Cork previews: Nemo seek a response as west Cork rivals chase early progression
Michael Maguire (Castlehaven) beats JP Murphy (Ballincollig) to the ball. Pic: Martin Walsh.
A near-guaranteed place in the knockout stages is on offer for the winners of this, with Newcestown winning when the neighbours met in Kilmurry a year ago. Séamus O’Sullivan excelled in their opening-round win over Nemo Rangers – along with David Buckley – but a hamstring injury meant he missed the hurling loss to Bride Rovers and he is a doubt. Valleys overcame St Michael’s in a low-scoring clash that eased relegation fears having had to contest the play-off in 2025 but they will need to up their output if they are to earn a second victory. Player-manager Fiachra Lynch was kept in reserve against Michael’s until late on but could be needed sooner here.
Newcestown
Carbery Rangers ‘won’ the second half of their opener again Cill na Martra by nine points but that meant they still fell short by one, meaning their wait continues for a first group-stage victory since 2022. The long-range shooting ability of Paul Hodnett and Daragh Hayes is a major asset, though they do have a goalkeeping crisis as Aaron O’Brien and Paul Shanahan are injured. O’Donovan Rossa also made a comeback in their opener but still fell to Newmarket by five points – Kevin Davis ended with 0-12 and easing the scoring burden on him will be a key objective in this derby clash.
Carbery Rangers
Kilshannig produced a strong finish to win their all-Avondhu clash with Clyda Rovers three weeks ago – Darragh O’Sullivan finished with 1-5 while Alan O’Connell also netted and they had eight scorers in all. With so many dual players, they will take a further bounce from the win over Nemo Rangers in their Premier JHC debut. Bishopstown fell narrowly short against Éire Óg in their first outing and will look to Conor Dunne and Gary Holland to once again spearhead their attacking charge.
Kilshannig
There is little reason for Uibh Laoire to deviate from the plan that served them so well in their first-round win over Glanmire – get the ball to Chris Óg Jones, who finished with 3-4. But, even if the Cork senior star is being heavily minded, it’s still hard to keep up with the Joneses as his brother Ian contributed five points. Beyond the task of stopping the Muskerry side, Bantry’s mission could be made more difficult if countyman Dara Sheedy is not passed fit. Arthur Coakley and the ageless Ruairí Deane will set the tone if Sheedy cannot field.
Uibh Laoire
Last year’s intermediate A champions Ballinora began life at the higher grade with a two-point victory over Nemo Rangers’ second team as Robert and Michael Quirke combined for 1-9 and former Cork U20 hurler Shane Kingston brought his influence to bear. They face a Naomh Abán side that were denied by a late Fermoy surge – the Gaeltacht club had a huge U21 win over Ballincollig last weekend and will look to maximise the firepower of Ed Ó Mir, Donal Ó Ceallaigh and Darragh Ó Laoire.
Naomh Abán
Ilen Rovers
Kilmurry
Dromtarriffe
Mitchelstown
Boherbue
Cullen v Kinsale, Ballincollig, 4pm
Kinsale
Inniscarra v Urhan, Kealkill, 4pm
Urhan
Cobh
St Nick’s
It’s only three years since these clubs met in a relegation play-off that Mallow won after a replay – but, bucking the overall trend the winners are often only delaying the inevitable and the losers can’t halt further decline, it served as a jolt for both. Mallow made the semi-finals in 2024 while Carrigaline came back at the first attempt and only lost to Newcestown in last year’s quarter-finals on penalties. Their upward momentum continued with a huge win over St Finbarr’s where Éanna Desmond scored 0-9 while Brian O’Driscoll was immense. The concession of four goals against Douglas was costly for Mallow but in Kevin Sheehan and Seán McDonnell they have the capability to take the game to their opponents.
Carrigaline
A strange sensation for Nemo to be coming off the back of an opening loss – the only other instance in the round-robin era was 2021, when they had to face Valley Rovers the week after beating Castlehaven in the previous season’s final. The expected returns of Colin Molloy and Bryan Hayes should give them a boost as they seek to bounce back from defeat to Newcestown. Their city opponents St Michael’s only conceded 1-7 against Valley Rovers – however, they only scored 1-5 in a game that was more akin to football prior to the rules-changes. Keeping things tight here will be easier said than done but if they can curb Nemo then they will hope that the likes of Andrew Murphy and Eoghan Buckley can lead the way.
