Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship

Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship
Current season or competition:
2024 Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship
IrishCraobhchomórtas Peile Príomh Idirmheánach Chorcaí
CodeGaelic football
Founded2006; 18 years ago (2006)
Region Cork (GAA)
TrophyBilly Long Cup
No. of teams12
Title holdersBorder Cill Na Martra (1st title)
Most titlesBorder Newmarket (2 titles)
Border Mallow (2 titles)
Border Valley Rovers (2 titles)
Border St. Vincent's (2 titles)
SponsorsMcCarthy Insurance Group
Official websiteOfficial website

The Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as McCarthy Insurance Group Cork County Premier Intermediate Football Championship and abbreviated to the Cork PIFC) is an annual Gaelic football competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking intermediate clubs in the county of Cork in Ireland. It is the third tier overall in the entire Cork Gaelic football championship system.

The Cork Premier Intermediate Championship was introduced in 2006 following a split in the existing Cork Intermediate Football Championship. At the time of its creation it was the second tier of Cork Gaelic football.

In its current format, the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship begins in April. The 12 participating club are drawn into three groups of four teams and play each other in a round-robin system. The three group winners and the three runners-up proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Páirc Uí Rinn in October. The winner of the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship, as well as being presented with the Billy Long Cup, qualifies for the subsequent Munster Club Championship.

The competition has been won by 14 teams. Mallow, Newmarket, Valley Rovers and St. Vincent's are the only teams to have won the tournament on more than one occasion. Cill Na Martra are the title holders, defeating Bantry Blues by 3-11 to 2-13 in the 2023 final.

Format[edit]

Current[edit]

Development[edit]

On 2 April 2019, a majority of 136 club delegates voted to restructure the championship once again.[1][2] The new format also led to a reduction in the number of participating clubs from 16 to 12.

Overview[edit]

Group stage: The 12 teams are divided into three groups of four. Over the course of the group stage, which features one game in April and two games in August, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three games. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the group stage table by points gained, then scoring difference and then their head-to-head record. The top three teams in each group qualify for the knock-out stage.

Play-off: The second best and third best third placed teams from the group stage play off for last quarter-final place.

Quarter-finals: The play-off winner and the seven top-ranking teams from the group stage contest this round. The four winners from these four games advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals: The four quarter-final winners contest this round. The two winners from these four games advance to the semi-finals.

Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions and gain automatic promotion to the following year's Cork Senior A Championship.

Teams[edit]

2024 Teams[edit]

Team Location Division Colours In Championship since Championship titles Last championship title
Border Aghabullogue Coachford Muskerry Green and white 2024 0
Border Aghada Aghada Imokilly Green and white 2019 0
Border Bandon Bandon Carbery White and yellow 2023 0
Border Bantry Blues Bantry Carbery Blue and white 2022 0
Border Castletownbere Castletownbere Beara Black and white 2013 0
Border Ilen Rovers Baltimore Carbery White and green 2024 0
Border Iveleary Inchigeelagh Muskerry Red and white 2022 0
Border Kilshannig Glantane Avondhu Blue and yellow 2023 0
Border Macroom Macroom Muskerry Green and white 2011 0
Border Naomh Abán Ballyvourney Muskerry Blue and white 2011 0
Border Nemo Rangers Trabeg Seandun Black and green 2006 0
Border Rockchapel Rockchapel Duhallow Maroon and white 2021 0

Sponsorship[edit]

Since 2006 the Premier Intermediate Championship has been sponsored by the Evening Echo. McCarthy Insurance Group became the new title sponsor in December 2023.[3]

Trophy[edit]

The winning team is presented with the Billy Long Cup. Billy Long was involved with the Lees club in the 1940s and 1950s. He was a selector with the Cork senior football team in 1956 and was a member of the County Board Executive.

List of finals[edit]

Year Winners Runners-up Venue #
Club Score Club Score
2024
2023 Cill Na Martra 3-11 Bantry Blues 2-13
2022 Kanturk 3-11 Bantry Blues 1-10 Páirc Uí Chaoimh
2021 Newmarket 0-12 Kanturk 0-11 Páirc Uí Chaoimh
2020 Knocknagree 0-12 Kanturk 0-09 Páirc Uí Chaoimh [4]
2019 Éire Óg 0-14 St Michael's 0-12 Páirc Uí Rinn [5]
2018 Fermoy 0-11 St Michael's 0-07 Páirc Uí Chaoimh [6]
2017 Mallow 1-17 St Michael's 1-16 Páirc Uí Chaoimh [7]
2016 Kiskeam 2-12 Fermoy 0-14 Páirc Uí Rinn [8]
2015 Carrigaline 0-12 St Michael's 0-11 Páirc Uí Rinn [9]
2014 Valley Rovers 0-12 Na Piarsaigh 0-08 Páirc Uí Chaoimh [10]
2013 Clyda Rovers 0-13 Macroom 0-08 Páirc Uí Chaoimh [11]
2012 St Vincent's 0-12 St Michael's 0-11 Páirc Uí Chaoimh [12]
2011 Newmarket 3-06 Clyda Rovers 1-10 Páirc Uí Chaoimh [13]
2010 Newcestown 0-10 Clyda Rovers 0-09 Páirc Uí Rinn [14]
2009 Valley Rovers 0-07 Clyda Rovers 0-05 Páirc Uí Chaoimh [15]
2008 St. Finbarr's 2-13 St Vincent's 0-14 Páirc Uí Chaoimh [16]
2007 Mallow 1-07 Killavullen 0-07 Páirc Uí Rinn [17]
2006 St Vincent's 1-05 Glanmire 0-07 Páirc Uí Rinn

Notes:

  • 2006 - The final went to two replays after St. Vincent's and Glanmire drew 0-09 apiece and 0-12 apiece.

Roll of Honour[edit]

By club[edit]

# Club Titles Runners-up Years won Years runners-up
1 Border St. Vincent's 2 1 2006, 2012 2008
Border Valley Rovers 2 0 2009, 2014
Border Mallow 2 0 2007, 2017
Border Newmarket 2 0 2011, 2021
5 Border Clyda Rovers 1 3 2013 2009, 2010, 2011
Border Kanturk 1 2 2022 2020, 2021
Border

Fermoy

1 1 2018 2016
Border St. Finbarr's 1 0 2008
Border Newcestown 1 0 2010
Border Carrigaline 1 0 2015
Border Kiskeam 1 0 2016
Border

Éire Óg

1 0 2019
Border Knocknagree 1 0 2020
Border Cill Na Martra 1 0 2023
15 Border St Michael's 0 5 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
Border Bantry Blues 0 2 2022, 2023
Border Glanmire 0 1 2006
Border Killavullen 0 1 2007
Border Macroom 0 1 2013
Border Na Piarsaigh 0 1 2014

By Division[edit]

# Division Wins Runners-Up Total Last year won
1 Border Duhallow 5 2 7 2022
2 Border Avondhu 4 5 9 2018
3 Border Seandun 3 7 10 2012
Border Carrigdhoun 3 0 3 2015
5 Border Muskerry 2 1 3 2023
6 Border Carbery 1 2 3 2010
7 Border Imokilly 0 1 1

Records and statistics[edit]

Final[edit]

Team[edit]

Top scorers[edit]

By season[edit]

Overall[edit]
Year Top scorer Team Score Total
2006 James Murphy Glanmire 0-39 39
2007 James Murphy Glanmire 0-21 21
2008 John Paul Murphy St. Vincent's 0-29 29
2009 James Murphy Glanmire 2-25 31
2010 David Drake Carrigaline 0-39 39
2011 Nicky Flanagan Newmarket 1-24 27
2012 Cian O'Riordan Mallow 1-28 31
2013 Conor Horgan Nemo Rangers 1-21 24
Gearóid Finn Kinsale 0-24
2014 Mícheál Ó Cróinín Naomh Abán 2-26 32
2015 Daniel Goulding Éire Óg 1-34 37
2016 Daniel Goulding Éire Óg 1-36 39
2017 Daniel Goulding Éire Óg 1-27 30
2018 Daniel Goulding Éire Óg 3-17 26
Maidhc Ó Duinnín Naomh Abán 0-26
2019 Daniel Goulding Éire Óg
2020 Fintan O'Connor Knocknagree 0-28 28
2021 Conor O'Keeffe Newmarket 0-32 32

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cormican, Eoghan (26 March 2019). "Here's a breakdown of the proposals to restructure the Cork county championships". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  2. ^ "Cork clubs vote down radical restructuring proposals". RTÉ Sport. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  3. ^ Cormican, Eoghan (14 December 2023). "Castlehaven drawn with Clonakilty and Carbery Rangers for second successive year". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  4. ^ O'Callaghan, Therese (1 August 2021). "Knocknagree's meteoric rise takes them into senior ranks with victory over Kanturk". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Éire Óg edge out St Michael's to capture the Premier Intermediate Football crown". Evening Echo. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  6. ^ Hurley, Denis (21 October 2018). "Fermoy back in the big time Premier IFC triumph over St Michael's". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  7. ^ O'Callaghan, Therese (16 October 2017). "Heartbreak for St Michael's as Mallow win Cork Premier Intermediate final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  8. ^ Horgan, Noel (29 October 2016). "Kiskeam rise to shock Fermoy". The Corkman. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  9. ^ Hurley, Denis (19 October 2015). "Times never so sweet as Carrigaline reach promised land". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  10. ^ Hurley, Denis (20 October 2014). "Valiant Valleys stick to their guns". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  11. ^ "Glory at last for classy Clyda". Irish Examiner. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  12. ^ O'Sullivan, Jim (29 October 2012). "Courage gets Vincent's over line". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  13. ^ "Newmarket pip Clyda and rip form book to shreds". Irish Examiner. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  14. ^ Lester, Bob (1 November 2010). "Newcestown back in the big time". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  15. ^ Lester, Bob (19 October 2009). "Glory for Valley Rovers and senior status for first time". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  16. ^ "Barr's secure senior goal". Irish Examiner. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  17. ^ Lester, Bob (22 October 2007). "Mallow dig deep". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.