Cork Intermediate A Football Championship Explained

Cork Intermediate A Football Championship
Currentlyrunning:2024 Cork Intermediate A Football Championship
Irish:Craobh Peile Idirmhéanach A Chorcaí
Code:Gaelic football
Region: Cork
Trophy:Seán Ó Súilleabháin Cup
Teams:12
Title Holders: Aghabullogue
Currentordinal:1
Super:st
Most Titles: Bantry Blues
Mostordinal:6
Sponsors:McCarthy Insurance Group
Website:Official website

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

The Cork Intermediate Championship was introduced in 1909 as a competition that would bridge the gap between the senior grade and the junior grade. At the time of its creation it was the second tier of Cork football.

In its current format, the Cork Intermediate Championship begins in mid summer. The 12 participating club teams are drawn into three groups of four teams and play each other in a round-robin system. The two group winners proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The winner of the Cork Intermediate Championship, as well as being presented with the Seán Ó Súilleabháin Cup, gains automatic promotion to the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship for the following season.

Bantry Blues is the most successful teams in the tournament's history, having won it six times. Aghabullogue are the title-holders, defeating Mitchelstown by 2-13 to 1-15 in the 2023 final.

Format

Development

On 2 April 2019, a majority of 136 club delegates voted to restructure the championship.[1] [2] The new format limited the number of participating clubs to 16.

Stages

Group stage: The 16 teams are divided into four 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 two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage and the bottom team in each group enter the relegation playoffs.

Relegation Playoffs: The bottom team is relegated to the Cork Premier Junior Football Championship.

Quarter-finals: The eight group stage winners 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 Premier Intermediate Football Championship.

Teams

2024 Teams

TeamLocationDivisionColoursIn Championship sinceChampionship TitlesLast Championship Title
AdrigoleAdrigoleBearaRed and white 200711979
BallinoraBallinoraMuskerryGreen and red19980
BoherbueBoherbueDuhallowGreen and gold20220
DromtarriffeRathcooleDuhallowRed and white201911935
Gabriel RangersSchullCarberyGreen and white 20210
GlanmireGlanmireImokillyGreen and gold 201111987
GlanworthGlanworthAvondhuGreen and white 201011976
KildorreryKildorreryAvondhuBlue and white200811981
MitchelstownMitchelstownAvondhuRed and black201441965
Na PiarsaighFarranreeSeandunBlack and amber202411966
St Finbarr'sTogherSeandunBlue and gold202421970
St. Vincent'sSunday's WellSeandunGreen and white 20230

Sponsorship

In keeping with its sponsorship deal for all Cork hurling and football championships, Permanent TSB provided the sponsorship since the 1990s. The Evening Echo became the primary sponsors of all Cork hurling and football championships in 2005 and have continued their sponsorship ever since. McCarthy Insurance Group became the new title sponsor in December 2023.[3]

Venues

Early rounds

Fixtures in the opening rounds of the championship are usually played at a neutral venue that is deemed halfway between the participating teams.

Final

The final has always been played at one of Cork GAA's two main stadiums. On several occasions the final has been played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh as the curtain raiser to the senior final, however, in recent times Páirc Uí Rinn has been the venue of choice for the final.[4]

Trophy

The winning team is presented with the Seán Ó Súilleabháin Cup. A secondary school teacher by profession, John Lock O'Sullivan (1976-2002) played with the Adrigole club and the Beara divisional team, with whom he won the Cork Senior Championship in 1997.[5] He also lined out for Cork as a member of the under-21 and junior teams. O'Sullivan died suddenly on 19 November 2002.[6]

