Roscommon	0–12 – 3–21	Wicklow	Athleague Sportsfield
	S Curley 0–3, M Connaughton 0–2, B Kelly 0–2, M Kelly 0–2, S Sweeney 0–2, G Fallon 0–1.		J O’Neill 1–11, T Collins 1–1, E Furlong 1–1, D Hyland 0–3, S Kinsella 0–2, J Murphy 0–1, R Keddy 0–1, A Shanahan 0–1.	Referee: T Ryan (Tipperary)

Wicklow v Westmeath

12 July 2008	Wicklow	1–18 – 1–15	Westmeath	Pearse Park
	J O’Neill 0–9, D Hyland 0–5, S Kinsella 1–1, E Furlong 0–2, A Shanahan 0–1,		B Murtagh 0–6, L Smyth 1–1, D Curley 0–2, A Mitchell 0–1, B Smyth 0–1, J Shaw 0–1, B Connaughton 0–1, E Price 0–1, R Jackson 0–1.	Referee: A Stapleton (Laois)

Group 2B

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	SF	SA	Diff	Pts	Qualification
1	Down	2	2	0	0	4–38	2–27	+17	4	Advance to Knockout Stage
2	Carlow	2	1	0	1	2–43	4–22	+15	2
3	London	2	0	0	2	3–17	3–49	−32	0

Matches

Carlow v London

28 June 2008	Carlow	2–24 – 1–9	London	Dr. Cullen Park
	R Foley 1–3, C Doyle 1–2, M Brennan 0–5, C Hughes 0–5, S Kavanagh 0–3, J Coady 0–2, D Roberts 0–1, A Brennan 0–1, D Murphy 0–1, J Hickey 0–1.		M Mythern 1–1, M Finn 0–4, C McDonnell 0–2, A Comerford 0–1, N Healy 0–1,	Referee: S Whelan (Wexford)

London v Down

5 July 2008	London	2–8 – 1–25	Down	Emerald GAA Grounds
	K McMullen 0–5, I Walshe 1–1, M Mythen 1–0, N Healy 0–1, S Malone 0–1		P Branniff 0–10, B McGourty 0–6, G Johnston 1–2, A Savage 0–3, R McGrattan 0–1, K Courtney 0–1, K McGarry 0–1, S Clarke 0–1.	Referee: O Elliott (Antrim)

Down v Carlow

12 July 2008	Down	3–13 – 0–19	Carlow	Páirc Esler
	P Braniff 2–5, G Johnson 1–4, B McGourty 0–2, K Courtney 0–1, C Woods 0–1.		C Hughes 0–9, S Kavanagh 0–3, R Dunbar 0–3, C Doyle 0–2, J Coady 0–1, M Brennan 0–1.	Referee: R Matthews (Antrim)

Group 2C

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	SF	SA	Diff	Pts	Qualification
1	Kerry	2	1	0	1	7–26	4–31	+4	2	Advance to Knockout Stage
2	Mayo	2	1	0	1	0–30	0–31	−1	2
3	Meath	2	1	0	1	4–29	7–23	−3	2

Matches

Meath v Mayo

28 June 2008	Meath	0–16 – 0–12	Mayo	Páirc Tailteann
	N Hackett 0–8, S Clynch 0–3, M Burke 0–2, T Fox 0–1, D Crimmins 0–1, G O'Neill 0–1.		A Freeman 0–9, K Higgins 0–2, D McConn 0–1.	Referee: B Murphy (Cavan)

Mayo v Kerry

5 July 2008	Mayo	0–18 – 0–15	Kerry	McHale Park
	A Freeman 0–9, K Higgins 0–4, P Higgins 0–2, D McConn 0–2, D McDonnell 0–1.		M Conway 0–8, L Boyle 0–3, B Brick 0–2, M Quilter 0–1, J O’Brien 0–1.	Referee: T Carroll (Offaly)

Kerry v Meath

12 July 2008	Kerry	7–11 – 4–13	Meath	Austin Stack Park
	M Conway 3–3, B Brick 2–2, L Boyle 1–2, M Boyle 1–2, J Griffin 0–1, J Egan 0–1.		S Clynch 2–2, M Cole 1–1, N Hackett 0–4, A Snow 1–0, G O’Neill 0–3, N Horan 0–3.	Referee: G Hoey (Clare)

Group 2D

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	SF	SA	Diff	Pts	Qualification
1	Kildare	2	2	0	0	7–44	1–25	+37	4	Advance to Knockout Stage
2	Derry	2	1	0	1	5–26	7–34	−14	2
3	Armagh	2	0	0	2	5–19	9–30	−23	0

