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Down's Paul Branniff lifts the cup. INPHO/Ryan Byrne
winners

Down, Donegal and Warwickshire crowned hurling champions

The finals of the Christy Ring Cup, Nicky Rackard Cup and Lory Meagher Cup took place this afternoon in Croke Park.

Christy Ring Cup Final

Down 3-16
Kerry 2-17

A last-gasp goal by Gareth Johnson helped Down claim a dramatic victory in this afternoon’s Christy Ring Cup final in Croke Park.

Down had never won this competition before after losing deciders against Westmeath in 2005 and Carlow in 2009.

But they claimed the silverware against the Kingdom who were 2011 champions.

DOWN: Stephen Keith (Ballycran); Matthew Conlon (Ballygalget), Patrick Hughes (Ballycran), Ben Toner (Ballygalget); Fintan Conway (Kilclief), Connor Woods (Ballycarn), Michael Ennis (Ballycran); Donal Hughes (Bredagh), Ciaran Coulter (Portaferry); Daniel Toner (Ballygalget), Paul Braniff (Portaferry), Paul Sheehan (Newry Shamrocks); Kevin McGarry (Portaferry), Gareth Johnson (Ballygalget), James Coyle (Ballycran).
KERRY: Bernard Rochford (Killeagh – Cork); Rory Horgan (St Brendan’s), Liam Boyle (Ballyduff), Paud Costello (Ballyduff); Darragh O’Connell (Abbeydorney), Tom Murnane (Kilmoyley), Darren Dineen (St Brendan’s); John Griffin (Lixnaw), Daniel Collins (Kilmoyley), Brendan O’Leary (Abbeydorney), Willie O’Dywer (Mullinavat – Kilkenny), Colm Harty (Causeway); Padraig Boyle (Ballyduff), Aidan Boyle (Ballyduff), Shane Nolan (Crotta O’Neill’s).

Nicky Rackard Cup Final

Donegal 3-20
Roscommon 3-16

Donegal had four points to spare over Roscommon in this afternoon’s Nicky Rackard Cup decider in Croke Park.

Roscommon lead by 2-10 to 1-10 at the break with Gerry Fallon and Cathal Kelly grabbing their goals while Sean McVeigh raised the green flag for Donegal.

Paddy Hannigan and Fallon exchanged goals after the interval before Donegal suffered the blow of seeing Ronan McDermott sent-off.

But the Ulster side claimed victory with a strong finish as Hannigan fired home his second goal of the game and Lee Henderson, who shot ten points overall, was also instrumental in securing their success.

Scorers for Roscommon: Gerry Fallon 2-9 (2-7f), Cathal Kelly 1-1, Gary Fallon 0-1, R Fallon 0-2, J Lawlor 0-1, N Kilroy 0-1, E Kenny 0-1
Scorers for Donegal: L Henderson 0-10 (7f), P Hannigan 2-1, S McVeigh 1-1, D Cullen 0-3, C Matthewson 0-2, S Boyle 0-2, J Boyle 0-1

Roscommon: P Dolan (Capt.); S Curley, R O’Meara, I Delaney; S Melia, M Kelly, N Keenan; A Murphy, J Lawlor; Cormac Kelly, Gerry Fallon, Cathal Kelly; R Fallon, Gary Fallon, C Egan.

Subs: N Kilroy for C Egan (28), D Nolan for A Murphy (41), C Dolan for N Keenan (48), E Kenny for Cormac Kelly (53)

Donegal: P Burns; M McGrath, J McGee, B Harrigan; C McDermott, J Donnelly, J Boyle; R McDermott, D Cullen; L Henderson, S McVeigh, E McDermott; C Matthewson, P Hannigan, S Boyle.

Subs: P Sheridan for C Matthewson (42), J Browne for J McGee (60), K Campbell for E McDermott (63).

Referee: P Murphy (Carlow).

Donegal’s Joe Boyle lifts the Nicky Rackard Cup
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Lory Meagher Cup Final

Warwickshire 2-16
Longford 0-10

Warwickshire ran out comfortable winners in the Lory Meagher Cup final against Longford with the British outfit having 12 points to spare at the final whistle.

The victory was a historic first for Warwickshire at this level as they pulled clear in the second-half after leading by 1-9 to 0-8 at the break.

Warwickshire lead by 0-5 to 0-1 after six minutes and they built on that start with Enda Lyons firing home their first goal in the 21st minute.

Hawkeye was used for the first time in a hurling match just before half-time, ruling that Sean Hennessey’s ’65 effort for Warwickshire had gone wide.

Longford opened the second half brightly with Eoin Donnellan prominent but they failed to add to their total on the scoreboard for the remained of the game.

Lyons, Hennessy and Conal Maskey were amongst the scorers as Warwickshire surged ahead and Eamon Gleeson grabbed their second goal of the match.

Scorers for Warwickshire: E Lyons 1-3, S Hennessey 0-6 (3f, 2 ‘65s), E Gleeson 1-0, M Bermingham 0-2, P Duggan 0-2, C Maskey 0-1, C Robbins 0-1, A Morrissey 0-1
Scorers for Longford: E Donnellan 0-7 (6f), J O’Brien 0-2, É Daly 0-1 (f).

WARWICKSHIRE: T Goulding; B Bermingham, L Knocker, C Brough; D Kennedy, E Gleeson, C Maskey (Capt.); M Bermingham, A Morrissey; S Hennessey, P Duggan, C Robbins; C Behan, A O’Neill, E Lyons.

Subs: R McEntee for A O’Neill (48), E McCabe for C Robbins (58), S Wallace for M Bermingham (60), D Sheehy for C Behan (67), D Kelly for A Morrissey (68). Temporary sub: S Wallace for D Kennedy (54-60).

LONGFORD: É Daly; P McGarry, T Stakem, B Stakem; D Corcoran, T Roche, C Egan; C Finucane, R Donnellan; E Donnellan, K Connelly, D Tanner; K Murray, J Newman, J O’Brien (Capt.).

Subs: M Coyle for R Donnellan (inj., 20), M Farrell for J Newman (46), G Moore for P McGarry (70), R Breslin for K Murray (71), K Cox for D Corcoran (71).

Referee: L McAuley (Antrim).

Warwickshire’s Conal Maskey lifts the Lory Meagher Cup
Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

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