| Cork Intermediate A Football Championship | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition: 2024 Cork Intermediate A Football Championship | |
| Irish | Craobh Peile Idirmhéanach A Chorcaí |
| Code | Gaelic football |
| Founded | 1909; 115 years ago (1909) |
| Region |  Cork (GAA) |
| Trophy | Seán Ó Súilleabháin Cup |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Title holders |  Glanmire (2nd title) |
| Most titles |  Bantry Blues (6 titles) |
| Sponsors | McCarthy Insurance Group |
| Official website | Official website |
The Cork Intermediate A Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as McCarthy Insurance Group Cork County Intermediate A Football Championship and abbreviated to the Cork IAFC) is an annual Gaelic football competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the second tier intermediate clubs in the county of Cork in Ireland. It is the fourth tier overall in the entire Cork football championship system.
The Cork Intermediate Championship was introduced in 1909 as a competition that would bridge the gap between the senior grade and the junior grade. At the time of its creation it was the second tier of Cork football.
In its current format, the Cork Intermediate Championship begins in mid summer. The 12 participating club teams are drawn into three groups of four teams and play each other in a round-robin system. The two group winners proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The winner of the Cork Intermediate Championship, as well as being presented with the Seán Ó Súilleabháin Cup, gains automatic promotion to the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship for the following season.
Bantry Blues is the most successful teams in the tournament's history, having won it six times. Glanmire are the title-holders, defeating Boherbue by 2-10 to 0-15 in the 2024 final.
Format
Development
On 2 April 2019, a majority of 136 club delegates voted to restructure the championship. The new format limited the number of participating clubs to 16.
Group stage
The 12 teams are divided into three groups of four. Over the course of the group stage, which features one game in April and two games in August, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three games. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the group stage table by points gained, then scoring difference and then their head-to-head record. The top two teams in each group qualify for the knock-out stage.
Knockout stage
Following the completion of the group stage, the top two teams from each group are ranked (1-6) in terms of points accumulated and scoring difference. The two top-ranking teams receive byes to separate semi-finals.
- Quarter-finals: Teams designated 3-6 contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the semi-finals.
- Semi-finals: The two quarter-final winners and teams designated 1-2 contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the final.
- Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.
Promotion and relegation
At the end of the championship, the winning team is automatically promoted to the Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship for the following season. The three bottom-placed teams from the group stage take part in a series of play-offs, with the losing team being relegated to the Cork Premier Junior Football Championship.
Teams
2025 Teams
The 12 teams competing in the 2025 Cork Intermediate A Football Championship are:
| Team | Location | Division | Colours | Position in 2024 | In Championship since | Championship Titles | Last Championship Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrigole
|
Adrigole | Beara | Red and white | Semi-finals | 2007 | 1 | 1979 |
 Ballinora
|
Ballinora | Muskerry | Green and red | Group stage | 1998 | 0 | — |
| Boherbue
|
Boherbue | Duhallow | Green and gold | Runners-up | 2022 | 0 | — |
| Dromtarriffe
|
Rathcoole | Duhallow | Red and white | Group stage | 2019 | 1 | 1935 |
 Gabriel Rangers
|
Schull | Carbery | Green and white | Semi-finals | 2021 | 0 | — |
| Glanworth
|
Glanworth | Avondhu | Green and white | Quarter-finals | 2010 | 1 | 1976 |
| Ilen Rovers
|
Baltimore | Carbery | Green and white | Relegated (Cork PIFC) | 2025 | 1 | 2003 |
| Kildorrery
|
Kildorrery | Avondhu | Blue and white | Group stage | 2008 | 1 | 1981 |
| Kilmurry
|
Kilmurry | Muskerry | Green and gold | Champions (Cork PJFC) | 2025 | 1 | 1933 |
 Mitchelstown
|
Mitchelstown | Avondhu | Red and black | Quarter-finals | 2014 | 4 | 1965 |
 St Finbarr's
|
Togher | Seandún | Blue and gold | Group stage | 2024 | 2 | 1970 |
| St. Vincent's
|
Sunday's Well | Seandún | Green and white | Relegation playoff winners | 2023 | 0 | — |
Sponsorship
In keeping with its sponsorship deal for all Cork hurling and football championships, Permanent TSB provided the sponsorship since the 1990s. The Evening Echo became the primary sponsors of all Cork hurling and football championships in 2005 and have continued their sponsorship ever since. McCarthy Insurance Group became the new title sponsor in December 2023.
