Cork Intermediate A Football Championship

Cork Intermediate A Football Championship
Current season or competition:
2024 Cork Intermediate A Football Championship
IrishCraobh Peile Idirmhéanach A Chorcaí
CodeGaelic football
Founded1909; 115 years ago (1909)
Region Cork (GAA)
TrophySeán Ó Súilleabháin Cup
No. of teams12
Title holders Glanmire (2nd title)
Most titles Bantry Blues (6 titles)
SponsorsMcCarthy Insurance Group
Official websiteOfficial 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. Glanmire are the title-holders, defeating Boherbue by 2-10 to 0-15 in the 2024 final.

Format

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Development

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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.

Group stage

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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 two teams in each group qualify for the knock-out stage.

Knockout stage

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Following the completion of the group stage, the top two teams from each group are ranked (1-6) in terms of points accumulated and scoring difference. The two top-ranking teams receive byes to separate semi-finals.

  • Quarter-finals: Teams designated 3-6 contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the semi-finals.
  • Semi-finals: The two quarter-final winners and teams designated 1-2 contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the final.
  • Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

Promotion and relegation

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At the end of the championship, the winning team is automatically promoted to the Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship for the following season. The three bottom-placed teams from the group stage take part in a series of play-offs, with the losing team being relegated to the Cork Premier Junior Football Championship.

Teams

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2025 Teams

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The 12 teams competing in the 2025 Cork Intermediate A Football Championship are:

Team Location Division Colours Position in 2024 In Championship since Championship Titles Last Championship Title
Border Adrigole Adrigole Beara Red and white Semi-finals 2007 1 1979
Border Ballinora Ballinora Muskerry Green and red Group stage 1998 0 —
Border Boherbue Boherbue Duhallow Green and gold Runners-up 2022 0 —
Border Dromtarriffe Rathcoole Duhallow Red and white Group stage 2019 1 1935
Border Gabriel Rangers Schull Carbery Green and white Semi-finals 2021 0 —
Border Glanworth Glanworth Avondhu Green and white Quarter-finals 2010 1 1976
Border Ilen Rovers Baltimore Carbery Green and white Relegated (Cork PIFC) 2025 1 2003
Border Kildorrery Kildorrery Avondhu Blue and white Group stage 2008 1 1981
Border Kilmurry Kilmurry Muskerry Green and gold Champions (Cork PJFC) 2025 1 1933
Border Mitchelstown Mitchelstown Avondhu Red and black Quarter-finals 2014 4 1965
Border St Finbarr's Togher Seandún Blue and gold Group stage 2024 2 1970
Border St. Vincent's Sunday's Well Seandún Green and white Relegation playoff winners 2023 0 —

Sponsorship

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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

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Early rounds

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The rebuilt Páirc Uí Chaoimh hosted the 2018 final between Cill na Martra and Aghabullogue.

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

Final

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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

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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

