Ten
county teams participated in the 2008 Nicky Rackard Cup, with
Fingal (north Dublin) and "South Down" (Down excluding the
Ards Peninsula) bringing the total to twelve.
Sligo, the eventual winners of the competition finished the preceding
league tournament without a win, resulting in relegation to division 4 next year.
Donegal, who won every game of the league, were eliminated from the Championship at the first (group stage) hurdle.
Sligo had the opportunity of defending their crown in 2009 after losing 1–17 to 1–13 to
Roscommon in the championship promotion/relegation play-off. However a change in the Hurling competition structures with the introduction of a 4th tier championship
Lory Meagher Cup meant that sligo and Roscommon both played in the
2009 Nicky Rackard Cup.
The Sligo team that won the 2008 Nicky Rackard Cup was… C Brennan; F Coyne, W Gill, R Cox; D Clarke, M Burke (0-01), L Reidy; J Mullins, D Collery; M Gilmartin (0-01), D Burke (0-02), P Severs (1-04, 0-03f); J Bannerton (1-01), K Raymond (1-08), L Cadden (0-01). Subs J O'Brien F Hayes C Herrity R Haughey N Cadden J Kelly S Kerins M Shelly C O'Mahony D Cox C Hacket K Doyle P Quinn