Venues
Early rounds
Fixtures in the opening rounds of the championship are usually played at a neutral venue that is deemed halfway between the participating teams.
Final
The final has always been played at one of Cork GAA's two main stadiums. On several occasions the final has been played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh as the curtain raiser to the senior final, however, in recent times Páirc Uí Rinn has been the venue of choice for the final.
Trophy
The winning team is presented with the Seán Ó Súilleabháin Cup. A secondary school teacher by profession, John Lock O'Sullivan (1976-2002) played with the Adrigole club and the Beara divisional team, with whom he won the Cork Senior Championship in 1997. He also lined out for Cork as a member of the under-21 and junior teams. O'Sullivan died suddenly on 19 November 2002.
List of finals
| Year | Winners | Runners-up | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Score | Club | Score | |
| 2024 | Glanmire | 2-10 | Boherbue | 0-15 |
| 2023 | Aghabullogue | 2-13 | Mitchelstown | 1-15 |
| 2022 | Kilshannig | 1-16 | Aghabullogue | 0-10 |
| 2021 | Iveleary | 0-20 | Mitchelstown | 0-07 |
| 2020 | Rockchapel | 1-10 | Mitchelstown | 0-09 |
| 2019 | Knocknagree | 2-10 | Gabriel Rangers | 1-11 |
| 2018 | Cill Na Martra | 2-17 | Aghabullogue | 1-10 |
| 2017 | Kanturk | 0-14 | Mitchelstown | 0-13 |
| 2016 | Bandon | 1-10 | Rockchapel | 1-07 |
| 2015 | Fermoy | 0-07, 1-12 (R) | Mayfield | 0-07, 0-09 (R) |
| 2014 | Éire Óg | 0-14 | Rockchapel | 0-06 |
| 2013 | Grenagh | 0-12 | Aghabullogue | 0-05 |
| 2012 | Castletownbere | 1-12 | Éire Óg | 0-13 |
| 2011 | Kinsale | 1-09 | Castletownbere | 0-08 |
| 2010 | Macroom | 1-09 | Kildorrery | 0-10 |
| 2009 | Carrigaline | 0-11 | Cill Na Martra | 0-08 |
| 2008 | Valley Rovers | 1-12 | Kildorrery | 3-04 |
| 2007 | Grenagh | 2-13 | Carrigaline | 0-13 |
| 2006 | Béal Átha Ghaorthaidh | 0-09, 0-05 (R) | Castletownbere | 0-09, 0-04 (R) |
| 2005 | Carbery Rangers | 1-13 | Glanmire | 2-05 |
| 2004 | Nemo Rangers | 3-06 | Carbery Rangers | 1-10 |
| 2003 | Ilen Rovers | 0-15 | Carrigaline | 0-07 |
| 2002 | Nemo Rangers | 2-09 | Newmarket | 0-10 |
| 2001 | Newcestown | 0-13 | Nemo Rangers | 0-06 |
| 2000 | Youghal | 1-09, 1-01 (R) | Nemo Rangers | 2-06, 0-03 (R) |
| 1999 | Naomh Abán | 1-08, 1-09 (R) | Castletownbere | 2-05, 1-06 (R) |
