2017 Nicky Rackard Cup

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox hurling championship | name = 2017 Nicky Rackard Cup | image = | imagesize = | caption = | dates = 22 April to 10 June 2017 | teams = 7 (normally 8) | champions = Derry | count = 2 | champions captain = Oisin McCloskey | champions manager = | runners-up = Armagh | runners-up captain = | runners-up manager = | matches = 10 | goals = 37 | points = 318 | top scorer = [[File: Colours of Armagh.svg|border|20px]] David Carvill (2-34) | previous year = 2016 | previous tournament = 2016 Nicky Rackard Cup | next year = 2018 | next tournament = 2018 Nicky Rackard Cup }}

The '''2017 Nicky Rackard Cup''' was the 13th staging of the [[Nicky Rackard Cup]] hurling championship since its establishment by the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] in 2005. It is the third tier of senior inter-county championship hurling.<ref>Hurling tiers - 1. All-Ireland (Liam McCarthy) 2. Christy Ring 3. Nicky Rackard 4. Lory Meagher</ref>

[[Mayo GAA|Mayo]], the [[2016 Nicky Rackard Cup|2016 champions]], were promoted to the [[2017 Christy Ring Cup]] after defeating [[Derry GAA|Derry]] in the promotion/relegation playoff 1–21 to 1–14.

==Format==

The 2017 [[Nicky Rackard Cup]] is played in a [[Double-elimination tournament|double-elimination]] format. For clarity, the match-ups are explained in each round below.

==Round 1==  Six of the seven teams play in Round 1. The seventh team receives a bye.

{{football box collapsible |date = 22 April 2017 |time = |team1 = [[File:Colours of Louth.svg|20px|border]] [[Louth GAA|Louth]] |score = 1-12 - 2-17 |report = [http://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/sport/gaa/gallant-reds-lose-nothing-in-defeat-to-derry-35649664.html Report] |team2 = [[File:Colours of Derry.svg|20px|border]] [[Derry GAA|Derry]] |goals1 = D Kettle 1-1, P Lynch 0-4 (3fs), D Murphy 0-3, L Dwan 0-2, G Smyth 0-1, M Ryan 0-1. |goals2 = R Convery 0-11 (10fs), M McGrath 1-0, A Grant 1-0, K Hinphey 0-2, C Steele 0-1, D Cartin 0-1, P Cleary 0-1, L Óg Hinphey 0-1. |stadium = [[Naomh Moninne H.C.|St. Brigid's Park]], Dowdallshill |attendance = |referee = T Carroll (Offaly) }} {{football box collapsible |date = 22 April 2017 |time = |team1 = [[File:Colours of Donegal.svg|20px|border]] [[Donegal GAA|Donegal]] |score = 1-19 - 0-13 |report = [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/Donegal/mcdermott-hails-win-as-armagh-are-beaten-35647069.html Report] |team2 = [[File:Colours of Armagh.svg|20px|border]] [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] |goals1 = D Flynn 1-5, L Henderson 0-5 (4f, 1 '45), D Coulter 0-3, J Boyle, G Gilmore 0-2 each, B Lafferty, D Cullen 0-1 each |goals2 = D Carvill 0-6f, C Carvill, D McKenna 0-2 each, C Corvan, C Devlin, C Gorman 0-1 each |stadium = [[O'Donnell Park]], [[Letterkenny]] |attendance = |referee = }} {{football box collapsible |date = 22 April 2017 |time = |team1 = [[File:Colours of Monaghan.svg|20px|border]] [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]] |score = 0-16 - 2-11 |report = [http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/gaa/tyrone/tyrone-squeeze-past-monaghan-with-casey-goal-proving-crucial-35647071.html Report] |team2 = [[File:Colours of Tyrone.svg|20px|border]] [[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]] |goals1 = D Meegan (0-10, 8f), F Rafter (0-2), B McGuigan (0-1), C Boyle (0-1), P Treanor (0-1), C Meegan (0-1). |goals2 = D Casey (1-2, 0-1), J Kelly (0-4), S Óg Grogan (1-0), L Devlin (0-2), P Daly (0-1), C Grogan (0-1), R McKernan (0-1). |stadium = [[Castleblayney Faugh's GAC|St. Mary's Park]], [[Castleblayney]] |attendance = |referee = P Murphy (Carlow) }} {{football box collapsible |date = |time = |team1 = [[File:Colours of Longford.svg|20px|border]] [[Longford GAA|Longford]] |score = BYE |report = |team2 = |goals1 = |goals2 = |stadium = |attendance = |referee = }}

==Round 2==

===Round 2A===

Contested by the three winners of Round 1 and the team that received a bye.