Matches

Kildare v Derry

28 June 2008	Kildare	2–28 – 1–12	Derry	St. Conleth's Park
	A McAndrew 0–5, T Murphy 1–1, K Divilly 1–1, T Byrne 0–4, M Divilly 0–3, M Dowd 0–3, C Buggy 0–3, R Hoban 0–3, M Moloney 0–2, D Harney 0–1, P Divilly 0–1, B White 0–1.		O McCloskey 0–5, S Dodds 1–0, M Craig 0–2, P Henry 0–2, K Hinphey 0–1, N Holly 0–1, D Brunton 0–1.	Referee: N Cosgrove (Tipperary)

Derry v Armagh

5 July 2008	Derry	4–14 – 5–6	Armagh	Celtic Park
	R Convery 1–9, S Dodds 1–1, P Henry 1–0, M Craig 1–0, K Hinphey 0–2, S Henry 0–1, O McCloskey 0–1,		G Enright 1–5, J Corvan 2–0, F Bradley 1–0, C Carville 1–0, M Mone 0–1.	Referee: T McIntyre (Antrim)

Armagh v Kildare

12 July 2008	Armagh	0–13 – 5–16	Kildare	Athletic Grounds
	G Enright 0–6, B McCann 0–3, C McAlinden 0–2, M Mone 0–1, F Bradley 0–1.		M Divilly 2–2, A McAndrew 1–2, R Hoban 0–4, A Murphy 0–3, N Dolan 1–0, D Harney 1–0, O Lynch 0–2, C Everett 0–1, C Bogey 0–1, P Divilly 0–1.	Referee: M Haverty (Galway)

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals

Wicklow v Mayo

19 July 2008 Quarter-final	Wicklow	1–22 – 3–18 (aet)	Mayo	Aughrim Park
	J O’Neill 0–8, D Hyland 0–4, S Kinsella 1–0, R Keddy 0–3, J Murphy 0–3, T Collins 0–2, G Bermingham 0–1, E Furlong 0–1.	Report	K Higgins 0–9, A Freeman 1–3, S Broderick 1–1, D McConn 1–0, D McConnell 0–3, P Higgins 0–1, E Madigan 0–1.	Referee: D Connolly (Kilkenny)

Down v Derry

19 July 2008 Quarter-final	Down	0–18 – 1–20	Derry	Páirc Esler
	P Braniff 0–7, B McGourty 0–2 , S Wilson 0–2, G Johnson 0–2, S Clarke 0–1, E Trainor 0–1, A Savage 0–1, B Ennis 0–1, E Clarke 0–1.		M Kirkpatrick 0–11, P McCloskey 1–1, SL McGoldrick 0–3, K Hinphey 0–2, O McCloskey 0–1, N Holly 0–1, B Dodds 0–1.	Referee: F Smith (Meath)

Kerry v Carlow

19 July 2008 Quarter-final	Kerry	2–4 – 1–14	Carlow	Austin Stack Park
	M Conway 1–3, B Brick 1–0, L Boyle 0–1.		C Hughes 0–5, C Doyle 1–0, R Dunbar 0–3, S Kavanagh 0–2, D Roberts 0–1, A Brennan 0–1, J Coady 0–1, M Brennan 0–1.	Referee: D O'Driscoll (Limerick)

Kildare v Westmeath

19 July 2008 Quarter-final	Kildare	3–13 – 2–22	Westmeath	St. Conleth's Park
	O Lynch 1–7, T Murphy 1–2, A McAndrew 1–0, M Moloney 0–2, R Hoban 0–1, P Divilly 0–1.		B Murtagh 0–11, A Mitchell 1–1, P Dowdall 1–1, P Clarke 0–3, D McNicholas 0–2, J Shaw 0–1, D McCormack 0–1, E Price 0–1.	Referee: J Owens (Wexford)

Semi-finals

Westmeath v Derry

26 July 2008 Semi-final	Westmeath	1–19 – 0–12	Derry	Cusack Park
	D. McNicholas 1–4, B. Murtagh 0–6, P. Clarke, R. Jackson, A. Mitchell and J. Shaw 0–2 each, E Price 0–1.	Report	M. Kirkpatrick 0–6, R. Convery 0–3, P. McCloskey 0–2 and O. McCloskey 0–1.

