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Nicky Rackard Cup

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Nicky Rackard Cup
Current season or competition:
2024 Nicky Rackard Cup
CodeHurling
Founded2005; 19 years ago (2005)
RegionIreland (GAA)
TrophyNicky Rackard Cup
No. of teams6
Title holders Donegal (4th title)
Most titles Donegal (4 titles)
TV partner(s)TG4
Official websiteOfficial website

The Nicky Rackard Cup (Irish: Corn Niocláis Mhic Riocaird;[1] often referred to as the Rackard Cup) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. The cup forms the fourth-tier of Hurling for senior county teams (the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship is the first-tier trophy). It is contested by the six county teams ranked 24–29 in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. Each year, the champions of the Nicky Rackard Cup are promoted to the Christy Ring Cup, and the lowest finishing team is relegated to the Lory Meagher Cup. The winners of the championship receive the Nicky Rackard Cup, named after former Wexford hurler Nicky Rackard regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of all time.

The Nicky Rackard Cup, which was introduced for the 2005 season, is a recent initiative in providing a meaningful championship for third tier teams deemed "too weak" for any higher grades. It effectively replaced the All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship (1912–2004). Originally introduced as a third-tier competition, it is currently the fourth tier overall in the inter-county hurling championship system. Between 2005 and 2017 the Nicky Rackard Cup was the third tier hurling championship. With the introduction of the Joe McDonagh Cup, the Nicky Rackard Cup is the second highest tier of the championship system without entry to that year's All-Ireland finals series (the top two teams in the Joe McDonagh Cup usually gain entry to preliminary quarter-finals of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship).

The title has been won by 10 different counties, 8 of whom have won the title more than once. The all-time record-holders are Donegal, who have won the cup on 3 occasions. Wicklow are the title holders, defeating Donegal by 1-20 to 3-12 in the 2023 final.

History

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For history before 2004, see All-Ireland Junior Hurling Championship.

Inauguration of the competition

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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 twenty teams would contest the second and third tiers which were to be known respectively as the Christy Ring Cup and Nicky Rackard 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.[2]

The proposal were accepted at the 2005 GAA Congress. The Christy Ring Cup and the Nicky Rackard Cup competitions were launched at Croke Park on 8 December 2004.

Format

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2005-2006

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Mervyn Connaughton receiving the Nicky Rackard Cup for Roscommon in 2007

The twelve participating teams were divided into three groups of four and played in a round-robin format. Each team was guaranteed at least three games each. The three group winners qualified for the knock-out semi-finals of the competition. The runners-up in groups 3B and 3C contested a play-off with the winner playing the runner up in group 3A in a lone quarter-final. The winner of that match joined the three group winners in the semi-finals.

2007-2008

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The twelve participating teams were divided into four groups of three and played in a round-robin format, thus limiting each team to just two games each. The eventual group winners and runners-up qualified for the knock-out quarter-finals of the competition.

2009-2017

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In 2009 a double elimination format was introduced, thus guaranteeing each team at least two games before being eliminated from the competition.

  • The eight teams play four Round 1 matches.
    • The winners in Round 1 advance to Round 2A.
    • The losers in Round 1 go into Round 2B.
  • There are two Round 2A matches.
    • The winners in Round 2A advance to the semi-finals.
    • The losers in Round 2A go into the quarter-finals.
  • There are two Round 2B matches.
    • The winners in Round 2B advance to the quarter-finals.
    • The losers in Round 2B go into the relegation playoff.
      • The losers of the relegation playoff are relegated to the Lory Meagher Cup for the following year.
  • There are two quarter-final matches between the Round 2A losers and Round 2B winners.
    • The winners of the quarter-finals advance to the semi-finals.
    • The losers of the quarter-finals are eliminated.
  • There are two semi-final matches between the Round 2A winners and the quarter-final winners.
    • The winners of the semi-finals advance to the final.
    • The losers of the semi-finals are eliminated.
  • The winners of the final win the Nicky Rackard Cup and are promoted to the Christy Ring Cup for the following year.

2018-present

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Beginning in 2018, the Nicky Rackard Cup changed format, with initial ties played in group stages, which in 2018 consisted of one of four teams and one of three. Previously it was a double elimination tournament. The top two teams from both groups advance to the cup semi-finals. The bottom team from each group will progress to a relegation final.

The winner of the Nicky Rackard Cup will be promoted to the Christy Ring Cup, For 2018 only, 2 teams will be relegated from the 2018 Christy Ring Cup to the 2019 Nicky Rackard Cup to bring the number of teams in the 2019 edition to an even 8, allowing for two groups of 4.

The loser of the relegation final will be relegated to the Lory Meagher Cup, to be replaced by the winner of the previous years competition.[3]

Teams

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2025 Cup

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Six counties will compete in the 2025 Nicky Rackard Cup, with Sligo relegated from the Christy Ring Cup and Fermanagh promoted from the Lory Meagher Cup:

County Location Stadium Province Position in 2024 Championship First year in Championship In Championship Since Championship Titles Last Championship Title
Armagh Armagh Athletic Grounds Ulster 4th 2005 2019 2 2012
Fermanagh Enniskillen Brewster Park Ulster Champions (Lory Meagher Cup) 2005 2025 0 —
Louth Drogheda Drogheda Park Leinster 5th 2005 2023 0 —
Mayo Castlebar MacHale Park Connacht Runners-up 2016 2024 2 2021
Roscommon Roscommon Dr Hyde Park Connacht 3rd 2007 2022 2 2015
Sligo Sligo Markievicz Park Connacht 6th (Christy Ring Cup) 2005 2025 2 2019

Venues

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See also: List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums
Croke Park in Dublin, hosts the Nicky Rackard Cup Final.

Group stage

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Fixtures in the five group stage rounds of the cup are played at the home ground of one of the two teams. Each team is guaranteed at least two home games. Some teams get three home games.

Final

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The Nicky Rackard Cup final is played at Croke Park.

2023 Venues

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County Location Province Stadium(s) Capacity
Neutral Dublin Leinster Croke Park 82,300
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

List of finals

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Year Date Winners Runners-up Venue Winning captain(s) Winning margin Referee
County Score County Score
2024 2 June Donegal 3-17 (26) Mayo 0-22 (22) Croke Park, Dublin Conor Gartland 4 P. Owens (Down)
2023 3 June Wicklow 1-20 (23) Donegal 3-12 (21) Croke Park, Dublin 2
2022 May 21 Tyrone 1-27 (30) Roscommon 0-19 (19) Croke Park, Dublin 11 C McDonald (Antrim)
2021 August 31 Mayo 2-27 (33) Tyrone 1-14 (17) Croke Park, Dublin Keith Higgins 16 Richie Fitzsimons (Offaly)
2020 November 22 Donegal 3-18 (27) Mayo 0-21 (21) Croke Park, Dublin Seán McVeigh 6 K Jordan (Tipperary)
2019 June 22 Sligo 2-14 (20) Armagh 2-13 (19) Croke Park, Dublin 1
2018 June 10 Donegal 2-19 (25) Warwickshire 0-18 (18) Croke Park, Dublin 7 Gearoid McGrath (Wexford)
2017 June 10 Derry 3-23 (32) Armagh 2-15 (21) Croke Park, Dublin 11 S Hynes (Galway)
2016 June 4 Mayo 2-16 (22) Armagh 1-15 (18) Croke Park, Dublin Brian Hunt 4 J Murphy (Limerick)
2015 June 6 Roscommon[4] 2-12 (18) Armagh 1-14 (17) Croke Park, Dublin 1
2014 June 7 Tyrone[5] 1-17 (20) Fingal 1-16 (19) Croke Park, Dublin 1
2013 June 8 Donegal[6] 3-20 (29) Roscommon 3-16 (25) Croke Park, Dublin 4
2012 June 9 Armagh[7] 3-20 (29) Louth 1-15 (18) Croke Park, Dublin 11
2011 June 4 London 2-20 (26) Louth 0-11 (11) Croke Park, Dublin 15
2010 July 3 Armagh 3-15 (24) London 3-14 (23) Croke Park, Dublin 1
2009 July 11 Meath 2-18 (24) London 1-15 (18) Croke Park, Dublin 6
2008 August 3 Sligo 3-19 (28) Louth 3-10 (19) Croke Park, Dublin 9
2007 August 12 Roscommon 1-12 (15) Armagh 0-13 (13) Croke Park, Dublin 2
2006 August 12 Derry 5-15 (30) Donegal 1-11 (14) Croke Park, Dublin 16
2005 August 21 London 5-08 (23) Louth 1-05 (8) Croke Park, Dublin 15

Roll of honour

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Performances by county

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County Title(s) Runners-up Years won Years runners-up
Donegal 4 2 2013, 2018, 2020, 2024 2006, 2023
Armagh 2 5 2010, 2012 2007, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
London 2 2 2005, 2011 2009, 2010
Roscommon 2 2 2007, 2015 2013, 2022
Mayo 2 2 2016, 2021 2020, 2024
Tyrone 2 1 2014, 2022 2021
Derry 2 0 2006, 2017 —
Sligo 2 0 2008, 2019 —
Meath 1 0 2009 —
Wicklow 1 0 2023 —
Louth 0 4 — 2005, 2008, 2011, 2012
Fingal 0 1 — 2014
Warwickshre 0 1 — 2018

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Performances by province

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Division Titles Runners-up Total
Ulster 10 8 18
Connacht 6 4 10
Leinster 2 5 7
Britain 2 3 5
Munster 0 0 0

Team records and statistics

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Legend

For each year, the number of teams in each championship (in brackets) are shown.

Team 2005 (12) 2006 (12) 2007 (12) 2008 (12) 2009 (8) 2010 (8) 2011 (6) 2012 (6) 2013 (6) 2014 (7) 2015 (8) 2016 (8) 2017 (7) 2018 (7) 2019 (8) 2020 (7) 2021 (5) 2022 (6) 2023 (6) 2024 (6) 2025 (6) Years
Armagh QF SF 2nd CR SF 1st CR 1st CR CR 2nd 2nd 2nd CR 2nd R2 SF 4th 3rd 4th 16
Cavan GS GS GS QF LM LM — — — — — — LM LM LM LM LM LM LM LM LM 4
Derry CR 1st CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR 1st CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR 2
Donegal SF 2nd SF GS LM LM LM SF 1st SF SF SF QF 1st CR 1st SF 3rd 2nd 1st CR 16
Fermanagh GS GS GS GS LM LM LM LM LM LM LM RPO LM LM LM LM LM 5th 6th LM 8
Fingal — — — SF SF QF SF — — 2nd QF SF — — — — — — — — — 7
Leitrim GS GS GS QF LM LM LM LM LM LM LM LM LM RPO LM SF QF LM LM LM LM 7
London 1st CR CR CR 2nd 2nd 1st CR AI AI CR CR CR CR CR — — CR CR CR CR 4
Longford QF SF QF GS LM LM LM LM LM LM RPO QF QF GS GS R2 LM LM LM LM LM 10
Louth 2nd QF SF 2nd QF QF 2nd 2nd QF R2 RPO LM R2 RPO RPO LM LM LM 5th 5th 17
Mayo CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR 1st CR CR GS 2nd 1st CR CR 2nd 6
Meath CR CR CR CR 1st CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR JM CR JM JM JM CR JM CR 1
Monaghan GS GS QF SF R2 R2 SF QF SF RPO QF QF SF SF RPO R2 LM LM LM 6th LM 17
Roscommon CR CR 1st CR QF SF QF SF 2nd SF 1st CR CR CR CR CR CR 2nd 4th 3rd 12
Sligo GS QF GS 1st R2 SF QF QF QF RPO LM LM LM LM 1st CR CR CR CR CR 12
South Down — — — QF LM LM LM — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1
Tyrone SF GS QF QF LM R2 LM LM SF 1st SF RPO SF SF SF SF 2nd 1st CR CR CR 15
Warwickshire GS GS QF GS LM LM LM LM LM LM LM LM LM 2nd SF — — 6th LM LM LM 7
Wicklow CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR CR 1st CR CR 1

Debut of teams

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Year Debutants Total
2005 Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh, Leitrim, London, Longford, Louth, Monaghan, Sligo, Tyrone, Warwickshire 12
2006 Derry 1
2007 Roscommon 1
2008 Fingal, South Down 2
2009 Meath 1
2010–2015 None 0
2016 Mayo 1
2017–2022 None 0
2023 Wicklow 1
2024–present None 0
Total 19

Seasons in Nicky Rackard Cup

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The number of years that each county has played in the Nicky Rackard Cup between 2005 and 2025. A total of 19 counties have competed in at least one season of the Nicky Rackard Cup. Monaghan have participated in the most championships. The counties in bold participate in the 2025 Nicky Rackard Cup.

Years Counties
17 Louth, Monaghan
16 Armagh, Donegal
15 Tyrone
12 Sligo, Roscommon
10 Longford
8 Fermanagh
7 Fingal, Leitrim, Warwickshire
6 Mayo
4 Cavan, London
2 Derry
1 Meath, South Down, Wicklow

List of Nicky Rackard Cup counties

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Team Appearances Debut Most recent Championship titles Last championship title Best Nicky Rackard Cup result
Armagh 16 2005 2025 2 2012 1st
Cavan 4 2005 2008 0 — QF
Derry 2 2006 2017 2 2017 1st
Donegal 16 2005 2024 4 2024 1st
Fermanagh 8 2005 2025 0 — 5th
Fingal 7 2008 2016 0 — 2nd
Leitrim 7 2005 2021 0 — SF
London 4 2005 2011 2 2011 1st
Longford 10 2005 2020 0 — SF
Louth 17 2005 2025 0 — 2nd
Mayo 6 2016 2025 2 2021 1st
Meath 1 2009 2009 1 2009 1st
Monaghan 17 2005 2024 0 — SF
Roscommon 12 2007 2025 2 2015 1st
Sligo 12 2005 2025 2 2019 1st
South Down 1 2008 2008 0 — QF
Tyrone 15 2005 2022 2 2022 1st
Warwickshire 7 2005 2022 0 — 2nd
Wicklow 1 2023 2023 1 2023 1st

All-time table

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Legend

Colours
Currently competing in the Christy Ring Cup
Currently competing in the Nicky Rackard Cup
Currently competing in the Lory Meagher Cup

As of 12 June 2024 (After 2024 Nicky Rackard Cup).

# Team Pld W D L Points P.P.G.
1 Donegal 64 43 2 19 88
2 Armagh 64 39 1 24 79
3 Roscommon 44 27 2 15 56
4 Tyrone 51 26 0 25 52
= Louth 63 25 2 36 52
6 Mayo 21 15 2 4 32
= Sligo 36 15 2 19 32
8 London 18 15 0 3 30
9 Monaghan 52 13 2 37 28
10 Longford 32 13 0 19 26
11 Fingal 23 11 0 12 22
12 Derry 9 9 0 0 18
13 Warwickshire 25 7 2 16 16
14 Wicklow 6 6 0 0 12
15 Meath 4 4 0 0 8
16 Leitrim 19 3 0 16 6
17 Fermanagh 24 2 1 21 5
18 South Down 3 2 0 1 4
19 Cavan 10 1 0 9 2

By Semi-Final/Top 4 Appearances

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Team No. Years
Donegal 14 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Armagh 13 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Tyrone 10 2005, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
Roscommon 9 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022, 2023, 2024
Louth 5 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012
Fingal 5 2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2016
Monaghan 5 2008, 2011, 2013, 2017, 2018
London 4 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011
Mayo 4 2016, 2020, 2021, 2024
Sligo 3 2008, 2010, 2019
Derry 2 2006, 2017
Warwickshire 2 2018, 2019
Longford 1 2006
Leitrim 1 2020
Meath 1 2009
Wicklow 1 2023

By decade

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The most successful team of each decade, judged by number of Nicky Rackard Cup titles, is as follows:

Other records

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Finishing positions

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  • Most semi-final finishes
    • 7, Donegal (2005, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2021)
    • 7, Tyrone (2005, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)
  • Most quarter-final finishes
    • 4, Longford (2005, 2007, 2016, 2017)
    • 4, Louth (2006, 2009, 2010, 2013)
    • 4, Monaghan (2007, 2012, 2015, 2016)
  • Most group stage finishes
  • Most round 2 finishes
  • Most qualifier round 2 finishes

Nicky Rackard Cup final pairings

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Pairing Meetings First Last
Armagh v Roscommon 2 2007 2015
Donegal v Mayo 2 2020 2024
London v Louth 2 2005 2011
Armagh v Derry 1 2017
Armagh v London 1 2010
Armagh v Louth 1 2012
Armagh v Mayo 1 2016
Armagh v Sligo 1 2019
Derry v Donegal 1 2006
Donegal v Roscommon 1 2013
Donegal v Warwickshire 1 2018
Fingal v Tyrone 1 2014
London v Meath 1 2009
Louth v Sligo 1 2008
Mayo v Tyrone 1 2021
Roscommon v Tyrone 1 2022
Donegal v Wicklow 1 2023

Player records

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Top scorers per championship

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Season Top scorer Team Score Total
2016 Damien Casey Tyrone 2-39 45

Top scorer(s) in the final

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Season Top scorer Team Score Total
2005 Kevin McMullan London 2-1 7
Dave Bourke London 1-4 7
2006 Ruairí Convery Derry 2-7 13
2007 Shane Sweeney Roscommon 0-6 6
2008 Keith Raymond Sligo 1-8 11
2009 Neil Hackett Meath 0-6 6
Martin Finn London 0-6 6
2010 Paul Breen Armagh 2-4 10
2011 Martin Finn London 2-8 14
2012 Shane Fennell Louth 0-9 9
2013 Gerry Fallon Roscommon 2-9 15
2014 John Matthew Sheridan Fingal 0-11 11
2015 Ryan Gaffney Armagh 0-8 8
2016 Kenny Feeney Mayo 1-9 12
2017 A. Grant Armagh 1-05 8
2018 Niall McKenna Warwickshire 0-12 12
Declan Coulter Donegal 1-09 12
2019
2020 S Boland Mayo 0-11 11
2021 Damian Casey Tyrone 0-09 9
2022 D Glynn Roscommon 0-14 14
Damian Casey Tyrone 0–14 14
2023 Christy Moorehouse Wicklow 0–09 9

See also

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nicky Rackard Cup.
  1. ^ Tuarascáil An Runaí 2014
  2. ^ Keys, Colm (10 December 2003). "Hurling evangelists have radical tiers in their eyes". Irish Independent. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 May 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Kelly the Nicky Rackard hero for Roscommon". Irish Times. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Nicky Rackard Cup: Tyrone edge Fingal". Hogan Stand. 7 June 2014. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  6. ^ "Rackard glory for 14-man Donegal". RTÉ Sport. 8 June 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Nicky Rackard final: Orchard blooms against Louth". Hogan Stand. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Nicky Rackard Cup". Commercial Enterprises Ltd. Archived from the original on 11 March 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
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