| 2006 Nicky Rackard Cup | |
| Dates: | 10 June — 12 August |
| Teams: | 12 |
| Champions: | Derry |
| Count: | 1 |
| Runners-Up: | Donegal |
| Matches: | 23 |
| Previous Year: | 2005 |
| Previous Tournament: | 2005 Nicky Rackard Cup |
| Next Year: | 2007 |
| Next Tournament: | 2007 Nicky Rackard Cup |
| Promoted: | Derry |
The 2006 Nicky Rackard Cup was the 2006 campaign of the Nicky Rackard Cup and began on Saturday June 10, 2006. 2006 was the second 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 weaker hurling counties and to give them the chance of playing more games. The final will be played on Sunday, August 13 in Croke Park, Dublin City.
Donegal, Armagh, Longford and Derry played in the semi-finals. Longford qualified by defeating the other two group runners-up. After winning their semi-finals, Donegal and Derry contested the final in Croke Park on August 12. Derry won easily and were promoted to the 2007 Christy Ring Cup.
Twelve teams participate in the 2006 Nicky Rackard Cup. The teams were divided into three groups of four roughly based on geographical criteria. The groups are identical to the Nicky Rackard Cup 2005 except that in 3C Derry replace London, who have been promoted.
Relegated from the Christy Ring Cup
Promoted to the Christy Ring Cup
| County | Last Provincial Title | Last All-Ireland Title | Position in 2005 Championship | Appearance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armagh | — | — | Quarter-finals | 2nd | |
| Cavan | — | — | Group Stage | 2nd | |
| Derry | 2001[1] | — | Lost relegation playoff (Christy Ring Cup) | 1st | |
| Donegal | 1932 | — | Semi-finals | 2nd | |
| Fermanagh | — | — | Group Stage | 2nd | |
| Leitrim | — | — | Group Stage | 2nd | |
| Longford | — | — | Quarter-finals | 2nd | |
| Louth | — | — | Runners-up | 2nd | |
| Monaghan | 1915 | — | Group Stage | 2nd | |
| Sligo | — | — | Group Stage | 2nd | |
| Tyrone | — | — | Semi-finals | 2nd | |
| Warwickshire | — | — | Group Stage | 2nd |
| Team | Qualification | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Donegal | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8-43 | 2-33 | +28 | 5 | Advance to Knockout stage |
| 2 | Sligo | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7-43 | 7-20 | +23 | 5 | |
| 3 | Fermanagh | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7-31 | 6-48 | -14 | 2 | |
| 4 | Tyrone | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3-33 | 10-49 | -37 | 0 |
| Date | Venue | Winner | Score | Loser | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 10 | Irvinestown | Fermanagh | 4-15 | Tyrone | 1-16 | |
| June 10 | Ballyshannon | Donegal | 3-7 | Sligo | 1-13 | |
| June 24 | Omagh | Tyrone | 1-10 | Donegal | 4-19 | |
| June 24 | Markievicz Park | Sligo | 4-15 | Fermanagh | 3-8 | |
| July 8 | Enniskillen | Donegal | 1-17 | Fermanagh | 0-08 | |
| July 8 | Sligo | 2-15 | Tyrone | 1-06 |
| Team | Qualification | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Armagh | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11-65 | 2-18 | +74 | 5 | Advance to Knockout stage |
| 2 | Louth | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 12-44 | 3-28 | +43 | 5 | |
| 3 | Leitrim | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6-32 | 10-37 | -17 | 2 | |
| 4 | Cavan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5-10 | 19-58 | -90 | 0 |
| Date | Venue | Winner | Score | Loser | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 10 | Ballinamore | Leitrim | 0-10 | Louth | 3-12 | |
| June 10 | Armagh | 6-20 | Cavan | 0-2 | ||
| June 24 | Knockbridge | Louth | 8-25 | Cavan | 2-3 | |
| June 24 | Keady | Armagh | 4-20 | Leitrim | 1-9 | |
| July 8 | Ballyconnell | Cavan | 3-05 | Leitrim | 5-13 | |
| July 8 | Drogheda | Louth | 1-07 | Armagh | 1-15 |
| Team | Qualification | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derry | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8-54 | 3-35 | +34 | 6 | Advance to Knockout stage |
| 2 | Longford | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3-44 | 3-31 | +13 | 4 | |
| 3 | Warwickshire | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4-29 | 4-44 | -15 | 2 | |
| 4 | Monaghan | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1-31 | 6-48 | -32 | 0 |
| Date | Venue | Winner | Score | Loser | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 10 | Ballinascreen | Derry | 2-14 | Longford | 0-12 | |
| June 10 | Warwickshire | 1-11 | Monaghan | 0-9 | ||
| June 24 | Clontibret | Derry | 4-24 | Monaghan | 0-11 | |
| June 24 | Pearse Park | Longford | 2-18 | Warwickshire | 0-6 | |
| July 8 | Páirc na hÉireann | Derry | 2-17 | Warwickshire | 3-12 | |
| July 8 | Clones | Longford | 1-14 | Monaghan | 1-11 |
See main article: 2006 Nicky Rackard Cup final. [2] [3] Derry are promoted to the 2007 Christy Ring Cup.
See main article: List of Gaelic Athletic Association stadiums.