Teams 10 Matches played 26 | Relegated Derry | |
Dates 4 June 2005 - 14 August 2005 Champions Westmeath (1stth title)
John Shaw (captain)
Séamus Qualter (manager) Runners-up Down
Simon Wilson (captain)
John Crossey (manager) | ||
The 2005 Christy Ring Cup began on Saturday, 4 June 2005. 2005 was the first time this new element of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship was introduced. It was devised by the Hurling Development Committee to encourage some of the so-called "weaker" hurling counties and to give them the chance of playing more games. It is in effect a "Division 2" for hurling teams in Ireland. The final was played on Sunday, 14 August when Westmeath beat Down at Croke Park, Dublin.
Contents
Format
Ten counties contested this year's inaugural competition for the Christy Ring Cup — the prize for the winners of the new Tier Two of the Guinness All-Ireland Hurling Championship. The inaugural competition involved the current middle rank of hurling counties:
These 10 counties are divided into two groups of five and play in a round-robin format, guaranteeing at least four games each. The eventual group winners and runners-up will qualify for the semi-finals of the Christy Ring Cup. The prize for the winners of the final on August 14 will be promotion to Tier One of the Hurling Championship to contest the Liam MacCarthy Cup the following year. Westmeath were the champions so they will play in the Leinster Championship in 2006.
The bottom two teams of both groups will be involved in a four-way relegation play-off with the eventual loser being relegated to Tier Three of the championship. Derry was the team that was relegated from the competition so they will play in the Nicky Rackard Cup in 2006.