2007 Christy Ring Cup

Teams

Champions

Westmeath (2nd title)

Runners-up

Kildare

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The 2007 Christy Ring Cup is the third 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 ten GAA county teams ranked 13–22 in the 2007 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

The 2007 Christy Ring Cup began on Saturday, 9 June 2007. The 2007 competition was won by Westmeath.^[1]

Team changes

To Championship

Relegated from the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

Westmeath

Promoted from the Nicky Rackard Cup

Derry

From Championship

Promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship

Antrim

Relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup

Roscommon

Teams

General Information

County	Last Cup title	Last Provincial title	Last All-Ireland title	Position in 2006 Championship	Appearance
Carlow	—	—	—	Runners-up	3rd
Derry	—	2001	—	Champions (Nicky Rackard Cup)	2nd
Down	—	1997	—	Semi-finals	3rd
Kerry	—	1891	1891	5th in Group B	3rd
Kildare	—	—	—	Semi-finals	3rd
London	—	—	1901	3rd in Group A	2nd
Mayo	—	1909	—	3rd in Group B	3rd
Meath	—	—	—	4th in Group A	3rd
Westmeath	2005	—	—	Lost relegation playoff (All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship)	2nd
Wicklow	—	—	—	4th in Group B	3rd

Personnel and kits

County	Manager	Captain(s)	Sponsor

Format

10 counties are contesting the 2007 competition for the Christy Ring Cup — the prize for the winners of Tier Two of the Guinness All-Ireland Hurling Championship. The 2007 competition involves the current middle rank of hurling counties:

Leinster: Carlow, Kildare, Meath, Westmeath and Wicklow
Ulster: Derry and Down
Connacht: Mayo
Munster: Kerry
Britain: London

These 10 counties are divided into two groups of five and play in a round-robin format, guaranteeing at least four games each. The eventual group winners and runners-up will qualify for the semi-finals of the Christy Ring Cup. Unlike previous years the winners of this year Christy Ring Cup were not promoted to Tier One of the Hurling Championship to contest the Liam MacCarthy Cup the following year. This was decided by the GAA Congress in October 2006.

The last team in each group was involved in a relegation play-off with the eventual loser being relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup.

Group Stage

Group 2A

Teams	Pld	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts	Qualification
Meath	4	3	1	0	6-80	5-51	+32	7	Advance to Knockout Stage
Westmeath	4	3	1	0	6-60	4-53	+13	7	Advance to Knockout Stage
Kerry	4	2	0	2	4-63	5-53	+7	4
Down	4	1	0	3	7-57	7-66	-9	2
Mayo	4	0	0	4	3-43	7-74	-43	0	Advance to Relegation Playoff

Kerry v Mayo

16 June 2007	Kerry	1-18 - 0-11	Mayo	Austin Stack Park
	S Brick 0-11, JM Dooley 1-1, J Egan 0-4, L Boyle 0-1, B O’Sullivan 0-1.		A Freeman 0-6, K Higgins 0-4, S Lenihan 0-1.	Referee: C McAllister (Cork)

Meath v Westmeath

16 June 2007	Meath	2-16 - 1-19	Westmeath	Páirc Tailteann
	G O’Neill 2-1, M Cole 0-7, E Brislane 0-3, S Clynch 0-2, E Keogh 0-1, C Keena 0-1, J Keena 0-1.		D Cinchonas 1-2, A Mitchell 0-5, B Kennedy 0-5, E McLoughlin 0-3, R Whelan 0-3, B Smyth 0-1.	Referee: G Devlin (Armagh)

Mayo v Meath

23 June 2007	Mayo	1-10 - 2-23	Meath	McHale Park
	A Freeman 0-5, E Fitzgerald (Meath) OG, K Healy 0-1, N Murphy 0-2, D Walsh, P Barrett 0-1 each.		M Cole 1-4, J Keena 0-6, S Clinch 1-3, G O'Neill, E Brislane 0-3 each, N Hackett 0-2, D Crimmins, E Keogh 0-1 each.

Westmeath v Down

23 June 2007	Westmeath	2-13 - 1-15	Down	Cusack Park
	D Carty 1-3, D McNicholas 1-1, A Mitchell and J Shaw 0-3 each, R Whelan 0-2, E Loughlin 0-1.		C Courtney 1-6, B McGourty 0-3, G Johnston, G Clarke and E Trainor 0-2 each.

Down v Mayo

30 June 2007	Down	2-19 - 2-11	Mayo	McKenna Park
	B McGourty 1-6, G Johnson 0-6, S Wilson 0-4, P Coulter 1-0, S Murray, F Conway, C Coulter 0-1 each.	Report	A Freeman 0-5, N Murphy 0-3, P Broderick, K Healy 1-0 each, S Broderick 0-2, S Coyne 0-1.

