2018 Joe McDonagh Cup
Dates | 5 May 2018 – 1 July 2018 | ||
---|---|---|---|
Teams | 6 | ||
Champions | ![]() Richard Coady and Diarmuid Byrne (captain) Colm Bonnar (manager) | ||
Runners-up | ![]() Tommy Doyle (captain) Michael Ryan (manager) | ||
Relegated | ![]() | ||
Tournament statistics | |||
Matches played | 17 | ||
Goals scored | 50 (2.94 per match) | ||
Points scored | 661 (38.88 per match) | ||
Top scorer(s) | ![]() | ||
|
The 2018 Joe McDonagh Cup is the inaugural edition of the Joe McDonagh Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association 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 six GAA county teams ranked 11–16 in the 2018 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.[1][2] The fixtures were announced on 13 April 2018. The competition began on 5 May 2018.
On 1 July 2018, Carlow won the title following a 2-26 to 1-24 defeat of Westmeath in the final. This was their second successive promotion within the various tiers of hurling, as they were also the 2017 Christy Ring Cup champions.
Meath were relegated from the Joe McDonagh Cup after losing all of their group stage games.
Antrim's Neil McManus was the competition's top scorer with 3-67.
Teams
[edit]A total of six teams compete in the Joe McDonagh Cup, with representatives from Leinster (4), Munster (1) and Ulster (1). As 2018 was the inaugural year, four of the teams ( Kerry, Laois, Meath and Westmeath) previously played in the qualifier group of the 2017 Leinster Championship (tier 1) and two teams (Antrim and Carlow) were the finalists in the 2017 Christy Ring Cup (then tier 2, re-classified as tier 3 for 2018).
General Information
[edit]County | Last Provincial title | Last All-Ireland title | Position in 2017 Championship | Appearance |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 2017 | — | Runners-up (Christy Ring Cup) | 1st |
![]() | — | — | Champions (Christy Ring Cup) | 1st |
![]() | 1891 | 1891 | Group Stage (Leinster SHC) | 1st |
![]() | 1949 | 1915 | Round 1 (All-Ireland SHC) | 1st |
![]() | — | — | Group Stage (Leinster SHC) | 1st |
![]() | — | — | Round 1 (All-Ireland SHC) | 1st |
Personnel and kits
[edit]County | Manager | Captain(s) | Sponsor |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Dominic McKinley and Terence McNaughton | Neil McManus | Creagh Concrete |
![]() | Colm Bonnar | Richard Coady | IT Carlow |
![]() | Fintan O'Connor | Pádraig Boyle | Kerry Group |
![]() | Éamonn Kelly | Ross King | MW Hire Services |
![]() | Nick Fitzgerald | James Kelly | Uniflu |
![]() | Michael Ryan | Tommy Doyle | Renault |
Format
[edit]All six teams compete in an initial round-robin of five rounds where teams play each other once. The top two teams after the round robin stage play the third-placed teams in the Leinster and Munster championships in the two All-Ireland preliminary quarter finals with the Joe McDonagh Cup teams having home advantage.
The top two teams also compete in the Joe McDonagh Cup final. If the winner is a non-Munster team, they are automatically promoted to the following year's Leinster Championship. If the winner is a Munster team, in effect Kerry, they must win a play-off with the bottom-placed team in the Munster Championship to gain promotion to the following year's Munster Championship.
In order to reduce the number of teams in the Joe McDonagh Cup to five in 2019, the bottom-placed team in the Joe McDonagh Cup are automatically relegated to the following year's Christy Ring Cup and will not be replaced. The team that finishes second last in the 2018 Joe McDonagh Cup plays off against the 2018 Christy Ring Cup champions. The winner of that game plays in the Joe McDonagh Cup in 2019 and the losing team plays in the 2019 Christy Ring Cup.
