# 2023 Nicky Rackard Cup

The 2023 Nicky Rackard Cup was the 19th staging of the Nicky Rackard Cup since its establishment by the Gaelic Athletic Association in 2005. Wicklow were the winners, defeating Donegal in the final.

## Team changes
### To Championship

Relegated from the Christy Ring Cup
* Wicklow
Promoted from the Lory Meagher Cup
* Louth

### From Championship

Promoted to the Christy Ring Cup
* Tyrone
Relegated to the Lory Meagher Cup
* Warwickshire

## Format
### Format

The 2023 Nicky Rackard Cup employs a round-robin system, contested within a single group of 6 county teams. At the completion of the round-robin, the top two teams proceed to contest the Nicky Rackard Cup final.
Aside from the trophy itself, the reward for victory in the cup is promotion to the 2024 Christy Ring Cup, with their place in the 2024 Nicky Rackard Cup taken by the bottom-placed team in that year's Christy Ring Cup.
There is no direct entry route to the 2023 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship for 2023 Nicky Rackard Cup teams.
The bottom team in the group stage are relegated to the 2024 Lory Meagher Cup, being replaced by the champions of the 2023 Lory Meagher Cup.

### Teams by province

The participating teams, listed by province, with numbers in parentheses indicating final positions in the 2023 National Hurling League before the championship were:
Britain (0)
* None participated
Connacht (1)
* Roscommon (24)
Leinster (2)
* Louth (29)
* Wicklow (21) (debut)
Munster (0)
* None participated
Ulster (3)
* Armagh (26)
* Donegal (20)
* Fermanagh (31)

## Teams
### General Information

| County | Last Cup Title | Last Provincial Title | Last All-Ireland Title | Position in 2022 Championship | Appearance |
| Armagh | 2012 | — | — | 4th | 14th |
| Donegal | 2020 | 1932 | — | 3rd | 15th |
| Fermanagh | — | — | — | 5th | 7th |
| Louth | — | — | — | Champions (Lory Meagher Cup) | 15th |
| Roscommon | 2015 | 1913 | — | Runners-up | 10th |
| Wicklow | — | — | — | 6th (Christy Ring Cup) | 1st |

### Personnel and kits

* County
* Armagh
* Donegal
* Fermanagh
* Louth
* Roscommon
* Wicklow

## Group Stage
### Table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | SF | SA | Diff | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Wicklow | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15-107 | 7-62 | +69 | 10 | Advance to Knockout Stage |
| 2 | Donegal | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9-103 | 9-74 | +29 | 8 | Advance to Knockout Stage |
| 3 | Armagh | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11-80 | 8-110 | -21 | 4 | |
| 4 | Roscommon | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11-70 | 11-107 | -37 | 4 | |
| 5 | Louth | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8-81 | 17-83 | -29 | 3 | |
| 6 | Fermanagh | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7-82 | 9-87 | -11 | 1 | Relegation to Lory Meagher Cup |

### Round 5
## Knockout stage
### Final

Wicklow are promoted to the 2024 Christy Ring Cup.

## Stadia and locations

| County | Location | Province | Stadium | Capacity |
| Armagh | Armagh | Ulster | Athletic Grounds | 18,500 |
| Donegal | Ballybofey | Ulster | MacCumhaill Park | 18,000 |
| Fermanagh | Enniskillen | Ulster | Brewster Park | 20,000 |
| Louth | Drogheda | Leinster | Drogheda Park | 3,500 |
| Roscommon | Roscommon | Connacht | Dr Hyde Park | 25,000 |
| Wicklow | Aughrim | Leinster | Aughrim County Ground | 7,000 |

## Statistics
### Scoring events

* Widest winning margin: 24 points
** Wicklow 4-25 - 0-13 Louth (Round 1)
* Most goals in a match: 7
** Wicklow 5-23 - 2-11 Roscommon (Round 4)
* Most points in a match: 44
** Armagh 2-24 - 0-18 Roscommon (Round 1)
* Most goals by one team in a match: 5
** Louth 1-17 - 5-08 Roscommon (Round 2)
** Wicklow 5-23 - 2-11 Roscommon (Round 4)
* Most points by one team in a match: 28
** Armagh 3-08 - 3-28 Wicklow (Round 3)
* Highest aggregate score: 55 points
** Wicklow 5-23 - 2-11 Roscommon (Round 4)
* Lowest aggregate score: 32 points
** Fermanagh 1-12 - 1-14 Wicklow (Round 2)

## Miscellaneous

* Wicklow won their 1st championship in 20 years, last winning the 2003 All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship.
* Wicklow make their debut in the Nicky Rackard Cup.