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Year Winners Runners-up
Club Score Club Score
2024 Glanmire 2-10 Boherbue 0-15
2023 Aghabullogue 2-13 Mitchelstown 1-15
2022 Kilshannig 1-16 Aghabullogue 0-10
2021 Iveleary 0-20 Mitchelstown 0-07
2020[7] Rockchapel 1-10 Mitchelstown 0-09
2019[8] Knocknagree 2-10 Gabriel Rangers 1-11
2018 Cill Na Martra 2-17 Aghabullogue 1-10
2017 Kanturk 0-14 Mitchelstown 0-13
2016[9] Bandon 1-10 Rockchapel 1-07
2015[10][11] Fermoy 0-07, 1-12 (R) Mayfield 0-07, 0-09 (R)
2014[12] Éire Óg 0-14 Rockchapel 0-06
2013[13] Grenagh 0-12 Aghabullogue 0-05
2012[14] Castletownbere 1-12 Éire Óg 0-13
2011 Kinsale 1-09 Castletownbere 0-08
2010 Macroom 1-09 Kildorrery 0-10
2009 Carrigaline 0-11 Cill Na Martra 0-08
2008 Valley Rovers 1-12 Kildorrery 3-04
2007 Grenagh 2-13 Carrigaline 0-13
2006 Béal Átha Ghaorthaidh 0-09, 0-05 (R) Castletownbere 0-09, 0-04 (R)
2005 Carbery Rangers 1-13 Glanmire 2-05
2004[15] Nemo Rangers 3-06 Carbery Rangers 1-10
2003 Ilen Rovers 0-15 Carrigaline 0-07
2002 Nemo Rangers 2-09 Newmarket 0-10
2001 Newcestown 0-13 Nemo Rangers 0-06
2000 Youghal 1-09, 1-01 (R) Nemo Rangers 2-06, 0-03 (R)
1999 Naomh Abán 1-08, 1-09 (R) Castletownbere 2-05, 1-06 (R)
1998 St Michael's 1-11 St. Finbarr's 0-08
1997 Douglas 0-09, 0-09 (R) Castletownbere 1-06, 1-03 (R)
1996 Clyda Rovers 0-16 Carrigaline 1-05
1995 Dohenys 0-11 Kilmurry 0-07
1994 Ballincollig 2-07 Clyda Rovers 2-04
1993 Bantry Blues 0-12 Ballincollig 0-10
1992 Mallow 1-13 Kilmurry 2-09
1991 Aghada 0-09 Ballincollig 0-08
1990 Macroom 2-10 Castletownbere 1-07
1989 Rockchapel 1-10, 0-09 (R) Mallow 1-10, 0-04 (R)
1988 Kilshannig 2-09 Ballincollig 1-07
1987 Glanmire 3-05 Fermoy 0-06
1986 Castletownbere 1-09 Kilshannig 0-08
1985 O'Donovan Rossa 3-11 Glanmire 0-08
1984 Midleton 2-11 O'Donovan Rossa 1-12
1983 Passage West 0-07, 1-06 (R) O'Donovan Rossa 0-07, 0-07 (R)
1982 Macroom 1-12 Bandon 1-08
1981 Kildorrery 0-10 Glanmire 0-08
1980 Nemo Rangers 2-06 Midleton 1-04
1979 Adrigole 2-09 Kildorrery 1-06
1978 Castlehaven 0-08 St. Finbarr's 0-03
1977 Naomh Abán 1-08 Castlehaven 1-03
1976 Glanworth 1-10 Naomh Abán 2-06
1975 Bantry Blues 0-09 Naomh Abán 0-07
1974 Bishopstown 1-10 Newcestown 1-06
1973 Canovee 2-11 Glanworth 0-06
1972 Dohenys 4-10 Glanworth 1-07
1971 Newcestown 2-11 St. Finbarr's 3-02
1970 St. Finbarr's 1-08, 3-06 (R) Youghal 1-08, 1-07 (R)
1969 St Michael's 5-08 Dohenys 1-03
1968 Cobh 1-12 St. Vincent's 1-06
1967 Urhan 2-15 Millstreet 2-06
1966 Na Piarsaigh 1-08 St. Vincent's 2-04
1965 Mitchelstown 2-08 St. Vincent's 1-05
1939–1964 No Championship
1938 Bantry Blues 1-01 Dohenys 0-02
1937 St. Nicholas 3-05, 3-03 (R) Bantry Blues 3-02, 1-02 (R)
1936 Bantry Blues 2-03 Dohenys 1-02
1935 Dromtarriffe 1-07 St. Columb's, Douglas 0-02
1934 Bantry Blues 1-01 St. Nicholas 0-03
1933 Kilmurry 2-03 Bantry Blues 0-06
1932 Fermoy 2-04 Kilmurry 0-01
1931 Clonakilty 3-06 Dromtarriffe 0-02
1930 St. Finbarr's 2-03 Dromtarriffe 1-01
1929 Mitchelstown 1-03 Owenabue 0-02
1928 Nemo Rangers 2-03 Kilmurry 0-01
1927 Duhallow United * Fermoy
1926 Buttevant 0-02 Kinsale 0-00
1925 Mitchelstown 3-04 Kilmurry 1-00
1924 O'Donovan Rossa 1-04 Mallow 0-00
1923 Shamrocks 1-01 Dohenys 0-00
1922 Not completed
1921 Not played
1920 Unfinished
1919 Nils 0-07 Macroom 0-00
1918 Millstreet 0-02 Knockavilla 0-00
1917 St. Nicholas 7-07 Fermoy 0-00
1916 Cobh 0-02, 5-03 (R) Macroom 0-02, 2-01 (R)
1915 Fermoy 1-02 Kinsale 0-00
1914 Millstreet 1-03 O'Donovan Rossa 0-00
1913 Clonakilty 2-01 O'Brien's 1-00
1912 Bantry Blues 0-01 CYMS 0-00
1911 Mitchelstown 2-05 William O'Brien's 0-00
1910 Kanturk 3-04 CYMS 0-01
1909 Cobh 0-04, 5-13 (R) CYMS 0-04, 0-04 (R)

