2008 Christy Ring Cup

The 2008 Christy Ring Cup is the fourth edition of the Christy Ring Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005 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 twelve GAA county teams ranked 13–24 in the 2008 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

Carlow beat Westmeath in the final after extra time. Carlow were beaten by Laois the bottom team in the Liam MacCarthy Cup and played in the Christy Ring Cup again the following year as a result.

To Championship
Relegated from the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship


 * None

Promoted from the Nicky Rackard Cup


 * Armagh
 * Roscommon

From Championship
Promoted to the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship


 * None

Relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup


 * None

Format
Twelve teams participated in the 2008 Christy Ring Cup.


 * Group 2A: Roscommon, Westmeath, Wicklow
 * Group 2B: Carlow, Down, London
 * Group 2C: Kerry, Mayo, Meath
 * Group 2D: Armagh, Derry, Kildare

Each team in the group played each other once in the first phase. The top two teams in each group advanced to the quarter-finals. The bottom team in each group went into the relegation play-offs.

Relegation play-offs
Due to a restructuring of the hurling championships the following year, the relegation playoffs were subsequently rendered meaningless as all four teams involved were relegated to the Nicky Rackard Cup for 2009.

Miscellaneous

 * Carlow won their 1st championship in 16 years, winning the 1992 All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship.