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Nicky Rackard Cup

{{Infobox GAA tournament|name=Nicky Rackard Cup|currentlyrunning=2025 Nicky Rackard Cup|image=|caption=|irish=|code=Hurling|founded={{Start date and age|df=yes|2005}}|abolished=|region= Ireland|trophy=Nicky Rackard Cup|teams=6|title holders=File:Colours of Roscommon.svg Roscommon|currentordinal=3|super=rd|most titles=File:Colours of Donegal.svg Donegal|promoted to=Christy Ring Cup|relegated to=Lory Meagher Cup|mostordinal=4|sponsors=|tv=TG4|motto=|website=[http://www.gaa.ie Official website]}}{{short description|Hurling cup competition}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

The Nicky Rackard Cup ({{Langx|ga|Corn Niocláis Mhic Riocaird}};[https://ulster.gaa.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Tuarasc%C3%A1il-An-Runa%C3%AD-2014.pdf Tuarascáil An Runaí 2014] often referred to as the Rackard Cup) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The cup forms the fourth-tier of Hurling for senior county teams (the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is the first-tier trophy). It is contested by the six county teams ranked 24–29 in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Each year, the champions of the Nicky Rackard Cup are promoted to the Christy Ring Cup, and the lowest finishing team is relegated to the Lory Meagher Cup. The winners of the championship receive the Nicky Rackard Cup, named after former Wexford hurler Nicky Rackard regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of all time.

The Nicky Rackard Cup, which was introduced for the 2005 season, is a recent initiative in providing a meaningful championship for third tier teams deemed "too weak" for any higher grades. It effectively replaced the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship (1912–2004). Originally introduced as a third-tier competition, it is currently the fourth tier overall in the inter-county hurling championship system. Between 2005 and 2017 the Nicky Rackard Cup was the third tier hurling championship. With the introduction of the Joe McDonagh Cup, the Nicky Rackard Cup is the second highest tier of the championship system without entry to that year's All-Ireland finals series (the top two teams in the Joe McDonagh Cup usually gain entry to preliminary quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship).

The title has been won by 10 different counties, 8 of whom have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Donegal, who have won the cup on 3 occasions.Roscommon are the title holders, defeating Mayo by 3-16 to 1-21 in the 2025 Nickey Rackard Cup final

History

{{For|history before 2004|All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship}}

=Inauguration of the competition=

In 2003 the Hurling Development Committee (HDC) was charged with restructuring the entire hurling championship. The committee was composed of chairman Pat Dunny (Kildare), Liam Griffin (Wexford), P. J. O'Grady (Limerick), Ger Loughnane (Clare), Cyril Farrell (Galway), Jimmy O'Reilly (Down), Willie Ring (Cork), Pat Daly (GAA Games Development Officer) and Nicky English (Tipperary). Over the course of three months they held discussions with managers, players and officials, while also taking a submission from the Gaelic Players Association. The basic tenet of the proposals was to structure the hurling championship into three tiers in accordance with 2004 National Hurling League status.

The top tier was confined to 12 teams, while the next twenty teams would contest the second and third tiers which were to be known respectively as the Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard Cup. There would also be promotion-relegation play-offs between the three championship tiers. The HDC also suggested that these games would be played as curtain raisers to All-Ireland quarter-finals and semi-finals.{{cite web|url= http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/colm-keys-hurling-evangelists-have-radical-tiers-in-their-eyes-25918036.html|title=Hurling evangelists have radical tiers in their eyes|date=10 December 2003|publisher=Irish Independent|access-date=30 August 2015|first=Colm|last=Keys}}

The proposal were accepted at the 2005 GAA Congress. The Christy Ring Cup and the Nicky Rackard Cup competitions were launched at Croke Park on 8 December 2004.