List of finals

YearWinnersRunners-up
ClubScoreClubScore
2024
2023Aghabullogue2-13Mitchelstown1-15
2022Kilshannig1-16Aghabullogue0-10
2021Iveleary0-20Mitchelstown0-07
2020[7] Rockchapel1-10Mitchelstown0-09
2019[8] 2-10Gabriel Rangers1-11
2018Cill Na Martra2-17Aghabullogue1-10
2017Kanturk0-14Mitchelstown0-13
2016[9] Bandon1-10Rockchapel1-07
2015[10] [11] Fermoy0-07, 1-12 (R)Mayfield0-07, 0-09 (R)
2014[12] Éire Óg0-14 Rockchapel0-06
2013[13] Grenagh0-12Aghabullogue0-05
2012[14] Castletownbere1-12Éire Óg0-13
2011Kinsale1-09Castletownbere0-08
2010Macroom1-09Kildorrery0-10
2009Carrigaline0-11Cill Na Martra0-08
2008Valley Rovers1-12Kildorrery3-04
2007Grenagh2-13Carrigaline0-13
2006Béal Átha Ghaorthaidh0-09, 0-05 (R)Castletownbere0-09, 0-04 (R)
2005Carbery Rangers1-13Glanmire2-05
2004[15] Nemo Rangers3-06Carbery Rangers1-10
2003Ilen Rovers0-15Carrigaline0-07
2002Nemo Rangers2-09Newmarket0-10
2001Newcestown0-13Nemo Rangers0-06
2000Youghal1-09, 1-01 (R)Nemo Rangers2-06, 0-03 (R)
1999Naomh Abán1-08, 1-09 (R)Castletownbere2-05, 1-06 (R)
1998St Michael's1-11St. Finbarr's0-08
1997Douglas0-09, 0-09 (R)Castletownbere1-06, 1-03 (R)
1996Clyda Rovers0-16Carrigaline1-05
1995Dohenys0-11Kilmurry0-07
1994Ballincollig2-07Clyda Rovers2-04
1993Bantry Blues0-12Ballincollig0-10
1992Mallow1-13Kilmurry2-09
1991Aghada0-09Ballincollig0-08
1990Macroom2-10Castletownbere1-07
1989Rockchapel1-10, 0-09 (R)Mallow1-10, 0-04 (R)
19882-09Ballincollig1-07
1987Glanmire3-05Fermoy0-06
1986Castletownbere1-09Kilshannig0-08
1985O'Donovan Rossa3-11Glanmire0-08
1984Midleton2-11O'Donovan Rossa1-12
1983Passage West0-07, 1-06 (R)O'Donovan Rossa0-07, 0-07 (R)
1982Macroom1-12Bandon1-08
1981Kildorrery0-10Glanmire0-08
1980Nemo Rangers2-06Midleton1-04
1979Adrigole2-09Kildorrery1-06
1978Castlehaven0-08St. Finbarr's0-03
1977Naomh Abán1-08Castlehaven1-03
1976Glanworth1-10Naomh Abán2-06
1975Bantry Blues0-09Naomh Abán0-07
1974Bishopstown1-10Newcestown1-06
1973Canovee2-11Glanworth0-06
1972Dohenys4-10Glanworth1-07
1971Newcestown2-11St. Finbarr's3-02
1970St. Finbarr's1-08, 3-06 (R)Youghal1-08, 1-07 (R)
1969St Michael's5-08Dohenys1-03
1968Cobh1-12St. Vincent's1-06
1967Urhan2-15Millstreet2-06
1966Na Piarsaigh1-08St. Vincent's2-04
1965Mitchelstown2-08St. Vincent's1-05
1939–1964No Championship
1938Bantry Blues1-01Dohenys0-02
1937St. Nicholas3-05, 3-03 (R)Bantry Blues3-02, 1-02 (R)
1936Bantry Blues2-03Dohenys1-02
1935Dromtarriffe1-07St. Columb's, Douglas0-02
1934Bantry Blues1-01St. Nicholas0-03
1933Kilmurry2-03Bantry Blues0-06
1932Fermoy2-04Kilmurry0-01
1931Clonakilty3-06Dromtarriffe0-02
1930St. Finbarr's2-03Dromtarriffe1-01
1929Mitchelstown1-03Owenabue0-02
1928Nemo Rangers2-03Kilmurry0-01
1927Duhallow United *Fermoy
1926Buttevant0-02Kinsale0-00
1925Mitchelstown3-04Kilmurry1-00
1924O'Donovan Rossa1-04Mallow0-00
1923Shamrocks1-01Dohenys0-00
1922Not completed
1921Not played
1920Unfinished
1919Nils0-07Macroom0-00
1918Millstreet0-02Knockavilla0-00
1917St. Nicholas7-07Fermoy0-00
1916Cobh0-02, 5-03 (R)Macroom0-02, 2-01 (R)
1915Fermoy1-02Kinsale0-00
1914Millstreet1-03O'Donovan Rossa0-00
1913Clonakilty2-01O'Brien's1-00
1912Bantry Blues0-01CYMS0-00
1911Mitchelstown2-05William O'Brien's0-00
1910Kanturk3-04CYMS0-01
1909Cobh0-04, 5-13 (R)CYMS0-04, 0-04 (R)

