Don’t be shocked if exiles plunder all the silverware
TODAY could be a red-letter day for Ireland’s national sport on the far side of the Irish Sea. Of the three inter-county hurling championships entered by English-based county boards in 2018, all three teams have managed to reach their respective finals. And it would be no surprise to see the Christy Ring, Nicky Rackard and Lory Meagher Cups all making their way back to England from Croke Park this evening for the very first time. London, the standard bearers for GAA outside the island of Ireland ever since their famous Liam MacCarthy Cup win of 1901, are 4/6 favourites to see off Kildare today in the Christy Ring main event — a win that would also earn them a play-off with Antrim for a place in next year’s Joe McDonagh Cup. Boasting the likes of former Cork star Killian Burke in their ranks — a two-time Munster Championship medalist — they won’t be lacking in class or ability. And they have bounced back well from a chastening spring campaign. Both London and Kildare endured difficult League seasons in the lofty surrounds of Division 2A, managing just one win between them — and that was London’s victory over Kildare. It is that result which sees the Exiles as narrow favourites heading into today’s decider, where the reward is a shot at the top flight the following season. And after a thumping 17-point win over Wicklow in the semi-final, they look justified favourites to get the job done today. Warwickshire, meanwhile, boast the only unbeaten record in all of hurling heading into their Nicky Rackard Cup final against Donegal. They went through their Division 3A League campaign without tasting defeat, winning four and drawing one as they topped the table before going on to beat Louth by three points in the final. They backed that up with three wins from three in the group stages of the Nicky Rackard, before earning their place in the final with a nine-point victory over Tyrone in the last four. The Birmingham-based outfit, who last competed in the Liam MacCarthy Cup back in 1913, won the bottom-tier Lory Meagher Cup this time last year (their second victory in the competition after winning it in 2013 and having entered it first in 2005) and they may be on the brink of yet another breakthrough where they are very tempting 15/8 underdogs. Lancashire, who are based in Manchester, are 4/7 favourites heading into their Lory Meagher Cup decider against Sligo. They were beaten by the Yeats County in their opening game of the campaign but that has been the only blip after a debut National League campaign (they first entered the Lory Meagher in 2015 but played in the League for the first time this year) that saw them win four games from four before beating Leitrim in the final. Wimbledon may be getting ready to crown their AllEngland tennis champions next month, but there could be a historic hattrick of English All-Ireland champions ordained in another small ball game today.