Format

=2005-2006=

File:Mervyn Connaughton.jpgThe twelve participating teams were divided into three groups of four and played in a round-robin format. Each team was guaranteed at least three games each. The three group winners qualified for the knock-out semi-finals of the competition. The runners-up in groups 3B and 3C contested a play-off with the winner playing the runner up in group 3A in a lone quarter-final. The winner of that match joined the three group winners in the semi-finals.

=2007-2008=

The twelve participating teams were divided into four groups of three and played in a round-robin format, thus limiting each team to just two games each. The eventual group winners and runners-up qualified for the knock-out quarter-finals of the competition.

=2009-2017=

In 2009 a double elimination format was introduced, thus guaranteeing each team at least two games before being eliminated from the competition.

  • The eight teams play four Round 1 matches.
  • The winners in Round 1 advance to Round 2A.
  • The losers in Round 1 go into Round 2B.
  • There are two Round 2A matches.
  • The winners in Round 2A advance to the semi-finals.
  • The losers in Round 2A go into the quarter-finals.
  • There are two Round 2B matches.
  • The winners in Round 2B advance to the quarter-finals.
  • The losers in Round 2B go into the relegation playoff.
  • The losers of the relegation playoff are relegated to the Lory Meagher Cup for the following year.
  • There are two quarter-final matches between the Round 2A losers and Round 2B winners.
  • The winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals.
  • The losers of the quarter-finals are eliminated.
  • There are two semi-final matches between the Round 2A winners and the quarter-final winners.
  • The winners of the semi-finals advance to the final.
  • The losers of the semi-finals are eliminated.
  • The winners of the final win the Nicky Rackard Cup and are promoted to the Christy Ring Cup for the following year.

=2018-present=

Beginning in 2018, the Nicky Rackard Cup changed format, with initial ties played in group stages, which in 2018 consisted of one of four teams and one of three. Previously it was a double elimination tournament. The top two teams from both groups advance to the cup semi-finals. The bottom team from each group will progress to a relegation final.

The winner of the Nicky Rackard Cup will be promoted to the Christy Ring Cup, For 2018 only, 2 teams will be relegated from the 2018 Christy Ring Cup to the 2019 Nicky Rackard Cup to bring the number of teams in the 2019 edition to an even 8, allowing for two groups of 4.

The loser of the relegation final will be relegated to the Lory Meagher Cup, to be replaced by the winner of the previous years competition.{{Cite web |url=https://gaelicplayers.com/Portals/0/Special%20Congress%20%20Motions.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-05-14 |archive-date=2018-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514142300/https://gaelicplayers.com/Portals/0/Special%20Congress%20%20Motions.pdf |url-status=dead }}

Teams

= 2025 Cup =

Six counties will compete in the 2025 Nicky Rackard Cup, with Sligo relegated from the Christy Ring Cup and Fermanagh promoted from the Lory Meagher Cup:

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

!County

!Location

!Stadium

!Province

!Position in 2024 Championship

!First year in Championship

!In Championship Since

!Championship Titles

!Last Championship Title

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Armagh.svg Armagh

|Armagh

|Athletic Grounds

|Ulster

|4th

|2005

|2019

|2

|2012

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh

|Enniskillen

|Brewster Park

|Ulster

|Champions (Lory Meagher Cup)

|2005

|2025

|0

|—

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Louth.svg Louth

|Drogheda

|Drogheda Park

|Leinster

|5th

|2005

|2023

|0

| —

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours of Mayo.svg Mayo

|Castlebar

|MacHale Park

|Connacht

|Runners-up

|2016

|2024

|2

|2021

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Roscommon.svg Roscommon

|Roscommon

|Dr Hyde Park

|Connacht

|3rd

|2007

|2022

|2

|2015

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Sligo.svg Sligo

|Sligo

|Markievicz Park

|Connacht

|6th (Christy Ring Cup)

|2005

|2025

|2

|2019

Venues

{{See also|List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums}}

File:Croke_Park_from_the_Hill_-_2004_All-Ireland_Football_Championship_Final.jpg in Dublin, hosts the Nicky Rackard Cup Final.]]