Nemo Rangers
A west Cork derby with reduced jeopardy as these old rivals both come in with victories under their belts – Castlehaven held off Ballincollig while Clonakilty got the better of newly promoted Knocknagree. The fact that they are playing for a prize – knockout qualification in all but name – rather than guarding against elimination could yield an entertaining tussle, given the respective attacking threats. Conor Daly and Dara Ó Sé give Clon a potency to go with their defensive durability. That will be tested by a Haven side that now have Micheál Maguire to assist Brian and Michael Hurley in score-getting but the concession of three goals to Ballincollig will leave them with some remedial work. Match-ups will be key in a game where both sides are so familiar with each other.
Castlehaven
Where the Clon-Haven game is one where both sides come in in positive form, the other match in the group will have the feel of an eliminator as Ballincollig and Knocknagree seek to avoid a second straight defeat. Having had a good league – losing narrowly to Castlehaven in the final – Knocknagree will have learned some valuable lessons from the Clon loss and they must put them to good use. Utilising the physicality of Michael McSweeney and David O’Connor at midfield can give them a platform to supply Eoghan McSweeney, Anthony O’Connor and Denis R O’Connor, but Ballincollig will have taken much from what was just a three-point reversal against the Haven. A side with youthful input still has vital experience in Liam Jennings, JP Murphy and Seán Kiely and if Luke Fahy was available it would be a massive boon.
Ballincollig
In their first game up, last year’s premier intermediate winners Aghabullogue hared into a big lead against Dohenys but were pegged back for a draw. Nevertheless, Ray Keane’s side have real attacking menace in Matthew Bradley and Cialan O’Sullivan, with John Corkery’s playmaking ability knitting everything together. Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh were semi-finalists last year but managed just 0-11 in a defeat to Kanturk and need a response. Brothers Ben and Donagh Seartan and Diarmuid Mac Thomáis are among those who can lead the charge.
Aghabullogue
Kanturk were excellent against Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh and a hurling win over Fr O’Neills will have further greased their wheels. Cork footballer Tommy Walsh and his cousin Colin were stand-outs in a massive collective performance and another victory would put them in a strong position. For Dohenys, the question is whether they will be more like the team that came back to deny Aghabullogue or the one that allowed the Coachford side to amass an 11-point lead. Fionn Herlihy and Keith White provide scoring potential while Eoin Lavers was a driving force in the fightback.
Kanturk
Last year’s beaten finalists Cill na Martra picked up two vital points as they held off a Carbery Rangers fightback first time out and they will be well-tested by a Newmarket side coming off a good win against O’Donovan Rossa. Cill na Martra’s free-flowing style benefits from the score-taking ability of the Ó Duinníns – Dan, Shane and Ciarán – with goalkeeper Micheál Ó Deasúna able to kick two-pointers from prodigious distances in open play and from dead balls. Cork hurler Hugh O’Connor was immense as Newmarket finished with 0-26 in the win over Skibb but it’s farm from a one-man show, with Brian O’Keeffe and Robert Browne central to the Duhallow club’s effort.
Cill na Martra
Former Cork footballer Paudie Kissane, now 46, remains integral for Clyda as he comes up against the club he coached and managed across a six-year period up to 2024. The Mourneabbey side only lost by two points against Kilshannig but the greater cost was the cruciate injury to Conor Corbett and compensating for his attacking thrust will be a major challenge. Kissane’s fellow All-Ireland winner Daniel Goulding continues to do it for Éire Óg and they are further strengthened by returns of Colm and Darragh Clifford from abroad.
Éire Óg
McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IFC Group 2: Castletownbere v Kiskeam, Inchigeela, 2pm Last year, goals were the difference for Kiskeam when the clubs met in the last set of fixtures and things are finely poised here following two draws in the opening round. Seán O’Sullivan and Paul O’Callaghan will be likely to be the scorers-in-chief for the Duhallow outfit while Fintan Fenner accounted for 1-6 of 1-13 in the Town’s draw against Macroom.
Kiskeam
Having come good in the second half of their opening match to see off Bantry Blues, Rockchapel come in with momentum behind them. Jimmy McAuliffe and Mikey McAuliffe were the leaders of a strong scoring ensemble while Ciarán Curtin was totemic in midfield. Glanmire shipped 4-15 in losing to Uibh Laoire, though there were signs of their attacking prowess and they will look to Harry Browne, Shane O’Driscoll and Brian Galvin as they seek to get points on the board.
Rockchapel
Bandon v Kildorrery, Ballyanly, 3pm
Bandon
Millstreet v St Vincent’s, Donoughmore, 2pm
Millstreet
Canovee v Kilmacabea, Kilmichael, 3.30pm
Canovee
A collection of the latest sports news, reports and analysis from Cork.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
