West Cork group of death pick of county championship draws

From left: Marc Sheahan, chairman Cork county board; Conor Counihan, football project co-ordinator; Kevin O'Donovan, CEO; Liam O'Flaherty, head of Agri-Business Co-Op Superstores Dairygold and Pat Horgan, vice chairman Cork county board. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The 2021 Cork county football championship draw has thrown up a West Cork group of death for the second year running.

Castlehaven, who are still waiting to play the 2020 county final against Nemo Rangers, again find themselves in the same group as West Cork rivals Carbery Rangers and Newcestown. The fourth and final team in Group B of the Cork Premier SFC will be the winner of the outstanding 2020 Senior A final between Mallow and Éire Óg.

Group A in the Premier SFC has a very similar look to it too as Nemo Rangers, Valley Rovers, and Douglas have been grouped together for the second successive year. Completing the group is Carrigaline.

On the hurling side, reigning premier senior champions Blackrock have been handed a tough draw in Group C alongside 2020 semi-finalists Erin’s Own, 2019 semi-finalists St Finbarr’s, and 2020 Senior A champions Charleville.

Last year’s beaten finalists Glen Rovers will have to negotiate Douglas, Newtownshandrum, and Bishopstown to secure a place in the knockout stages.

The top ranked group team in both the Premier SHC and SFC will progress to the semi-finals, with the remaining two group winners and three second-placed teams qualifying for the quarter-finals.

“Sars and Midleton is the standout game in Group B of the Premier SHC, while in Group C, it is a nice baptism of fire for Charleville facing county champions Blackrock, Erin’s Own, who had a fantastic run last year and rattled the Glen in the semi-final, and St Finbarr’s who have Ronan Curran coming back in as manager and they’ll have high expectations,” said former Cork hurler Kieran Murphy when appraising the top tier hurling championship.

Conor Counihan, throwing an eye over the football draw, said it may be difficult for teams who lose their outstanding 2020 county final to lift themselves during the short turnaround to the start of the 2021 championship.

“The Castlehaven and Nemo situation, if either of them were to lose, would they lose a bit of impetus? In the modern game now, it seems to be all about momentum,” Counihan observed.

County board vice-chairman Pat Horgan said their intention is to run off the outstanding 2020 county finals in parallel with the inter-county season, aside from the Premier senior football decider.

“We’ll be looking for a small bit of cooperation from the managers of the inter-county teams where we would have one player holding up a competition. We’d be looking to get that player released. The premier senior football final would involve a lot of county players. Obviously, we’ll have to wait for that one.” A 10-week League programme will be laid on for clubs from early June, with clubs to get a minimum of three games, as opposed to the usual eight, nine, or 10.

Board CEO Kevin O’Donovan said the appointment of Denis Calnan as Cork GAA finance manager was a “big step forward” and the latest building block in “driving forward” both Cork county board and Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Elsewhere, county board chairman Marc Sheehan said their investigation into alleged breaches of level 5 Covid-19 restrictions by a GAA club in the county is ongoing.

“That process is ongoing at the moment and will come to its own conclusion in due course.”

2021 Cork county championship draws

Cork Premier SHC Group A: Glen Rovers, Douglas, Newtownshandrum, Bishopstown; Group B: Sarsfields, Na Piarsaigh, Midleton, Carrigtwohill; Group C: Blackrock, Erin’s Own, St Finbarr’s, Charleville.

Cork Premier SFC Group A: Nemo Rangers, Valley Rovers, Douglas, Carrigaline; Group B: Castlehaven, Newcestown, Carbery Rangers, winner of 2020 SAFC final between Mallow/Éire Óg; Group C: St Finbarr’s, Ballincollig, Clonakilty, Ilen Rovers.

Cork SAHC Group A: Kanturk, Bandon, Fermoy, Blarney; Group B: Ballyhea, Bride Rovers, Ballymartle, Mallow; Group C: Fr O’Neill’s, Newcestown, Cloyne, Killeagh.

Cork SAFC Group A: O’Donovan Rossa, Bandon, Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh, Dohenys; Group B: Bishopstown, St Michael’s, Kiskeam, winner of 2020 PIFC final between Knocknagree/Kanturk; Group C: Fermoy, loser of 2020 SAFC final between Mallow/Éire Óg, Clyda Rovers, Bantry.

Cork Premier IHC Group A: Carrigaline, Courcey Rovers, Youghal, winner of 2020 IAHC final between Aghabullogue/Éire Óg; Group B: Castlelyons, Watergrasshill, Inniscarra, Valley Rovers; Group C: Kilworth, Ballincollig, Ballinhassig, Aghada.

Cork Premier IFC Group A: St Nick’s, losers of 2020 PIFC final between Kanturk/Knocknagree, Macroom, Naomh Abán; Group B: Cill na Martra, Nemo Rangers, St Vincent’s, winners of 2020 IAFC final between Mitchelstown/Rockchapel; Group C: Newmarket, Aghada, Castletownbere, Na Piarsaigh.

Cork IAHC Group A: Loser of 2020 IAHC final between Aghabullogue/Éire Óg, Sarsfields, Dungourney, second place from Argideen Rangers/Meelin/Glen Rovers; Group B: Blackrock, Mayfield, Douglas, winner of 2020 LIHC final between Russell Rovers/Castlemartyr; Group C: Kildorrery, Cloughduv, Midleton, first place from Argideen Rangers/Meelin/Glen Rovers.

Cork IAFC Group A: Losers of 2020 IAFC final between Mitchelstown/Rockchapel, Aghabullogue, Kildorrery, Glanmire; Group B: Kilshannig, Glanworth, Adrigole, Glenville; Group C: Millstreet, Kinsale, St Finbarr’s, 2020 Junior A winners; Group D: Gabriel Rangers, Ballinora, Dromtarriffe, Ballydesmond.

Cork Lower IHC Group A: Third place from Argideen Rangers/Meelin/Glen Rovers, Kilbrittain, Dripsey, Grenagh; Group B: Losers of 2020 LIHC final between Castlemartyr/Russell Rovers, Tracton, St Finbarr’s, 2020 Junior A winners; Group C: St Catherine’s, Milford, Ballygarvan, Barryroe.