= Group stage =

Fixtures in the five group stage rounds of the cup are played at the home ground of one of the two teams. Each team is guaranteed at least two home games. Some teams get three home games.

= Final =

The Nicky Rackard Cup final is played at Croke Park.

= 2023 Venues =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

!County

!Location

!Province

!Stadium(s)

!Capacity

style="text-align:left" |Neutral

|Dublin

|Leinster

|Croke Park

|82,300

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Armagh.svg Armagh

|Armagh

|Ulster

|Athletic Grounds

|18,500

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Donegal_GAA.svg Donegal

|Ballybofey

|Ulster

|MacCumhaill Park

|18,000

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh

|Enniskillen

|Ulster

|Brewster Park

|20,000

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Louth.svg Louth

|Drogheda

|Leinster

|Drogheda Park

|3,500

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Roscommon.svg Roscommon

|Roscommon

|Connacht

|Dr Hyde Park

|25,000

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Wicklow.svg Wicklow

|Aughrim

|Leinster

|Aughrim County Ground

|7,000

List of finals

= List of Nicky Rackard Cup finals =

class="sortable wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

! rowspan="2" |Year

! rowspan="2" |Date

! colspan="2" |Winners

! colspan="2" |Runners-up

! rowspan="2" |Venue

! rowspan="2" |Winning captain(s)

! rowspan="2" |Winning margin

! rowspan="2" |Referee

style="background:#efefef"

!County

!Score

! County

!Score

2025

|31 May / 1 June

| colspan="4" |Competition in progress

|Croke Park, Dublin

|TBD

|TBD

|TBD

2024

|2 June

|Donegal

|3-17 (26)

|Mayo

|0-22 (22)

|Croke Park, Dublin

|Conor Gartland

|4

|P. Owens (Down)

2023

|3 June

|Wicklow

|1-20 (23)

|Donegal

|3-12 (21)

|Croke Park, Dublin

|

|2

|

2022

|May 21

|Tyrone

|1-27 (30)

|Roscommon

|0-19 (19)

|Croke Park, Dublin

|

|11

|C McDonald (Antrim)

2021

|August 31

|Mayo

|2-27 (33)

|Tyrone

|1-14 (17)

|Croke Park, Dublin

|Keith Higgins

|16

|Richie Fitzsimons (Offaly)

2020

| November 22

| Donegal

| 3-18 (27)

| Mayo

| 0-21 (21)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|Seán McVeigh

|6

|K Jordan (Tipperary)

2019

| June 22

| Sligo

| 2-14 (20)

| Armagh

| 2-13 (19)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|1

|

2018

| June 10

| Donegal

| 2-19 (25)

| Warwickshire

| 0-18 (18)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|7

|Gearoid McGrath (Wexford)

2017

| June 10

| Derry

| 3-23 (32)

| Armagh

| 2-15 (21)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|11

|S Hynes (Galway)

2016

| June 4

| Mayo

| 2-16 (22)

| Armagh

| 1-15 (18)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|Brian Hunt

|4

|J Murphy (Limerick)

2015

| June 6

| Roscommon{{cite web |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/kelly-the-nicky-rackard-hero-for-roscommon-1.2240419/|title=Kelly the Nicky Rackard hero for Roscommon|access-date=7 June 2015 |work=Irish Times |date=7 June 2015}}

| 2-12 (18)

| Armagh

| 1-14 (17)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|1

|

2014

| June 7

| Tyrone{{cite web |url=http://www.hoganstand.com/Tyrone/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=217865|title=Nicky Rackard Cup: Tyrone edge Fingal

|access-date=11 June 2014 |work=Hogan Stand |date=7 June 2014}}

| 1-17 (20)

| Fingal

| 1-16 (19)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|1

|

2013

| June 8

| Donegal{{cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/hurling/2013/0608/455400-donegal-v-roscommon/|title=Rackard glory for 14-man Donegal|access-date=8 June 2013 |work=RTÉ Sport |date=8 June 2013}}

