'To the outside eye, we are probably on borrowed time. We’ll keep borrowing down in Aghada.'

Aghada play Uibh Laoire in the Cork Premier IFC semi-final on Saturday

Pictured are Diarmuid Phelan, Aghada and Cathal Vaughan, Uibh Laoire, ahead of the McCarthy Insurance Group 2025 Premier Intermediate Football Championship Semi Final, at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

When Aghada concluded their Cork Premier IFC group against Aghabullogue three teams ended up with two points. Confusion ensued as to who would progress.

“It was a bit of a weird one,” Diarmuid Phelan explains. “We went into it thinking we could win it but we threw away a lot of opportunities, goal chances, penalties, everything that could go wrong went wrong. Breach of rules, everything. Then, the game finished.

“We had a few lads at the Bantry/Nemo game. We thought we were out, we thought we were in, we thought we were out again.

“All three of us were on two points. We drew on points difference. We drew on points scored so it went down to goals scored so thankfully our goals scored against Bantry (six) came through for us. So now, we are in the semi-final and we are happy out.” 

The progress comes after a few challenging years. But when Glanmire were taken care of in the quarter-final, they found themselves in the final four.

“We were in a county semi-final against Kanturk, I think in 2019, since then we’ve struggled to get out of the group. Last year we avoided a relegation match. This year, to be honest, nobody gave us a shot. I’d say even in the club, and rightfully so after our league performance, but within the group we have great belief. Our management are always backing us and it has come through in the end.” 

All-Ireland winner in 2010, Pearse O’Neill is still going strong.

“I’d say he is playing longer than half the team has been alive. His kids and nephews are coming up, I’d say he is holding on for them. He might go into his 50s, we’ll see.

“He is the epitome of a club man. If he is not training in hurling or football, or fighting through injuries, he’s coaching the young lads. He is down every week, every day. He lives in the pitch. I’d say he is going to set up a plot of land there after he retires.” 

On Saturday, they must be ready for a big Uibh Laoire test.

“We haven’t got ahead of ourselves. We had full focus on Glanmire. The players want to keep the match in front of us. We’ll do our homework, we know what they are like. They know what we’re like, they’re favourites as they should be. They have great players. We’ll give it our all. I suppose it is a free shot for us.

“To the outside eye, we are probably on borrowed time. We’ll keep borrowing down in Aghada, we’ll be happy out to keep going. “