{{football box collapsible |date = 29 April 2017 |time = 3.00 PM |team1 = [[File:Colours of Tyrone.svg|20px|border]] [[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]] |score = 4-19 - 0-16 |report = [http://www.donegaldaily.com/2017/04/29/donegal-hurlers-fall-to-crushing-nicky-rackard-defeat-to-tyrone/ Report] |team2 = [[File:Colours of Donegal.svg|20px|border]] [[Donegal GAA|Donegal]] |goals1 = D Casey (1-10, 6f), C Grogan (2-1), S Óg Grogan (1-1), B McGurk (0-4), J Kelly (0-1); S Donnelly (0-1), T Morgan (0-1). |goals2 = L Henderson (0-6, 1 ’65, 5f); G Gilmore (0-3); D Flynn (0-3), J Boyle (0-2), P Doherty (0-1); S McVeigh (0-1). |stadium = [[Carrickmore St. Colmcille's GAC|Páirc Naomh Colmcille]], [[Carrickmore]] |attendance = |referee = J Murphy (Limerick) }} {{football box collapsible |date = 29 April 2017 |time = |team1 = [[File:Colours of Derry.svg|20px|border]] [[Derry GAA|Derry]] |score = 8-21 - 1-14 |report = [http://www.longfordleader.ie/news/gaelic-games/247524/longford-hurlers-no-match-for-far-superior-derry.html Report] |team2 = [[File:Colours of Longford.svg|20px|border]] [[Longford GAA|Longford]] |goals1 = B Rogers (3-2), A Grant (2-5, one goal from penalty, four points from frees), B Cassidy (2-4), G Bradley (1-2), A Kelly (0-3), K Hinphey (0-1), D Cartin (0-1), P Cleary (0-1), E McGuckin (0-1), C McKaigue (0-1). |goals2 = P Walsh (0-8, seven frees), E Kiernan (1-0), R Murray (0-2), S Hannon (0-2), C Mullane (0-1), J Mulhern (0-1). |stadium = Owenbeg Centre, [[Dungiven]] |attendance = |referee = }}

===Round 2B===

One match contested by two of the three losers of Round 1. The other losing team from Round 1 receives a bye.

{{football box collapsible |date = 29 April 2017 |time = |team1 = [[File:Colours of Armagh.svg|20px|border]] [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] |score = 0-23 - 2-09 |report = |team2 = [[File:Colours of Louth.svg|20px|border]] [[Louth GAA|Louth]] |goals1 = D Carvill 0-11, Conor Corvan 0-5, J Corvan 0-2, C Corvan 0-2, N Curry 0-1, D Magee 0-1, D McKenna 0-1. |goals2 = D Murphy 0-4, G Kerrigan 1-0, M Ryan 1-0, R Maher 0-2, P McCormack 0-1, D Kettle 0-1, D Ryan 0-1. |stadium = [[Athletic Grounds (Armagh)|Athletic Grounds]], [[Armagh]] |attendance = |referee = }} {{football box collapsible |date = |time = |team1 = [[File:Colours of Monaghan.svg|20px|border]] [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]] |score = BYE |report = |team2 = |goals1 = |goals2 = |stadium = |attendance = |referee = }}

==Quarter-finals==  The two losers of round 2A played the winner of round 2B and Monaghan, who had received a bye from that round. These two matches are referred to as quarter-finals.