Roll of Honour

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By club

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# Team Titles Runners-up Championships won Championships runner-up
1 Border Bantry Blues 6 2 1912, 1934, 1936, 1938, 1975, 1993 1933, 1937
2 Border Mitchelstown 4 4 1911, 1925, 1929, 1965 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023
Nemo Rangers 4 2 1928, 1980, 2002, 2004 2000, 2001
4 Border Fermoy 3 3 1915, 1932, 2015 1917, 1927, 1987
Border Macroom 3 2 1982, 1990, 2010 1916, 1919
Border Cobh 3 0 1909, 1916, 1968 —
7 Border Castletownbere 2 5 1986, 2012 1990, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2011
Border Dohenys 2 4 1972, 1995 1923, 1936, 1938, 1969
Border O'Donovan Rossa 2 3 1924, 1985 1914, 1983, 1984
Border St. Finbarr's 2 3 1930, 1970 1971, 1978, 1998
Border Glanmire 2 3 1987, 2024 1981, 1985, 2005
Border Naomh Abán 2 2 1977, 1999 1975, 1976
Border Rockchapel 2 2 1989, 2020 2014, 2016
Border Millstreet 2 1 1914, 1918 1967
Border St. Nicholas 2 1 1917, 1937 1934
Border Newcestown 2 1 1971, 2001 1974
Border Kilshannig 2 1 1988, 2022 1986
Border Clonakilty 2 0 1913, 1931 —
Border St Michael's 2 0 1969, 1998 —
Border Grenagh 2 0 2007, 2013 —
Border Kanturk 2 0 1910, 2017 —
20 Border Carrigaline 1 3 2009 1996, 2003, 2007
Border Aghabullogue 1 3 2023 2013, 2018, 2022
Border Dromtarriffe 1 2 1935 1930, 1931
Border Glanworth 1 2 1976 1972, 1973
Border Mallow 1 2 1992 1924, 1989
Border Kinsale 1 2 2011 1915, 1926
Border Castlehaven 1 1 1978 1977
Border Kildorrery 1 1 1981 1979
Border Midleton 1 1 1984 1980
Border Clyda Rovers 1 1 1996 1994
Border Youghal 1 1 2000 1970
Border Carbery Rangers 1 1 2005 2004
Border Éire Óg 1 1 2014 2012
Border Bandon 1 1 2016 1982
Border Cill Na Martra 1 1 2018 2009
Nils 1 0 1919 —
Border Shamrocks 1 0 1923 —
Border Buttevant 1 0 1926 —
Duhallow United 1 0 1927 —
Border Kilmurry 1 0 1933 —
Border Na Piarsaigh 1 0 1966 —
Border Urhan 1 0 1967 —
Border Canovee 1 0 1973 —
Border Bishopstown 1 0 1974 —
Border Adrigole 1 0 1979 —
Border Passage West 1 0 1983 —
Border Aghada 1 0 1991 —
Border Ballincollig 1 0 1994 —
Douglas 1 0 1997 —
Border Ilen Rovers 1 0 2003 —
Border Béal Átha Ghaorthaidh 1 0 2006 —
Border Valley Rovers 1 0 2008 —
Border Knocknagree 1 0 2019 —
Border Iveleary 1 0 2021 —
56 Border Kilmurry 0 5 — 1925, 1928, 1932, 1992, 1995
CYMS 0 3 — 1909, 1910, 1912
Border St. Vincent's 0 3 — 1965, 1966, 1968
Ballincollig 0 3 — 1988, 1991, 1993
Kildorrery 0 2 — 2008, 2010
William O'Brien's 0 1 — 1911
O'Brien's 0 1 — 1913
Knockavilla 0 1 — 1918
Owenabue 0 1 — 1929
St. Columb's, Douglas 0 1 — 1935
Border Newmarket 0 1 — 2002
Border Mayfield 0 1 — 2015
Border Gabriel Rangers 0 1 — 2019
Border Boherbue 0 1 — 2024

By division

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Winner Wins Runners-Up
Carbery 17 13
Seandun 15 10
Muskerry 14 17
Avondhu 14 16
Duhallow 9 7
Imokilly 8 5
Carrigdhoun 6 6
Beara 4 5
CYMS 0 3
William O'Brien's 0 1
O'Brien's 0 1
Knockavilla 0 1
Owenabue 0 1
St. Columb's, Douglas 0 1

See also

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References

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  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. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Moynihan, Michael (24 December 2012). "John Lock O'Sullivan will forever be remembered in Adrigole". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  6. ^ "Probe as teacher's body found in pool". Irish Independent. 21 November 2002. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  7. ^ Tarrant, John (22 August 2021). "Rockchapel upset the odds in county final against Mitchelstown". Echo Live. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Knocknagree hold off late challenge from Gabriel Rangers to claim Cork IFC". Irish Examiner. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Bandon footballers win county intermediate football title". The Southern Star. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
  10. ^ "Mayfield live to fight another day". Irish Examiner. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  11. ^ "Fired up Fermoy claim crown". Irish Examiner. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  12. ^ "Goulding guides Éire Óg to glory". The Irish Examiner. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  13. ^ "Lucky 13 as gritty Grenagh double up". Irish Examiner. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  14. ^ "Castletownbere stand firm to edge past battling Éire Óg". Irish Examiner. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
  15. ^ "Nemo retain intermediate crown as Carbery crumble in second-half". Irish Examiner. 8 November 2004. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
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