| 3-20 (29)

| Roscommon

| 3-16 (25)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|4

|

2012

| June 9

| Armagh{{cite web |url=http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=170850|title=Nicky Rackard final: Orchard blooms against Louth |access-date=11 June 2012 |work=Hogan Stand |date=9 June 2012}}

| 3-20 (29)

| Louth

| 1-15 (18)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|11

|

2011

| June 4

| London

| 2-20 (26)

| Louth

| 0-11 (11)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|15

|

2010

| July 3

| Armagh

| 3-15 (24)

| London

| 3-14 (23)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|1

|

2009

| July 11

| Meath

| 2-18 (24)

| London

| 1-15 (18)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|6

|

2008

| August 3

| Sligo

| 3-19 (28)

| Louth

| 3-10 (19)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|9

|

2007

| August 12

| Roscommon

| 1-12 (15)

| Armagh

| 0-13 (13)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|2

|

2006

| August 12

| Derry

| 5-15 (30)

| Donegal

| 1-11 (14)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|16

|

2005

| August 21

| London

| 5-08 (23)

| Louth

| 1-05 (8)

| Croke Park, Dublin

|

|15

|

Roll of honour

=Performances by county=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" |County

! scope="col" |Title(s)

! scope="col" |Runners-up

! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Years won

! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Years runners-up

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_Donegal.svg Donegal

| align="center" |4

| align="center" |2

| align="center" |2013, 2018, 2020, 2024

| align="center" |2006, 2023

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_Roscommon.svg Roscommon

| align="center" |3

| align="center" |2

| align="center" |2007, 2015, 2025

| align="center" |2013, 2022

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_Armagh.svg Armagh

| align="center" |2

| align="center" |5

| align="center" |2010, 2012

| align="center" |2007, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_London.svg London

| align="center" |2

| align="center" |2

| align="center" |2005, 2011

| align="center" |2009, 2010

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_Mayo.svg Mayo

| align="center" |2

| align="center" |3

| align="center" |2016, 2021,

| align="center" |2020, 2024, 2025

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg Tyrone

| align="center" |2

| align="center" |1

| align="center" |2014, 2022

| align="center" |2021

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_Derry.svg Derry

| align="center" |2

| align="center" |0

| align="center" |2006, 2017

| align="center" | —

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_Sligo.svg Sligo

| align="center" |2

| align="center" |0

| align="center" |2008, 2019

| align="center" | —

scope="row" |File:Colours of Meath GAA.svg Meath

| align="center" |1

| align="center" |0

| align="center" |2009

| align="center" | —

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_Wicklow.svg Wicklow

| align="center" |1

| align="center" |0

| align="center" | 2023

| align="center" | —

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_Louth.svg Louth

| align="center" |0

| align="center" |4

| align="center" | —

| align="center" |2005, 2008, 2011, 2012

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_Fingal.svg Fingal

| align="center" |0

| align="center" |1

| align="center" | —

| align="center" |2014

scope="row" |File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg Warwickshre

| align="center" |0

| align="center" |1

| align="center" | —

| align="center" |2018

{{cite web|title=Nicky Rackard Cup |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/results/gaa/nicky-rackard-cup/25982/ |publisher=Commercial Enterprises Ltd |access-date=March 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311125638/http://www.rte.ie/sport/results/gaa/nicky-rackard-cup/25982/ |archive-date=March 11, 2013 }}

=Performances by province=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! scope="col" |Division

! scope="col" |Titles

!Runners-up

!Total

align="center"

! scope="row" |File:Flag_of_Ulster.svg Ulster

|10

|8

|18

align="center"

! scope="row" |File:Flag_of_Connacht.svg Connacht

|6

|4

|10

align="center"

! scope="row" |File:Flag_of_Leinster.svg Leinster

|2

|5

|7

align="center"

! scope="row" |File:Flag_of_Britain.svg Britain

|2

|3

|5

align="center"

! scope="row" |File:Flag_of_Munster.svg Munster

|0

|0

|0

Team records and statistics

Legend

For each year, the number of teams in each championship (in brackets) are shown.