{{football box collapsible |date = 6 May 2017 |time = 3.00 PM |team1 = [[File:Colours of Armagh.svg|20px|border]] [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] |score = 4-20 - 0-12 |report = [http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/carlow-prove-too-strong-for-depleted-lilies-35687725.html Report] |team2 = [[File:Colours of Longford.svg|20px|border]] [[Longford GAA|Longford]] |goals1 = C Corvan 1-7 (4f), D Carvill 1-6 (5f), F Bradley 1-1, R Gaffney 1-0, N Curry 0-2; C Carvill, D McKenna, O Curry, C Gorman 0-1 each. |goals2 = P Walsh 0-7 (6f, 1 sl), R Murray 0-2, S O'Brien 0-2; S Hannon 0-1. |stadium = [[Crossmaglen Rangers|St. Oliver Plunkett Park]], [[Crossmaglen]] |attendance = |referee = J Connors (Donegal) }} {{football box collapsible |date = 6 May 2017 |time = 3.00 PM |team1 = [[File:Colours of Monaghan.svg|20px|border]] [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]] |score = 1-16 - 1-12 |report = [http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/carlow-prove-too-strong-for-depleted-lilies-35687725.html Report] |team2 = [[File:Colours of Donegal.svg|20px|border]] [[Donegal GAA|Donegal]] |goals1 = F Rafter 0-9 (4f), T Campbell 1-1, B McGuigan 0-3, C Boyle and M Treanor 0-1 each. |goals2 = D Flynn 1-3, L Henderson 0-5 (2f), D Coulter 0-3, J Boyle 0-1. |stadium = [[Inniskeen Grattan's GAC|Grattan Park]], [[Inniskeen]] |attendance = |referee = }}

==Semi-finals==  The winners of round 2A play the winners of the two quarter-finals.

{{football box collapsible |date = 20 May 2017 |time = 15:00 |team1 = [[File:Colours of Tyrone.svg|20px|border]] [[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]] |score = 1-14 - 2-25 |report = [http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/match-reports-carlow-book-their-place-in-christy-ring-decider-35737481.html Report] |team2 = [[File:Colours of Armagh.svg|20px|border]] [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] |goals1 = B McGurk 1-1, D Casey 0-11 (8f, 1 ’65), C Grogan, R McKernan 0-1 each. |goals2 = D Carvill 1-11 (0-6f), N Curry 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), R Gaffney, C Corvan (1f) 0-3 each, F Bradley, D McKenna, D Magee, D Gaffney 0-1 each. |stadium = [[Carrickmore St. Colmcille's GAC|Páirc Naomh Colmcille]], [[Carrickmore]] |attendance = |referee = }} {{football box collapsible |date = 20 May 2017 |time = 17:00 |team1 = [[File:Colours of Monaghan.svg|20px|border]] [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]] |score = 1-12 - 6-17 |report = [http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/match-reports-carlow-book-their-place-in-christy-ring-decider-35737481.html Report] |team2 = [[File:Colours of Derry.svg|20px|border]] [[Derry GAA|Derry]] |goals1 = D Meegan 0-6 (5f), S Lambe 0-4 (1f), T Campbell 1-0, M Treanor and P Treanor 0-1 each. |goals2 = B Rodgers 3-1, A Grant 1-4, R Convery 1-3, B Cassidy 1-2, M McGrath 0-4, D Cartin and A Kelly 0-2 each. |stadium = [[Inniskeen Grattan's GAC|Grattan Park]], [[Inniskeen]] |attendance = |referee = }}

==Final==

The winners of the Nicky Rackard Cup (tier 3) are automatically promoted to next year's Christy Ring Cup (tier 2).

{{football box collapsible |date = 10 June 2017 |time = 15.00 |team1 = [[File:Colours of Armagh.svg|20px|border]] [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] |score = 2-15 - 3-23 |report = [http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/derry-power-to-nicky-rackard-cup-final-win-at-croke-park-35811988.html Report] |team2 = [[File:Colours of Derry.svg|20px|border]] [[Derry GAA|Derry]] |goals1 = A Grant 1-5 (0-4f), B Cassidy 1-4, G Bradley 1-3, C McKaigue, B Rogers, R Convery (1f, 1 ’65) 0-3 each, C Doherty, K Hinphey 0-1 |goals2 = R Gaffney 2-0, D Carvill 0-7 (6f), C Carvill 0-3, E McGuinness 0-2, C Corvan, D Gaffney, N Curry 0-1 |stadium = [[Croke Park]], [[Dublin]] |attendance = |referee = S Hynes (Galway) }}

== Bracket == {{16TeamBracket-Compact-NoSeeds-Byes|RD1=Round 1 Round 2B|RD2-seed06=|RD2-score08=0-16|RD2-team08=[[File:Colours of Donegal.svg|border|20px]] [[Donegal GAA|Donegal]]|RD2-seed08=|RD2-score07='''4-19'''|RD2-team07='''[[File:Colours of Tyrone.svg|border|20px]] [[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]]'''|RD2-seed07=|RD2-score06=1-12|RD2-team06=[[File:Colours of Longford.svg|border|20px]][[Longford GAA|Longford]]|RD2-score05='''4-20'''|RD3-team01='''[[File:Colours of Derry.svg|border|20px]] [[Derry GAA|Derry]]'''|RD2-team05='''[[File:Colours of Armagh.svg|border|20px]][[Armagh GAA|Armagh]]'''|RD2-seed05=|RD2-score04='''1-16'''|RD2-team04='''[[File:Colours of Monaghan.svg|border|20px]][[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]]'''|RD2-seed04=|RD2-score03=1-12|RD2-team03=[[File:Colours of Donegal.svg|border|20px]][[Donegal GAA|Donegal]]|RD2-seed03=|RD2-score02=1-14|RD3-seed01=|RD3-score01='''6-17'''|RD2-seed02=|RD4-score01='''3-23'''|RD4b-team02=(Cancelled)|RD4b-seed02=|RD4b-score01=|RD4b-team01='''[[File:Colours of Louth.svg|border|20px]] [[Louth GAA|Louth]]'''|RD4b-seed01=|RD4-score02=2-15|RD4-team02=[[File:Colours of Armagh.svg|border|20px]] [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]]|RD4-seed02=|RD4-team01='''[[File:Colours of Derry.svg|border|20px]] [[Derry GAA|Derry]]'''|RD3-seed02=|RD4-seed01=|RD3-score04=1-14|RD3-team04=[[File:Colours of Tyrone.svg|border|20px]] [[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]]|RD3-seed04=|RD3-score03='''2-25'''|RD3-team03='''[[File:Colours of Armagh.svg|border|20px]] [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]]'''|RD3-seed03=|RD3-score02=1-12|RD3-team02=[[File:Colours of Monaghan.svg|border|20px]] [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]]|RD2-team02=[[File:Colours of Longford.svg|border|20px]] [[Longford GAA|Longford]]|RD2-score01='''8-21'''|RD2=Round 2A Quarter-finals|RD1-score02='''2-17'''|RD1-team09='''[[File:Colours of Armagh.svg|border|20px]][[Armagh GAA|Armagh]]'''|RD1-seed09=|RD1-score04=|RD1-team04=(Bye)|RD1-seed04=|RD1-score03=|RD1-team03='''[[File:Colours of Longford.svg|border|20px]] [[Longford GAA|Longford]]'''|RD1-seed03=|RD1-team02='''[[File:Colours of Derry.svg|border|20px]] [[Derry GAA|Derry]]'''|RD1-seed10=|RD1-seed02=|RD1-score01=1-12|RD1-team01=[[File:Colours of Louth.svg|border|20px]] [[Louth GAA|Louth]]|RD1-seed01=|score-width=35px|team-width=100px|RD4b=Relegation Playoff|RD4=Final|RD3=Semi-finals|RD1-score09='''0-23'''|RD1-team10=[[File:Colours of Louth.svg|border|20px]][[Louth GAA|Louth]]|RD2-team01='''[[File:Colours of Derry.svg|border|20px]] [[Derry GAA|Derry]]'''|RD1-team14='''[[File:Colours of Tyrone.svg|border|20px]] [[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]]'''|RD2-seed01=|RD1-score16=0-13|RD1-team16=[[File:Colours of Armagh.svg|border|20px]] [[Armagh GAA|Armagh]]|RD1-seed16=|RD1-score15='''1-19'''|RD1-team15='''[[File:Colours of Donegal.svg|border|20px]] [[Donegal GAA|Donegal]]'''|RD1-seed15=|RD1-score14='''2-11'''|RD1-seed14=|RD1-score10=2-09|RD1-score13=0-16|RD1-team13=[[File:Colours of Monaghan.svg|border|20px]] [[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]]|RD1-seed13=|RD1-score08=|RD1-team08=(Bye)|RD1-seed08=|RD1-score07=|RD1-team07='''[[File:Colours of Monaghan.svg|border|20px]][[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]]'''|RD1-seed07=|RD4b-score02=}}