Mayo v Carlow

26 July 2008 Semi-final	Mayo	0–17 – 1–16	Carlow	McHale Park
	A Freeman 0–8, K Higgins 0–4, S Barrett 0–1, N Murphy 0–1, M Cunnane 0–1, S Broderick 0–1, D McConn 0–1.	Report	S Kavanagh 0–4 (1 '65 3 frees ), J Rogers 1–0, R Dunbar 0–3, C Doyle 0–3, C Hughes 0–2 (frees ), J Coady 0–2, R Foley 0–1, M Brennan 0–1.	Referee: A Barrett (Galway)

Final

Carlow v Westmeath

3 August 2008 Final	Carlow	3–22 – 4–16	Westmeath	O'Connor Park
	C Doyle (2–1), C Hughes (0–7, 0-4f), R Foley (1–1), S Kavanagh (0–4, 0-3f), R Dunbar (0–3), M Brennan (0–2), A Gaul (0–1), R Coady (0–1), D Roberts (0–1).	Report	B Murtagh (2–10, 0-07f), D McNicholas (1–1), J Shaw (1–0), E Price (0–3), S Murphy (0–1), L Smyth (0–1), P Greville (0–1).	Referee: N Cosgrove (Tipperary)

Main article: 2008 Christy Ring Cup Final

Relegation play-offs

Due to a restructuring of the hurling championships the following year, the relegation playoffs were subsequently rendered meaningless as all four teams involved were relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2009.

Armagh v London

26 July 2008 Quarter-final	Armagh	0–15 – 1–9	London	Parnell Park
	G Enright 0–6, B McCormack 0–5, K Christie 0–2, J Corvan 0–1, C Carville 0–1.		M Mythen 1–2, M Finn 0–4, B McCormack 0–2, K McMullen 0–1.	Referee: G Duffy (Antrim)

Roscommon v Meath

26 July 2008 Quarter-final	Roscommon	3–6 – 3–19	Meath	Cusack Park
	T Reddington 1–2, M Connaughton 1–1, G Fallon 1–1, S Sweeney 0–2.		G O’Neill 2–4, N Horan 1–7, K Fagan 0–2, C Dunphy 0–2, M Burke 0–2, K Dowd 0–1, N Kirby 0–1.	Referee: T Carroll (Offaly)

London v Roscommon

2 August 2008 Semi-final	London	3–16 – 3–12	Roscommon	O'Moore Park
	K McMullen 1–7, B McCormack 1–3, N O’Grady 1–1, C McDonnell 0–2, M Mythen 0–1, M Comerford 0–1, M O’Sullivan 0–1.		T Reddington 2–1, S Sweeney 0–6, D Loughnane 1–0, M Kelly 0–1, M Keaveney 0–1, B Kelly 0–1, G Waldron 0–1, M Connaughton 0–1.	Referee: D Connolly (Kilkenny)

Roscommon v Sligo

9 August 2008 Final	Roscommon	1–17 – 1–13	Sligo	Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada
	S Sweeney 0–5, M Kelly 0–5, S Curley 0–4, T Reddington 1–0, J Moran 0–1, L Casey 0–1, B Hanley 0–1.		C Herity 0–6, K Raymond 0–5, D Burke 1–1, L Reidy 0–1.	Referee: E Hassen (Derry)

Stadia and locations

See also: List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums

Championship statistics

Top scorers

Overall

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Matches	Average
1	Brendan Murtagh	Westmeath	2–37	43	5	8.60
2	Alan Freeman	Mayo	1–29	32	4	8.00
3	Jonathan O'Neill	Wicklow	0–31	31	3	10.33
4	Paul Braniff	Down	2–22	28	3	9.33
5	Mike Conway	Kerry	4–14	26	4	6.50

Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Brendan Murtagh	Westmeath	2–10	16	Carlow
2	Jonathan O'Neill	Wicklow	1–11	14	Roscommon
3	Mike Conway	Kerry	3–3	12	Meath
	Ruairí Convery	Derry	1–9	12	Armagh
5	Paul Braniff	Down	2–5	11	Carlow
	Michael Kirkpatrick	Derry	0–11	11	Down
	Brendan Murtagh	Westmeath	0–11	11	Kildare
8	Ger O'Neill	Meath	2–4	10	Roscommon
	Kevin McMullen	London	1–7	10	Roscommon
	Oisín Lynch	Kildare	1–7	10	Westmeath
	Paul Braniff	Down	0–10	10	Carlow

Miscellaneous

• Carlow won their 1st championship in 16 years, winning the 1992 All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship.

See also

• 2008 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
• 2008 Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
• 2008 Nicky Rackard Cup

External links

• GAA Website