Cork county football championships: who's in and who's out after final round of pool games

Nemo Rangers progress to the senior grade semis as top seeds. 

TOUCH TIGHT: St Michael's defender Alan O'Callaghan tries to stop Nemo's Barry Cripps from passing during the McCarthy Insurance Group Preier SFC game at Shanbally. Picture: David Creedon

Eight weeks ago, 60 clubs set out with the ambition of winning a county football title at the five highest grades in Cork. For 30 clubs, that dream is still alive, for 20 clubs the postmortem begins while the other 10 must negotiate a relegation playoff.

In the Premier Senior Championship, Nemo Rangers are the top seeds and are through to the semi-finals. The pick of the quarterfinals will see St Finbarr’s and Castlehaven renew their rivalry a round earlier than usual while the winners of that tie will play the winners of Ballincollig and Duhallow in one semifinal. Newcestown and Carrigaline will play each other in the other quarterfinal for the right to play Nemo in the final four. Carbery Rangers and Valley Rovers will face off in the relegation playoff.

In the Senior ‘A’ Championship Gaeltacht sides Cill na Martra and Béal Atha ‘n Ghaorthaidh are straight through to the penultimate round. One quarterfinal will be an all Duhallow affair between Knocknagree and Kanturk while Éire Óg and Bishopstown finish the draw. After tough campaigns, O’Donovan Rossa and Fermoy will look to stave off relegation when they clash.

Muskerry sides Uibh Laoire and Naomh Abán took the direct route to the final four in the Premier Intermediate Championship. The winners of the Imokilly derby between Aghada and Glanmire will take on Uibh Laoire in one semi-final while Aghabullogue and Kiskeam will duke it out for the right to play Naomh Abán in the other semi. For the second year in-a-row, Macroom will play in the relegation playoff, this time against Bandon.

Adrigole and Kilmurry claimed the semifinal spots in the Intermediate ‘A’ Football Championship while the quarterfinal matchups will see Ballinora take on Gabriel Rangers and Ilen Rovers taking on Mitchelstown. Dromtarriffe and St Vincent’s will fight for the right for another season at this grade.

In the Premier Junior Championship St Nick’s and Buttevant went straight through to the final four while the quarterfinals will see Cullen take on Canovee and Inniscarra play Cobh. Ballydesmond and Millstreet will contest the relegation playoff.