Group stage
[edit]Table
[edit]Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | SF | SA | Diff | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 122 | 102 | 20 | 8 | Advance to Knockout Stage and All-Ireland Preliminary Quarter-Finals |
2 | ![]() | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 130 | 115 | 15 | 8 | |
3 | ![]() | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 105 | 97 | 8 | 6 | |
4 | ![]() | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 118 | 123 | -5 | 4 | |
5 | ![]() | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 130 | 116 | 14 | 4 | Advance to Relegation Playoff |
6 | ![]() | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 94 | 146 | -52 | 0 | Relegated to Christy Ring Cup |
Rounds 1 to 5
[edit]Round 1
[edit]5 May 2018 Round 1 | Meath ![]() | 2-18 - 5-25 | ![]() | Páirc Tailteann, Navan |
3:00 pm | J Regan (0-12, 0-8 f, 0-2 '65'), G McGowan (1-2), A Douglas (1-1), C McCabe, P Conneely, S Quigley (0-1 each). | Report | N Elliott (3-2), C Johnston (2-4 ,1-0 penalty), N McManus (0-8, 0-6f), S McCrory (0-3), J Maskey and D McKinley (0-2 each), C Carson, M Armstrong, E Campbell and C McCann (0-1 each). | Referee: C McAllister (Cork) |
5 May 2018 Round 1 | Laois ![]() | 1-21 - 2-21 | ![]() | O'Moore Park, Portlaoise |
3:00 pm | R King (0-10, 0-09 frees 0-01 ‘65), N Foyle (1-02), C Dwyer (0-04), B Conroy, A Corby, P Purcell, W Dunphy, S Maher (0-01 each). | Report | N O’Brien (0-07, 0-04 frees), R Greville (1-03), N Mitchell (1-00), C Boyle, J Boyle (0-03 each), E Price, C Doyle (0-02 each), D McNicholas (0-01, free). | Referee: P Murphy (Carlow) |
6 May 2018 Round 1 | Carlow ![]() | 0-21 - 0-18 | ![]() | Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow |
2:00 pm | D Murphy 0-6 (5f), E Byrne 0-4, J Doyle 0-3, K McDonald 0-2, D English (f), C Nolan, P Coady, D Byrne, R Smithers, J Kavanagh 0-1 each. Kerry: | Report | P Boyle 0-7 (1f), S Conway 0-6 (f), J Goulding 0-4, C Harty 0-1. | Referee: J Heffernan (Wexford) |
Round 2
[edit]12 May 2018 Round 2 | Antrim ![]() | 2-16 - 0-19 | ![]() | Corrigan Park, Belfast |
N McManus 1-8 (7f), N Elliott 1-2, C Johnston 0-2 (1f), J Maskey, E Campbell, M Armstrong, and E McCloskey 0-1 each. | Report | D Murphy 0-11 (8f), JM Nolan (1 sideline), J Doyle, C Nolan and C Foley 0-2 each. | Referee: J O'Brien (Laois) |
13 May 2018 Round 2 | Westmeath ![]() | 4-24 - 2-17 | ![]() | Cusack Park, Mullingar |
A Devine 2-2 (0-2fs), A Clarke 0-7, E Price, N O'Brien (2fs) 0-5 each, R Greville 1-1, C Doyle 0-3, N Mitchell 1-0, D McNicholas 0-1. | Report | J Regan 1-2 (0-2fs), A Douglas 1-1, P Conneely (1f), J Kelly, D Kelly (2fs) 0-3 each, C McCabe, M O'Sullivan 0-2 each, S Quigley 0-1. | Referee: C Cunning (Antrim) |
13 May 2018 Round 2 | Kerry ![]() | 3-20 - 0-19 | ![]() | Austin Stack Park, Tralee |
S Conway 0-09 (0-07f), J Goulding 1-02 (0-1 sideline), S Nolan 1-02, B O’Leary 1-00, S Weir 0-02, B Murphy 0-01, B Barrett 0-01, D Griffin 0-01, B O'Mahony 0-01, M O'Connor 0-01. | Report | R King 0-08 (0-06f, 0-02 '65'), B Conroy 0-05, W Dunphy 0-01, S Maher 0-01, P Purcell 0-01, C Taylor 0-01, C Dwyer 0-01, PJ Scully 0-01. | Referee: D Hughes (Carlow) |
Round 3
[edit]19 May 2018 Round 3 | Carlow ![]() | 0-21 - 1-14 | ![]() | Dr. Cullen Park, Carlow |
D Murphy 0-8 (8fs), C Nolan 0-6 (1f), J Doyle 0-3, P Coady, E Byrne, R Kelly and D English (1f) 0-1 each. | Report | P Conneely 1-7 (6fs), G McGowan 0-3, A Gannon 0-2, A Douglas and S Brennan 0-1 each. | Referee: J Keane (Galway) |
19 May 2018 Round 3 | Antrim ![]() | 1-19 - 1-20 | ![]() | Pearse Park, Dunloy |
N McManus 0-11 (9 fs, 1 65), C Johnston 0-3, C Clarke 1-0, E McCloskey 0-1, N Elliott 0-1, J McNaughton 0-1, D McKinley 0-1, C McCann 0-1. | Report | R King 0-11 (10 frees), B Conroy 0-4, W Dunphy 1-1, P Purcell 0-2, C Dwyer 0-1, A Corby 0-1. | Referee: J Heffernan (Wexford) |
20 May 2018 Round 3 | Kerry ![]() | 0-15 - 2-12 | ![]() | Austin Stack Park, Tralee |
D Griffin, P Boyle and S Conway (2f) 0-3 each, B O'Mahony 0-2, J O'Connor, S Nolan, J Goulding and J Conway 0-1 each. | Report | A Devine 0-7 (6f), N O'Brien 1-2, D Clinton 1-0, J Boyle, C Boyle, and A Clarke 0-1 each. Kerry: | Referee: C McAllister (Cork) |
Round 4
[edit]2 June 2018 Round 4 | Meath ![]() | 0-16 - 0-18 | ![]() | Páirc Tailteann, Navan |
P Conneely (0-7 three frees), J Keena (0-2), K Keoghan (0-2), A Gannon (0-2), J Kelly (0-1), J Regan (0-1), S Brennan (0-1). | Report | S Conway (0-6 two frees, two '65s'), P Boyle (0-4), M Stackpoole (0-1 free), B Murphy (0-1), B Barrett (0-2), D Collins (0-1), B O'Leary (0-1), M Boyle (0-1), J Goulding (0-1). | Referee: S Hynes (Galway) |
2 June 2018 Round 4 | Laois ![]() | 2-15 - 2-25 | ![]() | O'Moore Park, Portlaoise |
S Maher 0-8 (five frees, three 65s), R Mullaney 1-3, E Rowland 1-0 (1-0 pen), N Foyle, C Taylor, W Dunphy and M Kavanagh 0-1 each. | Report | JM Nolan 0-6 (one sideline), D Murphy (all frees) and C Nolan 0-5 each, D Byrne and E Byrne 1-1 each, P Coady 0-3, J Doyle 0-1 and K McDonald 0-1 each. |
2 June 2018 Round 4 | Westmeath ![]() | 2-19 - 1-20 | ![]() | TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar |
A Devine 0-7 (3fs, 365s), C Doyle and N O’Brien 1-2 each, N Mitchell 0-3, L Varley 0-2, P Greville, A Clarke, R Greville 0-1 each. | Report | N McManus 0-13 (7fs), K Molloy 1-0, C McCann 0-2, P Burke, J Dillon, N Elliott, E Campbell, and C Johnston 0-1 each. | Referee: R McGann (Clare) |
Round 5
[edit]9 June 2018 Round 5 | Meath ![]() | 0-14 - 3-23 | ![]() | Páirc Tailteann, Navan |
J Kelly 0-4, P Conneely 0-4 (2fs), J Regan 0-3 (1f), J Toher 0-1, C McCabe 0-1, S Morris 0-1. | Report | B Conroy 1-5, C Dwyer 1-3, R King 0-6 (3fs, 265s), P Purcell 1-2, W Dunphy 0-2, S Maher 0-2 (1f), N Foyle 0-1, R Mullaney 0-1, E Lyons 0-1. | Referee: P Burke (Kilkenny) |
9 June 2018 Round 5 | Carlow ![]() | 3-21 - 1-21 | ![]() | Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow |
D Murphy 0-10 (5f, 1 “65”), J Doyle 3-1 (1 “pen”), C Nolan 0-3, J Kavanagh and P Coady 0-2 each, E Byrne, JM Nolan and B Tracey (1f) 0-1 each. | Report | N O’Brien 0-6 (4f), A Clarke 0-4, S Clavin 0-3, N Mitchell 1-0, J Boyle, E Price and D Clinton 0-2 each, P Greville and J Gilligan 0-1 each. | Referee: C Cunning (Antrim) |
9 June 2018 Round 5 | Antrim ![]() | 1-20 - 2-21 | ![]() | Páirc Mhuire, Cushendall |
N McManus 0-17 (10 fs, 1 65), C Clarke 1-0, C McCann 0-1, D McKinley 0-1, C Johnston 0-1. | S Conway 0-12 (11 fs, 1 65), M Boyle 1-2, J Goulding 1-1, P Boyle 0-2, D Griffin 0-1, B O'Leary 0-1, B Barrett 0-1, T O'Connor 0-1. | Referee: P Murphy (Carlow) |
Final
[edit]Westmeath ![]() | 1-24 - 2-26 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
A Devine 0-8f, E Price 0-6, A Clarke 0-3, N O’Brien 1-1, R Greville 0-2, D McNicholas 0-2 (1f), D Clinton 0-1, N Mitchell 0-1. | Report | D Murphy 0-10 (9f, 1’ 45), C Nolan 1-4, P Coady 0-4, J Doyle 1-1, JM Nolan 0-3, E Byrne 0-2, K McDonald 0-1, D Byrne 0-1. |
Carlow are promoted to the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.