Meath v Kerry

30 June 2007	Meath	2-17 - 0-13	Kerry	Páirc Tailteann
	M Cole (5f), S Clynch, N Horan (3f) 0-5 each, G O'Neill 1-1, J Keena 1-0, E Brislane 0-1.	Report	S Brick 0-8 (3f, 2 '65s), L Boyle 0-2, J Egan, M Conway, I McCarthy 0-1 each.	Referee: D Magee (Down)

Kerry v Down

7 July 2007	Kerry	2-21 - 2-11	Down	Austin Stack Park
	S Brick 0-15 (10fs), J Egan 1-2, M Conway 1-0, L Boyle, M Slattery, I McCarthy, J M Dooley 0-1.	Report	S Wilson 0-8 (5fs, 0-2 '65s), C Coulter 1-1, E Clark 1-0, C Courtney 0-1 (f), S Ennis 0-1.

Mayo v Westmeath

7 July 2007	Mayo	0-11 - 2-14	Westmeath	McHale Park
	A Freeman 0-8, D Walsh, S Broderick, S Leneghan 0-1 each.		D McNicholas 1-4, J Shaw 0-5, A Mitchell 0-5, R Whelan 1-0.

Westmeath v Kerry

14 July 2007

Westmeath

1-14 - 1-11

Kerry

Cusack Park

Down v Meath

14 July 2007	Down	2-12 - 1-21	Meath	Páirc Esler
	S Wilson 1-6, C Coulter 1-1, E Clarke, A Savage 0-2 each, P Coulter 0-1)	Report	N Horan 0-13, S Clynch 1-0, E Brislane, G O'Neill 0-2 each, D Crimmins, K Dowd, M Cole, N Hackett 0-1 each.

Group 2B

Team	Pld	W	L	F	A	+/-	Pts	Qualification
Carlow	4	4	0	8-59	7-42	+20	8	Advance to Knockout Stage
Kildare	4	3	1	4-77	5-54	+20	6	Advance to Knockout Stage
Derry	4	2	2	8-56	9-57	-4	4
Wicklow	4	1	3	6-59	7-62	-6	2
London	4	0	4	7-40	5-76	-30	0	Advance to Relegation Playoff

Wicklow v London

16 June 2007	Wicklow	1-22 - 1-10	London	Pearse Park
	J Keogh 0-6, L Glynn 0-4, J Moran 1-0, W O’Gorman 0-3, D Hyland 0-3, T Collins 0-2, A Tiernan 0-2, G Bermingham 0-1, B Rickerby 0-1.		M Finn 0-6, A Kane 1-1, F McMahon 0-1, D Skehan 0-1, P Fagan 0-1.

Carlow v Kildare

16 June 2007	Carlow	3-13 - 0-15	Kildare	Dr. Cullen Park
	B Lawler 0-7, D Murphy 1-2, R Foley 1-0, A Brennan 1-0, D Roberts 0-2, J Waters 0-1, E Coady 0-1.		B White 0-2, M Moloney 0-2, K Divilly 0-2, T Murphy 0-2, M Dowd 0-2, Brendan Byrne 0-1, C Buggy 0-1, D Harney 0-1, D Kennedy 0-1, A McAndrew 0-1.	Referee: F Smith (Meath)

London v Derry

23 June 2007	London	2-9 - 2-14	Derry	Emerald GAA Grounds
	M Finn 2-2 (0-1 free), F McMahon, B Tennyson 0-2 each, K Kennedy, E Kinlon, E Leamy 0-1 each.		G O'Kane 1-6 (1-5 frees), SL McGoldrick 1-1, O McCloskey 0-3, S McBride 0-2, K Hinphey, M Craig 0-1 each.

Kildare v Wicklow

23 June 2007	Kildare	2-17 - 1-17	Wicklow	St. Conleth's Park
	B White 0-7 4f, P O'Brien 1-1 1-0 f, C Buggy 1-0, M Maloney and O Lynch 0-2 each, P Reidy, K Divilly, D Kennedy, A McAndrew and M O'Dowd 0-1 each.		S Keogh 0-7 6f, D Hyland 0-3, G Bermingham 1-0, A Tiernan and L Rickerby 0-2 each, L Glynn J O'Neill and E Glynn 0-1 each.

Derry v Kildare

30 June 2007	Derry	0-13 - 2-21	Kildare	Celtic Park
	G O'Kane 0-8 (7f), SL McGoldrick 0-2, O McClusky, D McSorley, S Dodds 0-1 each.	Report	B White 1-7 (7f), T Murphy 1-1, T Spain 0-4, O Lynch 0-3, K Divilly, M Moloney 0-2 each, D Harney, B Coulston 0-1 each.

Wicklow v Carlow

30 June 2007	Wicklow	1-8 - 1-15	Carlow	Aughrim Park
	J Keogh 1-5, L Glynn, T Collins, G Doran 0-1 each.	Report	B Lawlor 0-9, C Doyle 1-1, R Foley 0-2, J Waters, M Brennan, J Miley 0-1 each.

