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.
| Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition: 2024 Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship | |
| Irish | Craobhchomórtas Peile Príomh Idirmheánach Chorcaí |
| Code | Gaelic football |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Region |  Cork (GAA) |
| Trophy | Billy Long Cup |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Title holders |  Kilshannig (1st title) |
| Most titles |  Newmarket (2 titles) Mallow (2 titles) Valley Rovers (2 titles) St. Vincent's (2 titles) |
| Sponsors | McCarthy Insurance Group |
| Official website | Official website |
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 Intermediate Club Football Championship.
The competition has been won by 15 teams. Mallow, Newmarket, Valley Rovers and St. Vincent's are the only teams to have won the championship on more than one occasion. Kilshannig are the title holders, defeating Aghabullogue by 2–10 to 1–09 in the 2024 final replay.
Format
editCurrent
editDevelopment
editOn 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
editGroup 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
edit2025 Teams
editThe 12 teams competing in the 2025 Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship are:
| Team | Location | Division | Colours | Poaition in 2024 | In Championship since | Championship Titles | Last Championship Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aghabullogue
|
Coachford | Muskerry | Green and white | Runners-up | 2024 | 0 | — |
| Aghada
|
Aghada | Imokilly | Green and white | Group stage | 2019 | 0 | — |
 Bandon
|
Bandon | Carbery | White and yellow | Group stage | 2023 | 0 | — |
 Bantry Blues
|
Bantry | Carbery | Blue and white | Quarter-finals | 2022 | 0 | — |
 Castletownbere
|
Castletownbere | Beara | Black and white | Group stage | 2013 | 0 | — |
 Glanmire
|
Glanmire | Imokilly | Green and gold | Champions (Cork IAFC) | 2025 | 0 | — |
| Iveleary
|
Inchigeelagh | Muskerry | Red and white | Semi-finals | 2022 | 0 | — |
| Kiskeam
|
Kiskeam | Duhallow | Black and white | Relegated (Cork SAFC) | 2025 | 1 | 2016 |
| Macroom
|
Macroom | Muskerry | Green and white | Relegation playoff winners | 2011 | 0 | — |
| Naomh Abán
|
Ballyvourney | Muskerry | Blue and white | Semi-finals | 2011 | 0 | — |
 Nemo Rangers
|
Trabeg | Seandún | Black and green | Group stage | 2006 | 0 | — |
 Rockchapel
|
Rockchapel | Duhallow | Maroon and white | Quarter-finals | 2021 | 0 | — |
Sponsorship
editSince 2006 the Premier Intermediate Championship has been sponsored by the Evening Echo. McCarthy Insurance Group became the new title sponsor in December 2023.[3]
Venues
edit
Early rounds
editFixtures in the opening rounds of the championship are usually played at a neutral venue that is deemed halfway between the participating teams.
Final
editThe 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, however, Páirc Uí Rinn has sometimes been the venue of choice for the final.[4]
Trophy
editThe 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
editLegend
edit- Gold – Munster intermediate club champions
- Silver – Munster intermediate club runners-up
List of Cork PIFC finals
edit| Year | Winners | Runners-up | Venue | # | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Score | Club | Score | |||
| 2024 | Kilshannig | 2-10 | Aghabullogue | 1-09 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | |
| 2023 | Cill Na Martra | 3-11 | Bantry Blues | 2-13 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | |
| 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 | [5] |
| 2019 | Éire Óg | 0-14 | St Michael's | 0-12 | Páirc Uí Rinn | [6] |
| 2018 | Fermoy | 0-11 | St Michael's | 0-07 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | [7] |
| 2017 | Mallow | 1-17 | St Michael's | 1-16 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | [8] |
| 2016 | Kiskeam | 2-12 | Fermoy | 0-14 | Páirc Uí Rinn | [9] |
| 2015 | Carrigaline | 0-12 | St Michael's | 0-11 | Páirc Uí Rinn | [10] |
| 2014 | Valley Rovers | 0-12 | Na Piarsaigh | 0-08 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | [11] |
| 2013 | Clyda Rovers | 0-13 | Macroom | 0-08 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | [12] |
| 2012 | St Vincent's | 0-12 | St Michael's | 0-11 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | [13] |
| 2011 | Newmarket | 3-06 | Clyda Rovers | 1-10 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | [14] |
| 2010 | Newcestown | 0-10 | Clyda Rovers | 0-09 | Páirc Uí Rinn | [15] |
| 2009 | Valley Rovers | 0-07 | Clyda Rovers | 0-05 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | [16] |
| 2008 | St. Finbarr's | 2-13 | St Vincent's | 0-14 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | [17] |
| 2007 | Mallow | 1-07 | Killavullen | 0-07 | Páirc Uí Rinn | [18] |
| 2006 | St Vincent's | 1-05 | Glanmire | 0-07 | Páirc Uí Rinn | |
Notes
edit- 2006: The final went to two replays after St. Vincent's and Glanmire drew 0–09 apiece and 0–12 apiece.
