Castlehaven drawn with Clonakilty and Carbery Rangers for second successive year
SECOND YEAR IN ROW: County and recently crowned Munster club champions Castlehaven have been pitted alongside Clonakilty and Carbery Rangers for the second successive year. City outfit St Michael’s complete the Group 2 quartet. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
The 2024 Cork premier senior football championship draw, for the fifth consecutive year, has thrown up an intriguing and yet slightly predictable West Cork group of death.
County and recently crowned Munster club champions Castlehaven have been pitted alongside Clonakilty and Carbery Rangers for the second successive year. City outfit St Michael’s complete the Group 2 quartet.
In the 2023 edition, the group meeting of Castlehaven and Carbery Rangers finished level, as did the clash of Carbery Rangers and Clon. The latter’s Round 3 defeat to Castlehaven, on a 1-16 to 1-14 scoreline, was easily one of the games of the county championship.
Elsewhere in Cork football's top tier, beaten finalists Nemo Rangers, under new manager Robbie O’Dwyer, will face Ballincollig, Éire Óg, and premier intermediate champions Newcestown.
One criticism of the group draws is the level of predictability and familiarity that has set in. Aside from promoted Newcestown, and the placing of St Michael’s and Valley Rovers in Groups 2 and 3 respectively, the three premier senior football groups for 2024 are the exact same as last season.
In Group 3, the Barrs, Douglas, and Mallow are again dance partners. Joining them is Valley Rovers.
“It is very familiar for those of us who were involved in it last season, with three of the same four teams involved,” Carbery Rangers forward John Hayes said of the West Cork pot.
“They were all very close games last season. But we have seen what Castlehaven have gone on to do since.
“They are brilliant games for the neutrals to look forward to, and those of us down in West Cork will have their appetite whetted for those games, as well.”
Looking outside the big three of the Haven, the Barrs, and Nemo, former Cork footballer Hayes expects Ballincollig to again challenge the pacesetters.
“Ballincollig were probably the team that came closest to the big three in the knockout stages. They got a real run on Castlehaven in the second half of the quarter-final. Liam O’Connell was a big part of that. Whether he’ll be back from Australia will have a big bearing on how Ballincollig do. But Ballincollig always have players coming through.”
In the premier senior hurling championship, title-holders Sars will fancy themselves to emerge from a group containing Douglas, Bishopstown, and Newtownshandrum.
The Barrs and Blackrock will be expected to advance from Group 2, at the expense of Fr O’Neill’s and newly promoted Newcestown.
Group 3, comprising as it does Midleton, Charleville, Erin’s Own, and Kanturk, looks to be the most difficult of the three to predict. All four teams here will have realistic designs on progression.
“The all-city clash between Blackrock and the Barrs is mouth-watering. Automatically, everybody is looking at that as one of the key games and key battles,” said former Cork hurler Mark Landers when poring over the draws.
Glen Rovers’ road back to the top table of Cork hurling will see them have to negotiate Killeagh, Ballyhea, and Inniscarra to reach the knockout phase of the Senior A championship.
Group 2 of the SAHC is fascinating in that it brings together neighbours Bride Rovers, Fermoy, and Castlelyons, as well as Cloyne.
During Thursday evening’s draws, McCarthy Insurance Group were unveiled as the new sponsors of the Cork football championships and leagues for the next three years.
Group 1: Sarsfields, Douglas, Bishopstown, Newtownshandrum
Group 2: St Finbarr’s, Blackrock, Newcestown, Fr O’Neill’s
Group 3: Midleton, Charleville, Erin’s Own, Kanturk
Group 1: Nemo Rangers, Ballincollig, Newcestown, Éire Óg
Group 2: Castlehaven, Clonakilty, Carbery Rangers, St Michael’s
Group 3: St Finbarr’s, Douglas, Valley Rovers, Mallow
Group 1: Blarney, Carrigtwohill, Na Piarsaigh, Courcey Rovers
Group 2: Bride Rovers, Cloyne, Fermoy, Castlelyons
Group 3: Glen Rovers, Killeagh, Ballyhea, Inniscarra
Group 1: Carrigaline, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, Cill na Martra, Kiskeam
Group 2: Dohenys, Kanturk, O’Donovan Rossa, Fermoy
Group 3 :Newmarket, Knocknagree, Clyda Rovers, Bishopstown
Group 1: Castlemartyr, Valley Rovers, Carrigaline, Watergrasshill
Group 2: Mallow, Ballincollig, Éire Óg, Aghabullogue
Group 3: Kilworth, Ballymartle, Ballinhassig, Dungourney
Group 1: Ilen Rovers, Uibh Laoire, Aghada, Aghabullogue
Group 2: Bantry Blues, Nemo Rangers, Naomh Abán, Bandon
Group 3: Castletownbere, Kilshannig, Rockchapel, Macroom
Group 1: Midleton, Ballygiblin, Aghada, Sarsfields
Group 2: Bandon, Blackrock, Erin’s Own, Kildorrery
Group 3: Mayfield, Lisgoold, Cloughduv, Youghal
Group 1: Dromtarriffe, Adrigole, Kildorrery, Gabriel Rangers
Group 2: Mitchelstown, St Vincent’s, Glanworth, Ballinora
Group 3: Na Piarsaigh, Boherbue, St Finbarr’s, Glanmire
Group 1: Douglas, Meelin, Milford, Russell Rovers
Group 2: Barryroe, Kilbrittain, Ballygarvan, Nemo Rangers
Group 3: St Catherine’s, Glen Rovers, Argideen Rangers, St Finbarr’s
Group 1: Kilmurry, Cobh, Canovee, St James
Group 2: Glenville, Cullen, Kinsale, Ballydesmond
Group 3: Urhan, Millstreet, Buttevant, St Nick’s
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