The hurlers of Donegal, Armagh and Derry haved topped their respective groups in the Nicky Rackard Cup, gaining automatic qualification through to the July 29 semi-finals.
Donegal secured their second win of the campaign to pip Sligo on scoring difference in the Group 3A standings. Setanta clubman Danny Cullen led the scoring with 0-08 (2f) as the Tir Chonaill men beat Fermanagh by 1-17 to 0-08 at Enniskillen. Hard-working midfielder Eugene Organ nabbed the Donegal goal.
Paul Seevers (1-05 (4f)) and Colm Crowley (1-01) both netted in Sligo's 2-15 to 1-06 victory over Tyrone. The Yeats men, second in Group 3A, will face Louth, the Group 3B runners-up, in a play-off next Saturday.
The winners of the play-off will face Longford, the Group 3C runners-up, in the sole quarter-final.
The group winners, Donegal, Armagh and Derry, and whoever comes through the quarter-final route will then enter an open draw for the semi-finals - counties from the same group will be kept apart where possible.
The final games in Group 3B saw Armagh, the NHL Division Three champions, maintain their 100 per cent record. Declan Coulter (0-08 (3f)) and Gerard Enright (1-02) were on song as the Orchard men ran out 1-15 to 1-07 winners over Louth at Drogheda. David Dunne scored 1-01 for the Wee men.
Leitrim ended their campaign with a heartening 5-13 to 3-05 victory over Cavan at Ballyconnell - it was a first win of the Rackard Cup for Kevin Glancy's side. Vincent McDermott (2-03), Fergal Carroll, David Poniard and Rossa O'Snodaigh (1-00 each) shared out Leitrim's goals.
In Group 3C, Gareth Ghee was once again the star man for Longford's hurlers as they saw off Monaghan by 1-14 to 1-11 to finish second in the standings. The Longford Slashers forward scored 0-09 in Clones, taking his tally for the competition to 2-21. Salthill's John Newman scored the crucial goal for Longford, while Noel Morgan plundered 1-01 for the hosts.
At Pairc na hEireann, Warwickshire put up a gallant fight but fell to their second successive defeat, losing by 3-12 to 2-17 to an undefeated Derry side.
