2007 Christy Ring Cup
# 2007 Christy Ring Cup

The 2007 Christy Ring Cup began on Saturday, 9 June 2007. The Christy Ring Cup is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 2005 for middle-ranking hurling teams in Ireland. The 2007 competition was won by Westmeath GAA.

## 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 |

### Group 2B

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

## 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 |
| 4 | Billy White | Kildare | 1-7 | 10 | Derry |
| 4 | Billy White | Kildare | 0-10 | 10 | London |
| 7 | Sean Leo McGoldrick | Down | 2-3 | 9 | Wicklow |
| 7 | Ciaran Courtney | Down | 1-6 | 9 | Westmeath |
| 7 | Brendan McGourty | Down | 1-6 | 9 | Mayo |
| 7 | Simon Wilson | Down | 1-6 | 9 | Meath |
| 7 | Gareth O'Kane | Derry | 1-6 | 9 | London |
| 7 | Fergus McMahon | London | 1-6 | 9 | Kildare |
| 7 | 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.
