FAI Intermediate Cup preview: Corinthians face resurgent Mary's

The College Corinthians team that faced Drogheda United in the FAI Cup last 16 at Castletreasure. Picture: Isabelle O'Connor.

Four Cork clubs will be involved in this weekend’s FAI Intermediate Cup quarter-finals, with the tie of the round a local derby between reigning champions College Corinthians and a resurgent St. Mary’s in Castletreasure on Saturday at 2pm.

There is also a meeting between Leinster Senior League rivals St. Mochta’s and Home Farm at Porterstown Road on Friday night, kick-off 7:45pm.

Cobh Wanderers will welcome Malahide United to Oldchurch Road on Saturday (2pm), while Finglas United will host Mayfield United at the same time on Sunday afternoon.

These fixtures are arranged in a restructured competition that is running through the calendar year, as opposed to the traditional system that goes through the autumn and into the early summer months.

The Munster Senior League and Leinster Senior League sides are at the very start of their seasons, with some further down the road due to involvement in the Club Orange Men’s FAI Cup proper through July and August.

College Corinthians are one of those after bouts with Bangor Celtic and Drogheda United. Gary Hackett’s side also faced Mayfield United in the Keane Cup, losing 2-0 at Castletreasure.

St. Mary’s have never won the FAI Intermediate Cup, they did reach the 1999-2000 final and fell to Bluebell United in a replay.

The Saints are going through a resurgence under manager Craig Hurley following their promotion to the top tier of the Munster Senior League in 2024. The club reached last season’s O’Connell Cup final and they qualified for the Intermediate Cup quarter-finals with impressive victories over Scared Heart and Montpelier.

St. Mochta’s lifted the trophy in the covid-disrupted 2019-20 season by defeating Killester Donnycarney at Tallaght Stadium. They come up against schoolboy institution Home Farm, a club that last tasted success at this level in 1968.

Cobh Wanderers are under new management, with Cobh Ramblers club legend Jason Abbott now in charge after hanging up the claret and blue jersey last July. The club have never won this trophy, they did reach the final during the 2016-17 season and lost to Liffey Wanderers on penalties after a 2-2 draw at the Aviva Stadium.

Malahide United got this far in the competition by seeing off Munster Senior League champions Ringmahon Rangers and local rivals Swords Celtic, in addition to Ayrfield United.

Neither Finglas United or Mayfield United have made it to the FAI Intermediate Cup final. The Northsiders enjoyed a comfortable return to the Munster Senior League Premier Division last season, capped off with their pursuit for a national piece of silverware.

Finglas United knocked out Blackrock College, Blarney United, and Templeogue United to reach the quarter finals.