| 2005 Nicky Rackard Cup final | |
| Event: | 2005 Nicky Rackard Cup |
| Team1score: | 5-8 |
| Team2score: | 1-5 |
| Date: | 21 August 2005 |
| Stadium: | Croke Park |
| City: | Dublin |
| Referee: | Tiernan Mahon (Fermanagh) |
| Attendance: | 39,975 |
| Next: | 2006 |
The 2005 Nicky Rackard Cup final was a hurling match played at Croke Park on 21 August 2005 to determine the winners of the 2005 Nicky Rackard Cup, the inaugural season of the Nicky Rackard Cup, a tournament organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association for the third tier hurling teams. The final was contested by London of Britain and Louth of Leinster, with London winning by 5-8 to 1-5.[1]
The Nicky Rackard Cup final between London and Louth was the very first championship meeting between the two teams.
The final was played as a curtain-raiser to the All-Ireland semi-final between Galway and Kilkenny.
While Louth scored the first two points of the game, the first of which came after 13 seconds, London soon recovered and had scored a point from a 65.[1] In the 14th minute, London scored two goals within one minute, to take a 2-2 to 0-2 lead. At half time, London went in at the break leading by 2-4 to 0-5.
In the second half, London scored several goals, with Louth only obtaining one score (a goal) in the half. The final score was London 5-8 to Louth's 1-5.[1]
By winning the Nicky Rackard Cup final, London became the first team to have won the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and Rackard Cup titles. They remain the only winners of both championships.