A weekend to ponder what might have been for Cork

It’s a very strange weekend coming up as for the first time in 3 years, Cork hurlers and supporters will be only keeping a watching brief on the All-Ireland Final in which many felt - myself included - we would be in.

Instead Cork interest will be with referee Colm Lyons as he takes charge of his second final. 2022 was his last one which was Kilkenny v Limerick and we wish the Nemo Rangers man and his team of officials all the best on hurling’s biggest day.

It could very well be the calm before the storm as in the coming weeks the county football and hurling championships get underway and it will be all systems go as clubs bid for glory. With that in mind, we will this week take a look at 3 grades in the McCarthy Insurance Group County Football Championship - Premier Junior, Intermediate and Premier Intermediate.

All these 1st round games will be played over the weekend of 24/25/26 of July.

Premier Intermediate

This is a very competitive championship and Ballinora - winners of the intermediate championship last year - open their campaign in this grade in Group 3 against Nemo Rangers’ 2nd team and they will do so without Neil Lordan who has been travelling since the start of the year.

Ballinora finished 3rd in D5 of the league and a lot will depend on how many players Nemo’s senior team will use ahead of this game and that might give the Mid-Cork side the edge.

Naomh Abán and Fermoy are the other 2 sides in this group and here the Gaelthacht lads will be slight favourites.

Group 1 sees Glanmire who finished runners-up in D4 of the league, open against Iveleary who will hope that Chris Óg Jones is fit after missing their D2 league final loss to Carrigaline but with promotion to D1 for next season secured, that is a sign of progress and they should make a winning start.

Bantry Blues with Ruairí Deane and Darragh Sheedy in their team will be hoping to get the better of Rockchapel.

Group 2 has Kiskeam playing Aghada who had a difficult league campaign - similarly for Castletownbere who were a bit behind in appointing a management team face Macroom who will be expected to start with a win.

Glanmire v Iveleary on Friday 24 in Kilmurry at 7.15pm

Bantry Blues v Rockchapel on Saturday 25 in Cill Na Martra at 3pm

Kiskeam v Aghada on Saturday 25 in Donoughmore at 4pm

Naomh Aban v Fermoy on Saturday 25 in Ballyclough at 7pm

Macroom v Castletownbere on Saturday 25 in Bantry at 7pm

Nemo Rangers v Ballinora on Sunday 26 in Ovens at 7.15pm

Intermediate

Buttevant, the premier junior winners last season have certainly continued that winning run by capturing the D4 league title in impressive fashion. One of their key players Mark Linehan said: “We started out to gain promotion in the league and now with that done, we are looking forward to the championship but we have a tough opener against our North Cork neighbours Glanworth.”

They will be expected to start with a win in this Group 1 game, while it has the makings of an interesting group with Ilen Rovers and the 2025 premier junior champions Kilmurry meeting and a hard one to call.

In Group 2 Gabriel Rangers will open against Mitchelstown who won D5 of the league and will have Sean Walsh and Cathal O’Mahony in their team.

St Finbarr’s and Dromtarriffe complete the group and again the composition of the ‘Barr’s 15 will be determined by their senior side’s use of players.

Group 3 looks to a tight affair Bandon might edge Adrigole who did have a good run last season while Boherbue and Kildorrery will be another close contest.

Gabriel Rangers v Mitchelstown on Thursday 23 in Ahiohill at 7.30pm

Buttevant v Glanworth on Friday 24 in Kildorrery at 7.15pm

Boherbue v Kildorrery on Saturday 25 in Buttevant at 4pm

Adrigole v Bandon on Saturday 25 in Skibbereen at 4pm

St Finbarrs v Dromtarriffe on Saturday 25 in Clondrohid at 7pm

Ilen Rovers v Kilmurry on Sunday 26 in Ballinacarriga at 7.15pm

Premier Junior

Kilmacabea as Junior champions make the step up and for Ian Jennings it has been a rewarding few months as they also gained promotion from D6 despite a loss in the final to Aghinagh.

“That was disappointing but having got promoted took the sting out of the defeat but we have put it behind us and now the focus is on Na Piarsaigh in our opening game,” he said.

It’s been a tough campaign for the northside club, relegated to D7 for next season but they always raise their game for championship and expect the same this time round but the odds favour Kilmacabea.

Two sides who have met regularly in the last 2 years St Nick’s and Canovee renew rivalry in this Group 3 tie.

Nick’s won the corresponding game in last year’s championship and the league meeting in April, but Canovee ended up getting promoted even if they were heavily defeated by Mitchelstown on the final.

Nick’s reached the final last year and while they have a few injury concerns, they will look to start with a win.

Group 1 has Cullen playing St Vincent’s who will hope that key player Blake Murphy has returned from his travels, while Millstreet with Kevin Crowley, Mark Ellis and Darragh Cashman on board might be too strong for Kinsale.

Innisarra and Cobh both made the semi-final last year so their opener should be lively and if Sean O’Donoghue plays, that will boost Inniscarra, while Glenville will be expected to get the better of Urhan in the second game in Group 2.

Friday 24 July

St Nick’s v Canovee in Ballymaw at 7.15pm

Inniscarra v Cobh in Blarney at 7.15pm

Saturday 25 July

Na Piarsaigh v Kilmacabea in Ballinascarthy at 4pm

Glenville v Urhan in Enniskeane at 4pm

Cullen v St Vincent’s in Glantane at 4.30pm

Millstreet v Kinsale in Inchigeela at 7pm

Senior A

This championship actually gets the season underway with a game on Wednesday 23 July, a North Cork derby between Clyda Rovers and Kilshannig in Charleville at 7.30pm and as with all local derbies, it should be lively but with Conor Corbett in their side, a slight fancy for Clyda to get off to a winning start.

Junior League

The last remaining league finals will be played on Saturday evening. In Ballinlough at 6pm, it’s Donoughmore and Ballhooly in hurling while St Vincent’s ground will host the football final between Charleville and Barryroe at 7.30pm.

Upcoming

Next week it’s Cork v Kilkenny in the All-Ireland camogie semi-final along with the county football championship grades that we haven’t looked at yet - Senior, Senior A and Premier Intermediate might need an extra page!