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"

!Team

!2005 (12)

!2006 (12)

!2007 (12)

!2008 (12)

!2009 (8)

!2010 (8)

!2011 (6)

!2012 (6)

!2013 (6)

!2014 (7)

!2015 (8)

!2016 (8)

!2017 (7)

!2018 (7)

!2019 (8)

!2020 (7)

!2021 (5)

!2022 (6)

!2023 (6)

!2024 (6)

!2025 (6)

!Years

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Armagh.svg Armagh

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

|CR

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|CR

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

|CR

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |R2

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |4th

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |3rd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |4th

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |3rd

!16

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg Cavan

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

|LM

|LM

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

!4

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Derry.svg Derry

|CR

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

!2

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Donegal.svg Donegal

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

|LM

|LM

|LM

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |3rd

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

!16

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |RPO

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |5th

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |6th

|LM

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |6th

!8

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Fingal.svg Fingal

|—

|—

|—

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

|—

|—

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

!7

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg Leitrim

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |RPO

|LM

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |QF

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

!7

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_London.svg London

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|CR

|CR

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|AI

|AI

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|—

|—

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

!4

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Longford.svg Longford

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |RPO

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |R2

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

!10

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Louth.svg Louth

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |R2

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |RPO

|LM

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |R2

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |RPO

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |RPO

|LM

|LM

|LM

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |5th

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |5th

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |5th

!17

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Mayo.svg Mayo

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|CR

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|CR

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |

!6

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Meath.svg Meath

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|JM

|CR

|JM

|JM

|JM

|CR

|JM

|CR

!1

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Monaghan.svg Monaghan

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |R2

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |R2

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |RPO

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |RPO

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |R2

|LM

|LM

|LM

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |6th

|LM

!17

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Roscommon.svg Roscommon

|CR

|CR

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |4th

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |3rd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |

!12

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_ Sligo.svg Sligo

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |R2

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |RPO

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |4th

!12

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Down.svg South Down

|—

|—

|—

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

|LM

|LM

|LM

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

!1

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg Tyrone

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

|LM

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |R2

|LM

|LM

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |RPO

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|CR

|CR

!15

style="text-align:left" |File:Colours_of_ Warwickshire.svg Warwickshire

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |QF

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |GS

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

|LM

| bgcolor="silver" |2nd

| bgcolor="#cceeee" |SF

|—

|—

| bgcolor="#eecccc" |6th

|LM

|LM

|LM

!7

style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Wicklow.svg Wicklow

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

|CR

| bgcolor="gold" |1st

|CR

|CR

!1

= Debut of teams =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Debutants

!Total

2005

|File:Colours_of_Armagh.svg Armagh, File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg Cavan, File:Colours_of_Donegal.svg Donegal, File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh, File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg Leitrim, File:Colours_of_London.svg London, File:Colours_of_Longford.svg Longford, File:Colours_of_Louth.svg Louth, File:Colours_of_Monaghan.svg Monaghan, File:Colours_of_ Sligo.svg Sligo, File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg Tyrone, File:Colours_of_ Warwickshire.svg Warwickshire

|12

2006

|File:Colours_of_Derry.svg Derry

|1

2007

|File:Colours_of_Roscommon.svg Roscommon

|1

2008

|File:Colours_of_Fingal.svg Fingal, File:Colours_of_Down.svg South Down

|2

2009

|File:Colours_of_Meath.svg Meath

|1

2010–2015

|None

|0

2016

|File:Colours_of_Mayo.svg Mayo

|1

2017–2022

|None

|0

2023

|File:Colours_of_Wicklow.svg Wicklow

|1

2024–present

|None

|0

Total

|

|19

= Seasons in Nicky Rackard Cup =

The number of years that each county has played in the Nicky Rackard Cup between 2005 and 2025. A total of 19 counties have competed in at least one season of the Nicky Rackard Cup. Monaghan have participated in the most championships. The counties in bold participate in the 2025 Nicky Rackard Cup.