Roll of Honour

By club

WinnerWinsRunners-UpWinning YearsYears Runners-Up
1Bantry Blues621912, 1934, 1936, 1938, 1975, 19931933, 1937
2Mitchelstown441911, 1925, 1929, 19652017, 2020, 2021, 2023
Nemo Rangers421928, 1980, 2002, 20042000, 2001
4Fermoy331915, 1932, 20151917, 1927, 1987
Macroom321982, 1990, 20101916, 1919
Cobh301909, 1916, 1968
7Castletownbere251986, 20121990, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2011
Dohenys241972, 19951923, 1936, 1938, 1969
O'Donovan Rossa231924, 19851914, 1983, 1984
St. Finbarr's231930, 19701971, 1978, 1998
Naomh Abán221977, 19991975, 1976
Rockchapel221989, 20202014, 2016
Millstreet211914, 19181967
St. Nicholas211917, 19371934
Newcestown211971, 20011974
Kilshannig211988, 20221986
Clonakilty201913, 1931
St Michael's201969, 1998
Grenagh202007, 2013
Kanturk201910, 2017
19Glanmire1319871981, 1985, 2005
Carrigaline1320091996, 2003, 2007
Aghabullogue1320232013, 2018, 2022
Dromtarriffe1219351930, 1931
Glanworth1219761972, 1973
Mallow1219921924, 1989
Kinsale1220111915, 1926
Castlehaven1119781977
Kildorrery1119811979
Midleton1119841980
Clyda Rovers1119961994
Youghal1120001970
Carbery Rangers1120052004
Éire Óg1120142012
Bandon1120161982
Cill Na Martra1120182009
Nils101919
Shamrocks101923
Buttevant101926
Duhallow United101927
Kilmurry101933
Na Piarsaigh101966
Urhan101967
Canovee101973
Bishopstown101974
Adrigole101979
Passage West101983
Aghada101991
Ballincollig101994
Douglas101997
Ilen Rovers102003
Béal Átha Ghaorthaidh102006
Valley Rovers102008
Knocknagree102019
Iveleary102021
56Kilmurry051925, 1928, 1932, 1992, 1995
CYMS031909, 1910, 1912
St. Vincent's031965, 1966, 1968
Ballincollig031988, 1991, 1993
Kildorrery022008, 2010
William O'Brien's011911
O'Brien's011913
Knockavilla011918
Owenabue011929
St. Columb's, Douglas011935
Newmarket012002
Gabriel Rangers012019
Mayfield012015

By division

WinnerWinsRunners-Up
Carbery1713
Seandun1510
Muskerry1417
Avondhu1416
Duhallow96
Imokilly75
Carrigdhoun66
Beara45
CYMS03
William O'Brien's01
O'Brien's01
Knockavilla01
Owenabue01
St. Columb's, Douglas01

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Here's a breakdown of the proposals to restructure the Cork county championships. Irish Examiner. 26 March 2019. 16 September 2019. Eoghan. Cormican.
  2. Web site: Cork clubs vote down radical restructuring proposals. RTÉ Sport. 2 April 2019. 16 September 2019.
  3. Web site: Castlehaven drawn with Clonakilty and Carbery Rangers for second successive year. Irish Examiner. 14 December 2023. 14 December 2023. Eoghan. Cormican.
  4. Web site: Work on the new pitch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh is underway to take advantage of summer growth. Evening Echo. 28 July 2019. 9 October 2019. John. Horgan.
  5. Web site: John Lock O'Sullivan will forever be remembered in Adrigole. Irish Examiner. 24 December 2012. 16 September 2019. Michael. Moynihan.
  6. Web site: Probe as teacher's body found in pool. Irish Independent. 21 November 2002. 16 September 2019.
  7. Web site: Rockchapel upset the odds in county final against Mitchelstown. Echo Live. 22 August 2021. 23 August 2021. John. Tarrant.
  8. Web site: Knocknagree hold off late challenge from Gabriel Rangers to claim Cork IFC. Irish Examiner. 2 November 2019. 20 November 2019.
  9. Web site: Bandon footballers win county intermediate football title. 19 October 2016 . . 16 October 2016.
  10. Web site: Mayfield live to fight another day. 27 October 2015 . . 26 October 2015.
  11. Web site: Fired up Fermoy claim crown. 2 November 2015 . . 27 November 2015.
  12. Web site: Goulding guides Éire Óg to glory . 27 October 2014 . . 27 October 2014.
  13. Web site: Lucky 13 as gritty Grenagh double up . 9 December 2013 . . 9 December 2013.
  14. Web site: Castletownbere stand firm to edge past battling Éire Óg . 2012-10-15. Irish Examiner. 2012-10-15.
  15. Web site: Nemo retain intermediate crown as Carbery crumble in second-half . 4 December 2013 . . 8 November 2004.