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: Monaghan Roscommon Sligo Louth Armagh *Relegated from 2011 Christy Ring Cup Donegal *Promoted from 2011 Lory Meagher Cup
Structure The tournament has a double elimination format - each team will play at least two games before being knocked out. There are two Round 1 matches. The winners in Round 1 advance to Round 2. The losers in Round 1 go into the quarter-finals. There are two Round 2 matches. The winners in Round 2 advance to the semifinals. The losers in Round 2 go into the quarter-finals. There are two quarter-final matches between the Round 1 losers and Round 2 winners. The winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semifinals. The losers of the quarter-finals are eliminated. There are two semifinal matches, between the Round 2 winners and the quarter-final winners. The winners of the semifinals advance to the final. The losers of the semifinals are eliminated. The winners of the final win the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2012 and are promoted to the Christy Ring Cup for 2013.
Results
Round 1
Round 2
Quarter-finals
Semifinals
Final
GK1 Simon Doherty (Naomh Eoin, Antrim)RCB2 Pauric Hughes (Middletown)FB3 Ciarán Clifford (Cúchulainn's)LCB4 Conor McKee (Keady Lámh Dhearg)RHB5 Kieran McKernan (Middletown)CHB6 Nathan Curry (Middletown)LHB7 Paul Gaffney (Middletown)MF8 Ruairí McGrattan (Cúchulainn's)MF9 James King (Keady Lámh Dhearg)RHF10 David Carvill (Middletown)CHF11 Cahal Carvill (Middletown)LHF12 Ryan Gaffney (Middletown) (c)RCF13 Declan Coulter (Cúchulainn's)FF14 Paul McCormack (Keady Lámh Dhearg)LCF15 Conor Corvan (Keady Lámh Dhearg)Substitutes: 16 Fiachra Bradley (Craobh Rua) for Coulter 17 John Corvan (Keady Lámh Dhearg) for D. Carvill 18 Martin Maguire (Middletown) for King 19 Anthony Carville (Seán Treacy's) for C. CorvanManager: Michael Johnston GK1 James Connolly (Naomh Moninne)RCB2 Donal Rafferty (Naomh Moninne)FB3 Wesley Morrissey (Patrickswell, Limerick)LCB4 Mark Wallace (Knockbridge)RHB5 Donagh O'Sullivan (Knockaderry, Limerick)CHB6 Ronan Byrne (Knockbridge)LHB7 Derek Horan (Shannon Rovers, Tipperary)MF8 Shane Callan (Pearse Óg) (c)MF9 Darren O'Hanrahan (Naomh Moninne)RHF10 Brian Corcoran (Mattock Rangers)CHF11 Shane Fennell (Knockbridge)LHF12 Diarmuid Murphy (Naomh Moninne)RCF13 Kevin McNally (Knockbridge)FF14 David Dunne (Knockbridge)LCF15 Adrian Wallace (Knockbridge)Substitutes: 16 Gary Rellis (Mattock Rangers) for O'Hanrahan 17 Gerard Smyth (Pearse Óg) for McNally 18 Domhnall McArdle (Pearse Óg) for M. Wallace 19 Shane Maguire (Mattock Rangers) for MurphyManager: Pat Clancy
Scoring
Widest winning margin: 20 points Louth 3-18 - 0-07 Donegal (Semifinal) Most goals in a match: 5 Armagh 4-12 - 1-17 Roscommon (Semifinal) Most points in a match: 31 Monaghan 0-15 - 1-16 Donegal (Round 2) Most goals by one team in a match: 4 Armagh 4-12 - 1-17 Roscommon (Semifinal) Most goals scored by a losing team: 1 Armagh 4-12 - 1-17 Roscommon (Semifinal) Roscommon 2-19 - 1-11 Monaghan (Quarter-final) Louth 3-15 - 1-09 Sligo (Quarter-final) Armagh 0-20 - 1-08 Louth (Round 1) Most points scored by a losing team: 17 Armagh 4-12 - 1-17 Roscommon (Semifinal)
References