class="wikitable"

!Years

!Counties

17

|Louth, Monaghan

16

|Armagh, Donegal

15

|Tyrone

12

|Sligo, Roscommon

10

|Longford

8

|Fermanagh

7

|Fingal, Leitrim, Warwickshire

6

|Mayo

4

|Cavan, London

2

|Derry

1

|Meath, South Down, Wicklow

= List of Nicky Rackard Cup counties =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

!Team

!Appearances

!Debut

!Most recent

!Championship titles

!Last championship title

!Best Nicky Rackard Cup result

style="text-align:left;" |Armagh

|16

|2005

|2025

|2

|2012

| bgcolor=gold |1st

style="text-align:left;" |Cavan

|4

|2005

|2008

|0

|—

|QF

style="text-align:left;" |Derry

|2

|2006

|2017

|2

|2017

| bgcolor=gold |1st

style="text-align:left;" |Donegal

|16

|2005

|2024

|4

|2024

| bgcolor=gold |1st

style="text-align:left;" |Fermanagh

|8

|2005

|2025

|0

|—

|5th

style="text-align:left;" |Fingal

|7

|2008

|2016

|0

|—

| bgcolor=silver | 2nd

style="text-align:left;" |Leitrim

|7

|2005

|2021

|0

|—

| bgcolor=#cc9966 | SF

style="text-align:left;" |London

|4

|2005

|2011

|2

|2011

| bgcolor=gold |1st

style="text-align:left;" |Longford

|10

|2005

|2020

|0

|—

| bgcolor=#cc9966 | SF

style="text-align:left;" |Louth

|17

|2005

|2025

|0

|—

| bgcolor=silver | 2nd

style="text-align:left;" |Mayo

|6

|2016

|2025

|2

|2021

| bgcolor=gold |1st

style="text-align:left;" |Meath

|1

|2009

|2009

|1

|2009

| bgcolor=gold |1st

style="text-align:left;" |Monaghan

|17

|2005

|2024

|0

|—

| bgcolor=#cc9966 | SF

style="text-align:left;" |Roscommon

|12

|2007

|2025

|2

|2015

| bgcolor=gold |1st

style="text-align:left;" |Sligo

|12

|2005

|2025

|2

|2019

| bgcolor=gold |1st

style="text-align:left;" |South Down

|1

|2008

|2008

|0

|—

|QF

style="text-align:left;" |Tyrone

|15

|2005

|2022

|2

|2022

| bgcolor=gold |1st

Warwickshire

|7

|2005

|2022

|0

|—

| bgcolor=silver | 2nd

style="text-align:left;" |Wicklow

|1

|2023

|2023

|1

|2023

| bgcolor=gold |1st

= All-time table =

Legend

class="wikitable"

! width="150" |Colours

style="background:#ccffcc"

|Currently competing in the Christy Ring Cup

style="background:#FFFFE0"

|Currently competing in the Nicky Rackard Cup

style="background:#CEECF2"

|Currently competing in the Lory Meagher Cup

As of 18 May 2025 (After 2025 Nicky Rackard Cup group stage).

class="wikitable sortable"style="text-align:center"

!#

! width="150" |Team

! width="50" |{{Tooltip|Pld|Games Played}}

! width="50" |{{Tooltip|W|Wins}}

! width="50" |{{Tooltip|D|Draws}}

! width="50" |{{Tooltip|L|Losses}}

! width="50" |{{Tooltip|Points|Points}}

! width="50" |{{Tooltip|P.P.G.|Points Per Game}}

style="background:#ccffcc"

|1

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Donegal.svg Donegal

|64

|43

|2

|19

|88

|

style="background:#FFFFE0"

|2

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Armagh.svg Armagh

|69

|42

|1

|26

|85

|

style="background:#FFFFE0"

