Christy Ring Cup
| Country |
 Ireland
|
|---|---|
| Founded | 2005–present |
| Number of teams | 8 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Leinster Senior Hurling Championship |
| Relegation to | Nicky Rackard Cup |
| Current champions |
Meath (2016) |
| Most championships | Westmeath (3 titles) |
| TV partners | TG4 (Final only) |
| Website | Official GAA site |
 2016 Christy Ring Cup
|
|
The Christy Ring Cup (Irish: Corn Chríostóir Uí Rinn) is the second tier senior inter-county championship in hurling after the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Each year, the champion team in the Christy Ring Cup is promoted to the All-Ireland Championship, and the lowest finishing team enters a play-off with possible relegation to the Nicky Rackard Cup.
The Christy Ring Cup was introduced for the 2005 season. It replaced the All-Ireland Senior B Hurling Championship (1974-2004).
The winners of the championship receive the Christy Ring Cup, named after former Cork hurler Christy Ring who many regard as the greatest hurler of all time.
In the 2016 season, Meath and Antrim tied in the final. Meath won the replay. Derry were relegated.
In 2003 the Hurling Development Committee (HDC) was charged with restructuring the entire hurling championship. The committee was composed of chairman Pat Dunny (Kildare), Liam Griffin (Wexford), P. J. O'Grady (Limerick), Ger Loughnane (Clare), Cyril Farrell (Galway), Jimmy O'Reilly (Down), Willie Ring (Cork), Pat Daly (GAA Games Development Officer) and Nicky English (Tipperary). Over the course of three months they held discussions with managers, players and officials, while also taking a submission from the Gaelic Players Association. The basic tenet of the proposals was to structure the hurling championship into three tiers in accordance with 2004 National Hurling League status. The top tier was confined to 12 teams, while the next ten teams would contest the second tier which was to be known as the Christy Ring Cup. There would also be promotion-relegation play-offs between the three championship tiers. The HDC also suggested that these games would be played as curtain raisers to All-Ireland quarter-finals and semi-finals.
...
Wikipedia