Lesser lights dreaming of Croker

The Christy Ring Cup gets underway today as counties dream of reaching the big stage

It was born under the stewardship of a Kerryman, a competition designed to promote hurling in lower-tier counties and named after a Corkman who was one of the most decorated players in the history of the game.

The Christy Ring Cup took flight in 2005 when Sean Kelly was in the GAA hot seat and Westmeath’s John Shaw had the honour of lifting the silverware in the first year after the Midlanders won a thrilling final by 1-23 to 2-18 against Down. Any reflections ahead of the commencement of the eighth Christy Ring Cup production this afternoon must account for the value it has given to hurling in unfashionable parts.