|3

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Roscommon.svg Roscommon

|49

|30

|3

|16

|63

|

style="background:#FFFFE0"

|4

| style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Louth.svg Louth

|68

|26

|2

|40

|54

|

style="background:#ccffcc"

|5

| style="text-align:left" | File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg Tyrone

|51

|26

|0

|25

|52

|

style="background:#FFFFE0"

|6

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Mayo.svg Mayo

|26

|19

|3

|4

|41

|

style="background:#FFFFE0"

|7

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Sligo.svg Sligo

|41

|17

|3

|21

|37

|

style="background:#ccffcc"

|8

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_London.svg London

|18

|15

|0

|3

|30

|

style="background:#CEECF2"

|9

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Monaghan.svg Monaghan

|52

|13

|2

|37

|28

|

style="background:#CEECF2"

|10

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Longford.svg Longford

|32

|13

|0

|19

|26

|

11

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Fingal.svg Fingal

|23

|11

|0

|12

|22

|

style="background:#ccffcc"

|12

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Derry.svg Derry

|9

|9

|0

|0

|18

|

style="background:#CEECF2"

|13

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg Warwickshire

|25

|7

|2

|16

|16

|

style="background:#ccffcc"

|14

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Wicklow.svg Wicklow

|6

|6

|0

|0

|12

|

style="background:#ccffcc"

|15

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Meath.svg Meath

|4

|4

|0

|0

|8

|

style="background:#CEECF2"

|16

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg Leitrim

|19

|3

|0

|16

|6

|

style="background:#FFFFE0"

|17

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Fermanagh.svg Fermanagh

|29

|2

|2

|25

|6

|

18

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Down.svg South Down

|3

|2

|0

|1

|4

|

style="background:#CEECF2"

|19

| style="text-align:left"| File:Colours_of_Cavan.svg Cavan

|10

|1

|0

|9

|2

|

= By Semi-Final/Top 4 Appearances =

class="wikitable sortable"

! width="20%" |Team

!No.

!Years

File:Colours_of_Donegal.svg Donegal

| align="center" | 14

|2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

File:Colours_of_Armagh.svg Armagh

| align="center" | 14

|2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

File:Colours_of_Tyrone.svg Tyrone

| align="center" | 10

|2005, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022

File:Colours_of_Roscommon.svg Roscommon

| align="center" | 10

|2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

File:Colours_of_Louth.svg Louth

| align="center" | 5

|2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012

File:Colours_of_Fingal.svg Fingal

| align="center" | 5

|2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016

File:Colours_of_Monaghan.svg Monaghan

| align="center" | 5

|2008, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018

File:Colours_of_Mayo.svg Mayo

| align="center" | 5

|2016, 2020, 2021, 2024, 2025

File:Colours_of_London.svg London

| align="center" | 4

|2005, 2009, 2010, 2011

File:Colours_of_Sligo.svg Sligo

| align="center" | 4

|2008, 2010, 2019, 2025

File:Colours_of_Derry.svg Derry

| align="center" | 2

|2006, 2017

File:Colours_of_Warwickshire.svg Warwickshire

| align="center" | 2

|2018, 2019

File:Colours_of_Longford.svg Longford

| align="center" | 1

|2006

File:Colours_of_Leitrim.svg Leitrim

| align="center" | 1

|2020

File:Colours_of_Meath.svg Meath

| align="center" | 1

|2009

File:Colours_of_Wicklow.svg Wicklow

| align="center" | 1

|2023

= By decade =

The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Nicky Rackard Cup titles, is as follows:

= Other records =

== Finishing positions ==

== Nicky Rackard Cup final pairings ==

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

!Pairing

!Meetings

!First

!Last

Armagh v Roscommon

|2

|2007

|2015

Donegal v Mayo

|2

|2020

|2024

London v Louth

|2

|2005

|2011

Armagh v Derry

|1

| colspan="2" |2017

Armagh v London

|1

| colspan="2" |2010

Armagh v Louth

|1

| colspan="2" |2012

Armagh v Mayo

|1

| colspan="2" |2016

Armagh v Sligo

|1

| colspan="2" |2019

Derry v Donegal

|1

| colspan="2" |2006

Donegal v Roscommon

|1

| colspan="2" |2013

Donegal v Warwickshire

|1

| colspan="2" |2018

Fingal v Tyrone

|1

| colspan="2" |2014

London v Meath

|1

| colspan="2" |2009

Louth v Sligo

|1

| colspan="2" |2008

Mayo v Tyrone

|1

| colspan="2" |2021

Roscommon v Tyrone

|1

| colspan="2" |2022

Donegal v Wicklow

|1

| colspan="2" |2023

Mayo v Roscommon

|1

| colspan="2" |2025

Player records

=Top scorers per championship=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Season

!Top scorer

!Team

!Score

!Total

|2016

|style="text-align:left;"|Damien Casey

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Tyrone.svg Tyrone

|2-39

|45

=Top scorer(s) in the final=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
Season

!Top scorer

!Team

!Score

!Total

rowspan="2"|2005

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of London.svg Kevin McMullan

|style="text-align:left;"|London

|2-1

|7

style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of London.svg Dave Bourke

|style="text-align:left;"|London

|1-4

|7

rowspan="1"|2006

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Derry.svg Ruairí Convery

|style="text-align:left;"|Derry

|2-7

|13

rowspan="1"|2007

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Roscommon.svg Shane Sweeney

|style="text-align:left;"|Roscommon

|0-6

|6

rowspan="1"|2008

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Sligo.svg Keith Raymond

|style="text-align:left;"|Sligo

|1-8

|11

rowspan="2"|2009

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Meath GAA.svg Neil Hackett

|style="text-align:left;"|Meath

|0-6

|6

style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of London.svg Martin Finn

|style="text-align:left;"|London

|0-6

|6

|2010

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Armagh.svg Paul Breen

|style="text-align:left;"|Armagh

|2-4

|10

|2011

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of London.svg Martin Finn

|style="text-align:left;"|London

|2-8

|14

|2012

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Louth.svg Shane Fennell

|style="text-align:left;"|Louth

|0-9

|9

|2013

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Roscommon.svg Gerry Fallon

|style="text-align:left;"|Roscommon

|2-9

|15

|2014

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Fingal.svg John Matthew Sheridan

|style="text-align:left;"|Fingal

|0-11

|11

|2015

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Armagh.svg Ryan Gaffney

|style="text-align:left;"|Armagh

|0-8

|8

|2016

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Mayo.svg Kenny Feeney

|style="text-align:left;"|Mayo

|1-9

|12

2017

|File:Colours of Armagh.svg A. Grant

|style="text-align:left;"|Armagh

|1-05

|8

rowspan="2" |2018

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Warwickshire.svg Niall McKenna

|style="text-align:left;"|Warwickshire

|0-12

|12

style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Donegal.svg Declan Coulter

|style="text-align:left;"|Donegal

|1-09

|12

2019

|

|

|

|

2020

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Mayo.svg S Boland

|style="text-align:left;"|Mayo

|0-11

|11

2021

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Tyrone.svg Damian Casey

|style="text-align:left;"|Tyrone

|0-09

|9

rowspan="2" |2022

|style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Roscommon.svg D Glynn

|style="text-align:left;"|Roscommon

|0-14

|14

style="text-align:left;"|File:Colours of Tyrone.svg Damian Casey

|style="text-align:left;"|Tyrone

|0–14

|14

2023

|File:Colours_of_Wicklow.svg Christy Moorehouse

|Wicklow

|0–09

|9

See also

References

{{Commons category}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Nicky Rackard Cup|width=75%}}

{{Hurling}}

{{All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship}}

Category:All-Ireland inter-county hurling championships

Category:Hurling cup competitions

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2005

Category:2005 establishments in Ireland