2010 Nicky Rackard Cup

The 2010 Nicky Rackard Cup is the 6th annual third-tier hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The teams competing are Armagh, Fingal, London, Louth, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo and Tyrone. The 2009 champions, Meath were promoted to the Christy Ring Cup for 2010, and did not have the opportunity to defend their title. 2009 Lory Meagher Cup champions, Tyrone, were promoted to play in the Nicky Rackard Cup this year. Due to a disagreement over promotion and relegation from the All-Ireland series, no team was relegated from the 2009 Christy Ring Cup or 2009 Nicky Rackard Cup for the 2010 season.

To Championship
Promoted from the Lory Meagher Cup


 * Tyrone

From Championship
Promoted to the Christy Ring Cup


 * Meath

Structure
The tournament has a double eliminator 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 for 2011.
 * 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 2010 and are promoted to the Christy Ring Cup for 2011.

Statistics

 * First hat-trick of the competition: Robert Molloy for Sligo against London
 * Widest winning margin: 18 points
 * London 5-17 - 1-11 Fingal (Quarter-final)
 * Most goals in a match: 6
 * Armagh 4-26 - 2-23 London (Round 2A)
 * London 5-17 - 1-11 Fingal (Quarter-final)
 * Armagh 5-18 - 1-18 Sligo (Semi-final)
 * Armagh 3-15 - 3-14 London (Final)
 * Most points in a match: 49
 * Armagh 4-26 - 2-23 London (Round 2A)
 * Most goals by one team in a match: 5
 * London 5-17 - 1-11 Fingal (Quarter-final)
 * Armagh 5-18 - 1-18 Sligo (Semi-final)
 * Most goals scored by a losing team: 3
 * Sligo 3-05 - 2-16 London (Round 1)
 * London 3-14 - 3-15 Armagh (Final)
 * Most points scored by a losing team: 23
 * London 2-23 - 4-26 Armagh (Round 2A)