==Relegation play-off (cancelled)==

Normally contested by the two losers from round 2B as both these teams lost their first two matches. In 2017, no team was relegated as Fingal withdrew, thereby creating a vacant place in the normal eight-team Nicky Rackard Cup which was taken up by Warwickshire, the winners of the 2017 Lory Meagher Cup.

==Scoring statistics==

;Top scorers overall

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Rank ! Player ! Team ! Tally ! Total |- |rowspan=1 align=center|1 |David Carvill |[[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] |align=center|2-34 |align=center|40 |- |rowspan=1 align=center|2 |[[Damian Casey]] |[[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]] |align=center|2-23 |align=center|29 |- |rowspan=2 align=center|3 |[[Alan Grant (hurler)|Alan Grant]] |[[Derry GAA|Derry]] |align=center|4-09 |align=center|21 |- |[[Brendan Rogers (dual player)|Brendan Rogers]] |[[Derry GAA|Derry]] |align=center|6-03 |align=center|21 |- |rowspan=2 align=center|5 |Davin Flynn |[[Donegal GAA|Donegal]] |align=center|2-11 |align=center|17 |- |[[Ruairí Convery]] |[[Derry GAA|Derry]] |align=center|1-14 |align=center|17 |- |rowspan=3 align=center|7 |Conor Corvan |[[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] |align=center|1-13 |align=center|16 |- |Lee Henderson |[[Donegal GAA|Donegal]] |align=center|0-16 |align=center|16 |- |Donal Meegan |[[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]] |align=center|0-16 |align=center|16 |- |rowspan=2 align=center|10 |Brian Cassidy |[[Derry GAA|Derry]] |align=center|3-06 |align=center|15 |- |Patrick Walsh |[[Longford GAA|Longford]] |align=center|0-15 |align=center|15 |}

;Top scorers in a single game

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Rank ! Player ! Team ! Tally ! Total ! Opposition |- |rowspan=1 align=center|1 |David Carvill |[[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] |align=center|1-11 |align=center|14 |[[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]] |- |rowspan=1 align=center|2 |[[Damian Casey]] |[[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]] |align=center|1-10 |align=center|13 |[[Donegal GAA|Donegal]] |- |rowspan=5 align=center|3 |[[Brendan Rogers (dual player)|Brendan Rogers]] |[[Derry GAA|Derry]] |align=center|3-02 |align=center|11 |[[Longford GAA|Longford]] |- |Alan |[[Alan Grant (hurler)|Alan Grant]] |[[Derry GAA|Derry]] |align=center|2-05 |align=center|11 |[[Longford GAA|Longford]] |- |[[Damian Casey]] |[[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]] |align=center|0-11 |align=center|11 |[[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] |- |[[Ruairí Convery]] |[[Derry GAA|Derry]] |align=center|0-11 |align=center|11 |[[Louth GAA|Louth]] |- |David Carvill |[[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] |align=center|0-11 |align=center|11 |[[Louth GAA|Louth]] |- |rowspan=4 align=center|8 |[[Brendan Rogers (dual player)|Brendan Rogers]] |[[Derry GAA|Derry]] |align=center|3-01 |align=center|10 |[[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]] |- |Brian Cassidy |[[Derry GAA|Derry]] |align=center|2-04 |align=center|10 |[[Longford GAA|Longford]] |- |Conor Corvan |[[Armagh GAA|Armagh]] |align=center|1-07 |align=center|10 |[[Longford GAA|Longford]] |- |Donal Meegan |[[Monaghan GAA|Monaghan]] |align=center|0-10 |align=center|10 |[[Tyrone GAA|Tyrone]] |}

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:2017 in hurling|Nicky Rackard Cup]] [[Category:Nicky Rackard Cup]]