2005 Nicky Rackard Cup

Twelve teams participated in the "Nicky Rackard Cup 2005". The teams were divided into three groups of four based on geographical criteria. These groups were:

• Group 3A: Sligo, Tyrone, Donegal and Fermanagh
• Group 3B: Louth, Cavan, Armagh and Leitrim
• Group 3C: London, Warwickshire, Longford and Monaghan

Transferred from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship and the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship

• Armagh
• Cavan
• Donegal
• Fermanagh (Ulster JHC)
• Leitrim
• London (Ulster SHC)
• Longford (Leinster JHC)
• Louth (Leinster JHC)
• Monaghan
• Sligo (Connacht JHC)
• Tyrone
• Warwickshire{{cite web |url=https://www.theirishworld.com/a-rivalry-renewed-but-not-for-the-faint-hearted/ |title=A rivalry renewed, but not for the faint-hearted |last=Dolan |first=Damian |date=April 30, 2020 |website=www.TheIrishWorld.com|access-date=October 27, 2023}}

{{16TeamBracket-Compact-NoSeeds-Byes|RD1= Quarter-final playoffs |RD1-team08=|RD3=Semi-finals|RD4= Final|score-width=45|RD1-team07=|RD2-score03=|RD2=Quarter-finals|RD1-score08=|RD1-team15= File:Colours of Longford.svg Longford |RD1-score15=2-14|RD1-team16= File:Colours of Armagh.svg Armagh |RD1-score16=1-14|RD2-team03=|RD1-score07=|RD2-team04=|RD3-score02=1-10|RD3-team03= File:Colours of Louth.svg Louth |RD2-score07=3-14|RD2-team08= File:Colours of Longford.svg Longford |RD2-score08=3-13|RD3-team01= File:Colours of London.svg London |RD3-score01=3-13|RD3-team02= File:Colours of Donegal.svg Donegal |RD2-score04=|RD2-team07= File:Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone |RD3-score03=3-10|RD3-team04= File:Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone |RD3-score04=1-08|RD4-team01= File:Colours of London.svg London |RD4-score01=5-08|RD4-team02= File:Colours of Louth.svg Louth |RD4-score02=1-05}}

• The runners-up in groups 3B and 3C played each other with the winner playing the runner up in group 3A. The winner of that match joined the three group winners in the semi-finals.

{{footballbox collapsible|date=21 August 2005|round=Final|score=5-08 - 1-05|report=|team1=London|goals1=|team2=Louth|goals2=|stadium=Croke Park, Dublin|referee=}}London are promoted to the 2006 Christy Ring Cup.

{{see also|2005 Nicky Rackard Cup final}}

The 2005 Nicky Rackard Cup final was used as a curtain raiser for the semi-final of the 2005 Liam MacCarthy Cup. London won the game by a margin of 15 points.

At half time, thanks to two goals in the space of a minute from Barry Shortall and Kevin McMullan, London led by 2-04 to 0-05. Ten minutes into the second half, London re-opened the scoring for a 2-05 to 0-05 lead. Louth subsequently scored what would be their only goal - and only score of the second half.{{fact|date=March 2024}} On 57 minutes, McMullan scored a further goal for London. Four minutes later, Sean Quinn kicked in London's fourth goal. Corner forward Dave Burke subsequently scored a fifth on 67 minutes. Burke clipped over a 65 and Gary Fenton added another point for London before the final whistle.{{Cite web |date=2005-08-21 |title=London cruise to Nicky Rackard success |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/hurling/2005/0821/195548-london |website=www.rte.ie}}

London: JJ Burke; E Phelan, T Simms, B Forde; J Dillon, F McMahon, B Foley 0-1; M Harding 0-01 (1f), M O'Meara; D Smyth, J Ryan, J McGaughan; D Bourke 1-04 (3f), B Shortall 1-00, K McMullan 2-01.

Subs: E Kinlon (for Smyth 36 mins), G Fenton 0-01 (for O'Meara 36 mins), S Quinn 1-00 (for Shortall 55 mins), P Doyle (for Phelan 68 mins), P Finneran (for McMullan 70 mins).

Louth: S Smith; D Black, A Carter, S Darcy; R Byrne, P Dunne, D Mulholland; D McCarthy, S Callan 0-02; T Hilliard, J Carter, D Byrne; G Smith 1-01 (1f), D Dunne 0-01, N McEneaney 0-01.

Subs: G Collins (for R Byrne h/t), S Byrne (for J Carter 53 mins), A Mynes (for McEneaney 65 mins), N Byrne (for Darcy 71 mins).

Referee: T Mahon (Fermanagh).

{{Main|List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums}}

• Widest winning margin: 29 points
• Leitrim 3-06 - 9-17 Armagh (Round 2)
• Most goals in a match: 12
• Leitrim 3-06 - 9-17 Armagh (Round 2)
• Most points in a match: 34
• Louth 3-19 - 0-15 Leitrim (Round 1)
• Most goals by one team in a match: 9
• Leitrim 3-06 - 9-17 Armagh (Round 2)
• Most points by one team in a match: 23
• London 1-23 - 1-06 Warwickshire (Round 3)
• Highest aggregate score: 59 points
• Leitrim 3-06 - 9-17 Armagh (Round 2)
• Lowest aggregate score: 30 points
• Louth 3-10 - 1-08 Tyrone (Semi-finals)

• London won their 1st championship in 10 years, last winning the 1995 All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship.{{fact|date=March 2024}}

• 2005 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
• 2005 Christy Ring Cup

{{Reflist}}

{{Nicky Rackard Cup}}

Nicky Rackard Cup

Category:Nicky Rackard Cup