- 2024: The final went to a replay after Kilshannig and Aghabullogue drew 1–14 apiece.
Roll of Honour
editBy club
edit| # | Club | Titles | Runners-up | Championships won | Championships runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Vincent's
|
2 | 1 | 2006, 2012 | 2008 |
| Valley Rovers
|
2 | 0 | 2009, 2014 | — | |
| Mallow
|
2 | 0 | 2007, 2017 | — | |
| Newmarket
|
2 | 0 | 2011, 2021 | — | |
| 5 |  Clyda Rovers
|
1 | 3 | 2013 | 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Kanturk
|
1 | 2 | 2022 | 2020, 2021 | |
|
|
1 | 1 | 2018 | 2016 | |
 St. Finbarr's
|
1 | 0 | 2008 | — | |
| Newcestown
|
1 | 0 | 2010 | — | |
| Carrigaline
|
1 | 0 | 2015 | — | |
| Kiskeam
|
1 | 0 | 2016 | — | |
|
|
1 | 0 | 2019 | — | |
 Knocknagree
|
1 | 0 | 2020 | — | |
| Cill Na Martra
|
1 | 0 | 2023 | — | |
| Kilshannig
|
1 | 0 | 2024 | — | |
| 16 | St Michael's
|
0 | 5 | — | 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Bantry Blues
|
0 | 2 | — | 2022, 2023 | |
| Glanmire
|
0 | 1 | — | 2006 | |
| Killavullen
|
0 | 1 | — | 2007 | |
| Macroom
|
0 | 1 | — | 2013 | |
| Na Piarsaigh
|
0 | 1 | — | 2014 | |
| Aghabullogue
|
0 | 1 | — | 2024 |
By Division
edit| # | Division | Titles | Runners-Up | Total | Most recent success |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Avondhu
|
5 | 5 | 10 | 2024 |
 Duhallow
|
5 | 2 | 7 | 2022 | |
| 3 | Seandun
|
3 | 7 | 10 | 2012 |
| Carrigdhoun
|
3 | 0 | 3 | 2015 | |
| 5 | Muskerry
|
2 | 2 | 4 | 2023 |
| 6 |  Carbery
|
1 | 2 | 3 | 2010 |
| 7 | Imokilly
|
0 | 1 | 1 | — |
Records and statistics
editFinal
editTeam
edit- Most wins: 2, joint record:
- Most appearances in a final: 5, St. Michael's (2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019)
- Most Final appearances without ever winning: 5, St. Michael's (2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019)
- Longest gap between wins: 10 years, joint record:
Top scorers
editBy season
editOverall
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
editReferences
edit- ^ Cormican, Eoghan (26 March 2019). "Here's a breakdown of the proposals to restructure the Cork county championships". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- ^ "Cork clubs vote down radical restructuring proposals". RTÉ Sport. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- ^ Cormican, Eoghan (14 December 2023). "Castlehaven drawn with Clonakilty and Carbery Rangers for second successive year". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ Horgan, John (28 July 2019). "Work on the new pitch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh is underway to take advantage of summer growth". Evening Echo. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Éire Óg edge out St Michael's to capture the Premier Intermediate Football crown". Evening Echo. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ Hurley, Denis (21 October 2018). "Fermoy back in the big time Premier IFC triumph over St Michael's". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ O'Callaghan, Therese (16 October 2017). "Heartbreak for St Michael's as Mallow win Cork Premier Intermediate final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- ^ Horgan, Noel (29 October 2016). "Kiskeam rise to shock Fermoy". The Corkman. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ Hurley, Denis (19 October 2015). "Times never so sweet as Carrigaline reach promised land". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ Hurley, Denis (20 October 2014). "Valiant Valleys stick to their guns". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ "Glory at last for classy Clyda". Irish Examiner. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Jim (29 October 2012). "Courage gets Vincent's over line". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ "Newmarket pip Clyda and rip form book to shreds". Irish Examiner. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ Lester, Bob (1 November 2010). "Newcestown back in the big time". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ Lester, Bob (19 October 2009). "Glory for Valley Rovers and senior status for first time". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ "Barr's secure senior goal". Irish Examiner. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
- ^ Lester, Bob (22 October 2007). "Mallow dig deep". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 16 October 2017.