2005 Nicky Rackard Cup

The 2005 Nicky Rackard Cup began on Saturday, 18 June 2005. 2005 was the first time the Nicky Rackard Cup was introduced into the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. It was devised by the Hurling Development Committee to encourage some of the so-called "weaker" hurling counties and to give them the chance of playing more games. It is in effect a "Division 3" for hurling teams in Ireland. The final was played on Sunday, 21 August when London beat Louth in the final at Croke Park, Dublin.

Format
Twelve teams participated in the "Nicky Rackard Cup 2005". The teams were divided into three groups of four based on geographical criteria. These groups were:
 * Group 3A: Sligo, Tyrone, Donegal and Fermanagh
 * Group 3B: Louth, Cavan, Armagh and Leitrim
 * Group 3C: London, Warwickshire, Longford and Monaghan

To Championship
Transferred from the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship and the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship


 * Armagh
 * Cavan
 * Donegal
 * Fermanagh (Ulster JHC)
 * Leitrim
 * London (Ulster SHC)
 * Longford (Leinster JHC)
 * Louth (Leinster JHC)
 * Monaghan
 * Sligo (Connacht JHC)
 * Tyrone
 * Warwickshire

Bracket

 * The runners-up in groups 3B and 3C played each other with the winner playing the runner up in group 3A. The winner of that match joined the three group winners in the semi-finals.

Final
London are promoted to the 2006 Christy Ring Cup.

Match details
The 2005 Nicky Rackard Cup final was used as a curtain raiser for the semi-final of the 2005 Liam MacCarthy Cup. London won the game by a margin of 15 points.

At half time, thanks to two goals in the space of a minute from Barry Shortall and Kevin McMullan, London led by 2-04 to 0-05. Ten minutes into the second half, London re-opened the scoring for a 2-05 to 0-05 lead. Louth subsequently scored what would be their only goal - and only score of the second half. On 57 minutes, McMullan scored a further goal for London. Four minutes later, Sean Quinn kicked in London's fourth goal. Corner forward Dave Burke subsequently scored a fifth on 67 minutes. Burke clipped over a 65 and Gary Fenton added another point for London before the final whistle.

London: JJ Burke; E Phelan, T Simms, B Forde; J Dillon, F McMahon, B Foley 0-1; M Harding 0-01 (1f), M O'Meara; D Smyth, J Ryan, J McGaughan; D Bourke 1-04 (3f), B Shortall 1-00, K McMullan 2-01.

Subs: E Kinlon (for Smyth 36 mins), G Fenton 0-01 (for O'Meara 36 mins), S Quinn 1-00 (for Shortall 55 mins), P Doyle (for Phelan 68 mins), P Finneran (for McMullan 70 mins).

Louth: S Smith; D Black, A Carter, S Darcy; R Byrne, P Dunne, D Mulholland; D McCarthy, S Callan 0-02; T Hilliard, J Carter, D Byrne; G Smith 1-01 (1f), D Dunne 0-01, N McEneaney 0-01.

Subs: G Collins (for R Byrne h/t), S Byrne (for J Carter 53 mins), A Mynes (for McEneaney 65 mins), N Byrne (for Darcy 71 mins).

Referee: T Mahon (Fermanagh).

Scoring events

 * Widest winning margin: 29 points
 * Leitrim 3-06 - 9-17 Armagh (Round 2)
 * Most goals in a match: 12
 * Leitrim 3-06 - 9-17 Armagh (Round 2)
 * Most points in a match: 34
 * Louth 3-19 - 0-15 Leitrim (Round 1)
 * Most goals by one team in a match: 9
 * Leitrim 3-06 - 9-17 Armagh (Round 2)
 * Most points by one team in a match: 23
 * London 1-23 - 1-06 Warwickshire (Round 3)
 * Highest aggregate score: 59 points
 * Leitrim 3-06 - 9-17 Armagh (Round 2)
 * Lowest aggregate score: 30 points
 * Louth 3-10 - 1-08 Tyrone (Semi-finals)

Miscellaneous

 * London won their 1st championship in 10 years, last winning the 1995 All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship.