The 2009 Nicky Rackard Cup is the 5th annual third-tier hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. Seven county teams and one regional team participate in the competition. The teams are Fingal, Monaghan, Louth, Sligo, Meath, London, Armagh and Roscommon.
The winners of the competition were promoted to the 2010 Christy Ring Cup.
On 11 July, Meath won the cup with a 2-18 to 1-15 win over London at Croke Park.
Team changes
To Championship Relegated from the Christy Ring Cup
Armagh London Meath Roscommon
From Championship Relegated to the Lory Meagher Cup
Cavan Donegal Fermanagh Leitrim Longford South Down Tyrone Warwickshire
Format
New structure The tournament has a double elimination format - each team will play at least two games before being knocked out. The eight teams play four Round 1 matches. The winners in Round 1 advance to Round 2A. The losers in Round 1 go into Round 2B. There are two Round 2A matches. The winners in Round 2A advance to the semi-finals. The losers in Round 2A go into the quarter-finals. There are two Round 2B matches. The winners in Round 2B advance to the quarter-finals. The losers in Round 2B go into the relegation playoff. The losers of the relegation playoff are relegated to the Lory Meagher Cup 2010. There are two quarter-final matches between the Round 2A losers and Round 2B winners. The winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals. The losers of the quarter-finals are eliminated. There are two semi-final matches between the Round 2A winners and the quarter-final winners. The winners of the semi-finals advance to the final. The losers of the semi-finals are eliminated. The winners of the final win the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2009. Results Round 1 DateVenueTeamScoreTeamScoreJune 6Athleague Roscommon1-11 Fingal1-08June 6Sligo Sligo0-10 Meath1-23June 6Armagh Armagh0-12 London1-19June 6Dundalk Louth1-12 Monaghan1-08
Round 2A DateVenueTeamScoreTeamScoreJune 13Ruislip London1-22 Roscommon1-11June 13Navan Meath1-26 Louth0-10 Round 2B DateVenueTeamScoreTeamScoreJune 13Sligo Sligo0-05 Armagh3-19June 13Clones Monaghan2-13 Fingal1-18
Relegation play-off Date Venue Team Score Team Score June 20 Ballinamore Sligo 3-14 Monaghan 2-9
Monaghan were relegated to the Lory Meagher Cup 2010.
Quarter-finals DateVenueTeamScoreTeamScoreJune 20Armagh Armagh6-26 Roscommon2-09June 20Swords Fingal0-16 Louth1-11
Semi-finals DateVenueTeamScoreTeamScoreJune 27Ruislip London1-19 Fingal2-08June 27Navan Meath0-21 Armagh1-14
Final DateVenueTeamScoreTeamScoreJuly 11Croke Park London1-15 Meath2-18
Stadia and locations
See also
2009 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship 2009 Ulster Senior Hurling Championship 2009 Christy Ring Cup (Tier 2) 2009 Lory Meagher Cup (Tier 4)
References