Relegation/promotion playoff
[edit]The bottom team after the round robin games, Meath, were relegated to the 2019 Christy Ring Cup. The second-last team in the Joe McDonagh Cup (tier 2), Antrim, defeated Kildare, the winners of the 2018 Christy Ring Cup final (tier 3) and thereby retained their place in the Joe McDonagh Cup for the 2019 edition.
Antrim ![]() | 3-23 - 1-17 | ![]() |
---|---|---|
N McManus 2-10 (6f, one ’65′); K Molloy 0-6; C McCann 1-1; N Elliott 0-2; R McCambridge, E O’Neill, E McCloskey and J Dillon 0-1 each. | Report | P Divilly 1-6 (2f); J Burke 0-6 (5f); B Deay 0-2; C Bonus, K Whelan and É O'Neill 0-1 each. |
Stadia and locations
[edit]County | Location | Province | Stadium(s) | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|---|
Neutral venue | Dublin | Leinster | Croke Park | 82,300 |
![]() | Belfast | Ulster | Corrigan Park | 3,700 |
![]() | Carlow | Leinster | Dr Cullen Park | 21,000 |
![]() | Tralee | Munster | Austin Stack Park | 12,000 |
![]() | Portlaoise | Leinster | O'Moore Park | 27,000 |
![]() | Navan | Leinster | Páirc Tailteann | 11,000 |
![]() | Mullingar | Leinster | Cusack Park | 11,000 |
Statistics
[edit]Top scorers
[edit]- Overall
Rank | Player | County | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Neil McManus | Antrim | 3-67 | 76 | 6 | 12.66 |
2 | Denis Murphy | Carlow | 0-50 | 50 | 6 | 8.33 |
3 | Shane Conway | Kerry | 0-36 | 36 | 5 | 7.20 |
4 | Ross King | Laois | 0-35 | 35 | 4 | 8.75 |
5 | Niall O'Brien | Westmeath | 3-23 | 32 | 6 | 5.33 |
6 | Allan Devine | Westmeath | 2-24 | 30 | 5 | 6.00 |
7 | Patrick Conneely | Meath | 1-22 | 25 | 5 | 5.00 |
8 | Chris Nolan | Carlow | 1-21 | 24 | 6 | 4.00 |
9 | James Doyle | Carlow | 4-11 | 23 | 6 | 3.83 |
10 | Jack Regan | Meath | 1-18 | 21 | 5 | 4.20 |
- In a single game
Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Opposition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Neil McManus | Antrim | 0-17 | 17 | Kerry |
2 | Neil McManus | Antrim | 0-13 | 13 | Westmeath |
3 | Shane Conway | Kerry | 0-12 | 12 | Antrim |
Jack Regan | Meath | 0-12 | 12 | Antrim | |
5 | Nigel Elliott | Antrim | 3-02 | 11 | Meath |
Neil McManus | Antrim | 1-08 | 11 | Carlow | |
Denis Murphy | Carlow | 0-11 | 11 | Antrim | |
Neil McManus | Antrim | 0-11 | 11 | Laois | |
Ross King | Laois | 0-11 | 11 | Antrim | |
10 | Conor Johnston | Antrim | 2-04 | 10 | Meath |
Patrick Conneely | Meath | 1-07 | 10 | Carlow | |
Ross King | Laois | 0-10 | 10 | Westmeath | |
Denis Murphy | Carlow | 0-10 | 10 | Westmeath | |
Denis Murphy | Carlow | 0-10 | 10 | Westmeath |
Scoring Events
[edit]- Widest winning margin: 16 points
- Most goals in a match: 7
- Most points in a match: 50
- Most goals by one team in a match: 5
- Most points by one team in a match: 26
- Highest aggregate score: 64 points
- Lowest aggregate score: 33 points
Miscellaneous
[edit]- Carlow become the first county to win the Joe McDonagh Cup.
- Carlow won their 2nd championship in a row after winning the 2017 Christy Ring Cup.
- Westmeath's round 1 victory over Laois was their first win against the O'Moore county in championship hurling since 1968.
See also
[edit]- 2018 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
- 2018 Christy Ring Cup
- 2018 Nicky Rackard Cup
- 2018 Lory Meagher Cup
References
[edit]- ^ Moran, Seán (30 September 2017). "GAA Congress approve round-robin provincial hurling championships". Irish Times. Retrieved 30 September 2017.
- ^ "Hurling changes will benefit Tier 2 counties, says Westmeath boss". RTÉ News. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.