Cork championship draws: Promoted Glen Rovers to face Munster champions Sarsfields
In Lee Pic: Early Rovers' Season Red Takes During Sarsfields' The Meeting Conor Glen Their Eddie On Qulligan O'sullivan Cork Fm O'hare Shl
Plenty of tasty one-off fixtures, but no group of death.
That was the state of play after the balls were swished and pulled for the 2025 Cork county championship draws.
A change in seeding for the year ahead saw no distinction, as was the case previously, between the top three seeds in each championship and the next three seeds coming after them. That top six went into one bowl, drawn out two at a time, joined by two more from the bottom six seeds.
In the Premier SHC, while not quite reaching group of death status, the toughest quartet is Group 1 comprising recently crowned Munster champions Sars, Senior A champions Glen Rovers, and first-time quarter-finalists, Fr O’Neill’s, from the season not long concluded.
2024 form would suggest the two knockout berths on offer will come from within this trio. Erin’s Own, of course, won’t take kindly to any such remark and will attempt, as ever, to outdo external expectations of them.
In Group 2, Midleton and Newtownshandrum will renew acquaintances. They met in this season’s county quarter-final, which Midleton won with eight to spare. Completing the group are Charleville and Newcestown.
There’s a strong city feel to the third and final Premier Senior hurling group, consisting as it does Blackrock, Douglas, and the Barrs. Making up the four are Kanturk, who this summer reached a first top-tier quarter-final in the club’s history.
On the football side, no West Cork group of death materialised. No West Cork group materialised full stop.
Champions Castlehaven must negotiate 2024 quarter-finalists Mallow, as well as Newcestown and Valley Rovers. It’s a group three-in-a-row chasing Haven will be expected to comfortably negotiate.
Nemo and Ballincollig find themselves group bedfellows for the third year running. St Michael’s and Douglas, neither of whom emerged from their respective group this year, mean Group 3 is home to three southside city clubs. Douglas, will be under new management next season, as Conor Buckley, outgoing junior boss, moves up to take the reins. Paudie Kissane is to serve as coach.
Promoted Carrigaline have been lumped in with two teams with eyes on outright success, St Finbarr’s and Clon. Carbery Rangers, who survived relegation in recent months, complete Group 2.
Looking down the grades, Premier Intermediate hurling champions and All-Ireland final-chasing Watergrasshill were handed a challenging Senior A draw.
To finish in the top half and progress to the knockout stages, they’ll have to topple one of Blarney and Bride Rovers, two teams who have developed an infamous semi-final rivalry in recent seasons. 2022 Cork Senior A finalists Courcey Rovers will also fancy their chances of finishing in one of the two advancing spots.
Éire Óg, relegated from the Premier Senior football ranks in October, won’t have it straightforward in their bid to bounce straight back up. Their Senior A group contains perennial challengers Kanturk, premier intermediate winners Kilshannig, and Newmarket.
Fr O'Neill's, Sarsfields, Erin's Own, Glen Rovers
Newtownshandrum, Midleton, Charleville, Newcestown
Blackrock, Kanturk, Douglas, St Finbarr's
Castlehaven, Mallow, Newcestown, Valley Rovers
St Finbarr's, Clonakilty, Carbery Rangers, Carrigaline
Nemo Rangers, Ballincollig, Douglas, St Michael's
Killeagh, Na Piarsaigh, Carrigtwohill, Fermoy
Castlelyons, Bishopstown, Inniscarra, Ballyhea
Blarney, Bride Rovers, Watergrasshill, Courcey Rovers
Éire Óg, Kanturk, Kilshannig, Newmarket
Knocknagree, Cill na Marta, Clyda Rovers, Fermoy
Bishopstown, Dohenys, Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh, O'Donovan Rossa
Carrigaline, Cloyne, Éire Óg, Ballymartle
Ballincollig, Ballinhassig, Castlemartyr, Kilworth
Mallow, Dungourney, Lisgoold, Valley Rovers
Aghabullogue, Bantry Blues, Aghada, Nemo Rangers
Rockchapel, Naomh Abán, Bandon, Glanmire
Iveleary, Kiskeam, Castletownbere, Macroom
Midleton, Mayfield, Bandon, Russell Rovers
Aghabullogue, Blackrock, Sarsfields, Youghal
Ballygiblin, Erin's Own, Aghada, Kildorrery
Adrigole, Glanworth, Ballinora, St Finbarr's
Gabriel Rangers, Mitchelstown, Dromtariffe, Kildorrery
Ilen Rovers, Boherbue, Kilmurry, St Vincent's
Glen Rovers, St Catherine's, Meelin, St Finbarr's
Cloughduv, Nemo Rangers, Barryroe, Kilbrittain
Ballygarvan, Milford, Tracton, Argideen Rangers
Urhan, Canovee, Ballydesmond, St Nick's
Na Piarsaigh, Kinsale, Cobh, Cullen
Buttevant, Glenville, Inniscarra, Millstreet.
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