Croke Park joy for Wicklow and Monaghan

SWIFT RETURN: Wicklow players celebrate with the trophy after their side's victory in the Nickey Rackard Cup final at Croke Park. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Wicklow bounced back immediately to Christy Ring hurling, after storming from behind to beat Donegal in Saturday's Nickey Rackard Cup final at Croke Park, on a score of 1-20 to 3-12. 

But they were made to work all the way by Mícheál Mac Cann’s plucky underdogs. Donegal looked on course to repeat the feats of 2013 and 2020 until replacement David Maloney gave Wicklow their first lead in the final as late as the 56th minute.