Carlow v Derry

7 July 2007	Carlow	2-15 - 3-9	Derry	Dr. Cullen Park
	B Lawler 0-5 (4fs), D Murphy 1-1, M Brennan 0-3 (1f), C Doyle 1-0, J Waters, A Brennan, R Foley 0-2 each	Report	S L McGoldrick 2-1, G O'Kane 0-3, (all fs), O McCloskey 1-0, P O'Kane, B Dodds, C Quinn, M Kirkpatrick, P Henry 0-1 each

Kildare v London

7 July 2007	Kildare	0-24 - 1-11	London	St. Conleth's Park
	B White 0-10 (6f, 2'65), T Spain 0-4, M Moloney 0-4, K Divilly 0-2, D Moloney, T Murphy, B Coulston, O Lynch 0-1 each.		F McMahon 1-6 (1-0 pen, 3f) B Tennyson 0-3, S Malone, K Kennedy 0-1 each.

London v Carlow

14 July 2007	London	3-10 - 2-16	Carlow	Emerald GAA Grounds
	M Finn 2-4 (0-4 frees), E Rocks 1-0, S Malone, B Tennison 0-2 each, E Leamy, K McMullen 0-1 each.	Report	M Brennan 0-5 (3f), B Lawlor 1-1, D Roberts 0-3, A Brennan 1-0, C Doyle, J Miley 0-2 each, S McMahon, R Coady, E Coady 0-1 each.	Referee: D Connolly (Kilkenny)

Derry v Wicklow

14 July 2007	Derry	3-20 - 3-12	Wicklow	Celtic Park
	SL McGoldrick 2-3, P McCloskey 1-1, G O'Kane 0-8, G Kelly 0-3, O McCloskey 0-2, R Kealey, C Quinn, M Kirkpatrick 0-1 each.	Report	G Doran, L Kennedy, S O'Loughlin 1-0 each, D Allen 0-5, L Kenny 0-3, A Kerins 0-2, E O'Sullivan, D Moran 0-1 each.	Referee: T Mahon (Fermanagh)

Knockout Stage

Semi-finals

Meath v Kildare

21 July 2007 Semi-final	Meath	1-13 - 1-14	Kildare	O'Connor Park
	N Horan (0-6, all frees), G O'Neill (1-1), E Brislane (0-2), S Clynch (0-2), E Keogh (0-1), M Cole (0-1).	Report	B White (0-6, three frees, two 65s), B Byrne (1-1), P O'Brien (0-3), A McAndrew (0-2), C Buggy (0-1), K Divilly (0-1).	Referee: G Hoey (Clare)

Carlow v Westmeath

21 July 2007 Semi-final	Carlow	2-15 - 4-11	Westmeath	O'Connor Park
	B Lawler (0-4, two frees), R Foley (1-0), C Doyle (1-0), M Brennan (0-3), A Brennan (0-2), F Foley (0-2, one free, one penalty), A Gaul (0-1), J Waters (0-1), D Roberts (0-1), R Dunbar (0-1).	Report	J Shaw (2-2), D McNicholas (1-1), D Carty (1-0), B Connaughton (0-3, one free, one 65), P Clarke (0-2), A Mitchell (0-2, one free), B Murtagh (0-1).	Referee: P Greene (Galway)

Final

Westmeath v Kildare

5 August 2007 Final	Westmeath	2-15 - 0-13	Kildare	Croke Park
	A Mitchell (1-03, 0-03f), J Shaw (1-02), D Carty (0-05), B Kennedy (0-02), D McNicholas (0-01), P Clarke (0-01), E Loughlin (0-01).	Report	B White (0-07, 6f), P O'Brien (0-02, 2f), O Lynch (0-02), M Dowd (0-01), D Nolan (0-01).	Referee: J Sexton (Cork)

Stadia and locations

Championship Statistics

Top scorers

Single game

Rank	Player	County	Tally	Total	Opposition
1	Shane Brick	Kerry	0-15	15	Down
2	Nicky Horan	Meath	0-13	13	Down
3	Shane Brick	Kerry	0-11	11	Mayo
4	Martin Finn	London	2-4	10	Carlow
	Billy White	Kildare	1-7	10	Derry
	Billy White	Kildare	0-10	10	London
7	Sean Leo McGoldrick	Down	2-3	9	Wicklow
	Ciaran Courtney	Down	1-6	9	Westmeath
	Brendan McGourty	Down	1-6	9	Mayo
	Simon Wilson	Down	1-6	9	Meath
	Gareth O'Kane	Derry	1-6	9	London
	Fergus McMahon	London	1-6	9	Kildare
	Brendan Lawler	Carlow	0-9	9	Wicklow

Miscellaneous

Westmeath won their 1st championship in 2 years, winning the 2005 Christy Ring Cup.
Westmeath became the first county to win the Christy Ring Cup 2 times.