The Nicky 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. 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 Donegal County Board or Donegal GAA is one of 32 county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Ireland, and is responsible for the administration of Gaelic games in County Donegal.
The 2006 Nicky Rackard Cup was the 2006 campaign of the Nicky Rackard Cup and began on Saturday June 10, 2006. 2006 was the second time this new element of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was introduced. It was devised by the Hurling Development Committee to encourage some of the weaker hurling counties and to give them the chance of playing more games. The final will be played on Sunday, August 13 in Croke Park, Dublin City.
The 2007 Nicky Rackard Cup began in June 2007. It was the third time this element of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was played. Both Roscommon and Armagh easily progressed to the final in Croke Park, averaging winning margins of 23 and 14 points respectively in the early rounds. In a tense final, the Rossies ran out two-point winners, substitute Gary Fallon scoring the crucial goal. Report
The 2012 Nicky Rackard Cup is the eighth season of the Nicky Rackard Cup since its establishment in 2005. A total of six teams will contest the Nicky Rackard Cup, including four sides from the 2011 Nicky Rackard Cup and one promoted team from the 2011 Lory Meagher Cup and one team relegated from the 2011 Christy Ring Cup. The teams are:
The 2009 Lory Meagher Cup is the fourth edition of the Lory Meagher Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2009 and is the fourth-tier of Hurling for senior county teams. It is contested by five GAA county teams ranked 29–33 in the 2012 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The draw for the 2012 fixtures took place on 14 November 2011. The competition began on 5 May 2012 and ended on 9 June 2012.
Seán McVeigh is a dual player. He plays Gaelic football for St Eunan's, as well as, formerly, hurling for the Donegal county team.
The 2013 season was the ninth staging of the Nicky Rackard Cup. Donegal were the 2013 Champions, defeating Roscommon in the final. However, they were not promoted to the 2014 Christy Ring Cup due to a restructuring of the competition.
The 2018 Nicky Rackard Cup was the 14th staging of the Nicky Rackard Cup hurling championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005. It was the fourth tier of senior inter-county hurling as of 2018.
The Meath county hurling team represents Meath in hurling and is governed by Meath GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the Christy Ring Cup and the National Hurling League.
The Down county hurling team represents Down GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, in the Gaelic sport of hurling. The team competes in the Joe McDonagh Cup and the National Hurling League.
The Donegal county hurling team represents Donegal in hurling and is governed by Donegal GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the Nicky Rackard Cup and the National Hurling League.
The Sligo county hurling team represents Sligo in hurling and is governed by Sligo GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the Christy Ring Cup and the National Hurling League. It formerly competed in the abolished Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, finishing as runner-up in 1900 and 1906.
The Mayo county hurling team represents Mayo in hurling and is governed by Mayo GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the Christy Ring Cup and the National Hurling League. It formerly competed in the abolished Connacht Senior Hurling Championship.
Danny Cullen is a hurler. He plays for Setanta, the Donegal county team and the Ireland national team.
Lee Henderson is a hurler. He plays for Seán Mac Cumhaills and also, formerly, for the Donegal county team.
The 2020 Nicky Rackard Cup is the 16th staging of the Nicky Rackard Cup hurling championship since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005. It is the fourth tier hurling as of 2020.
Michael "Mickey" McCann is an Irish hurling manager and former player. He currently manages the Donegal county team and plays as goalkeeper for Burt.
The 2021 Nicky Rackard Cup was the 17th staging of the Nicky Rackard Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005. The cup began on 26 June 2021 and ended on 31 July 2021.
The 2024 Nicky Rackard Cup was the twentieth edition of the Nicky Rackard Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005 and is the fourth-tier of Hurling for senior county teams. It is contested by six GAA county teams ranked 24–29 in the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The competition ran from 13 April to 2 June 2024.