| 1998 | St Michael's | 1-11 | St. Finbarr's | 0-08 |
| 1997 | Douglas | 0-09, 0-09 (R) | Castletownbere | 1-06, 1-03 (R) |
| 1996 | Clyda Rovers | 0-16 | Carrigaline | 1-05 |
| 1995 | Dohenys | 0-11 | Kilmurry | 0-07 |
| 1994 | Ballincollig | 2-07 | Clyda Rovers | 2-04 |
| 1993 | Bantry Blues | 0-12 | Ballincollig | 0-10 |
| 1992 | Mallow | 1-13 | Kilmurry | 2-09 |
| 1991 | Aghada | 0-09 | Ballincollig | 0-08 |
| 1990 | Macroom | 2-10 | Castletownbere | 1-07 |
| 1989 | Rockchapel | 1-10, 0-09 (R) | Mallow | 1-10, 0-04 (R) |
| 1988 | Kilshannig | 2-09 | Ballincollig | 1-07 |
| 1987 | Glanmire | 3-05 | Fermoy | 0-06 |
| 1986 | Castletownbere | 1-09 | Kilshannig | 0-08 |
| 1985 | O'Donovan Rossa | 3-11 | Glanmire | 0-08 |
| 1984 | Midleton | 2-11 | O'Donovan Rossa | 1-12 |
| 1983 | Passage West | 0-07, 1-06 (R) | O'Donovan Rossa | 0-07, 0-07 (R) |
| 1982 | Macroom | 1-12 | Bandon | 1-08 |
| 1981 | Kildorrery | 0-10 | Glanmire | 0-08 |
| 1980 | Nemo Rangers | 2-06 | Midleton | 1-04 |
| 1979 | Adrigole | 2-09 | Kildorrery | 1-06 |
| 1978 | Castlehaven | 0-08 | St. Finbarr's | 0-03 |
| 1977 | Naomh Abán | 1-08 | Castlehaven | 1-03 |
| 1976 | Glanworth | 1-10 | Naomh Abán | 2-06 |
| 1975 | Bantry Blues | 0-09 | Naomh Abán | 0-07 |
| 1974 | Bishopstown | 1-10 | Newcestown | 1-06 |
| 1973 | Canovee | 2-11 | Glanworth | 0-06 |
| 1972 | Dohenys | 4-10 | Glanworth | 1-07 |
| 1971 | Newcestown | 2-11 | St. Finbarr's | 3-02 |
| 1970 | St. Finbarr's | 1-08, 3-06 (R) | Youghal | 1-08, 1-07 (R) |
| 1969 | St Michael's | 5-08 | Dohenys | 1-03 |
| 1968 | Cobh | 1-12 | St. Vincent's | 1-06 |
| 1967 | Urhan | 2-15 | Millstreet | 2-06 |
| 1966 | Na Piarsaigh | 1-08 | St. Vincent's | 2-04 |
| 1965 | Mitchelstown | 2-08 | St. Vincent's | 1-05 |
| 1939–1964 | No Championship | |||
| 1938 | Bantry Blues | 1-01 | Dohenys | 0-02 |
| 1937 | St. Nicholas | 3-05, 3-03 (R) | Bantry Blues | 3-02, 1-02 (R) |
| 1936 | Bantry Blues | 2-03 | Dohenys | 1-02 |
| 1935 | Dromtarriffe | 1-07 | St. Columb's, Douglas | 0-02 |
| 1934 | Bantry Blues | 1-01 | St. Nicholas | 0-03 |
| 1933 | Kilmurry | 2-03 | Bantry Blues | 0-06 |
| 1932 | Fermoy | 2-04 | Kilmurry | 0-01 |
| 1931 | Clonakilty | 3-06 | Dromtarriffe | 0-02 |
| 1930 | St. Finbarr's | 2-03 | Dromtarriffe | 1-01 |
| 1929 | Mitchelstown | 1-03 | Owenabue | 0-02 |
| 1928 | Nemo Rangers | 2-03 | Kilmurry | 0-01 |
| 1927 | Duhallow United * | Fermoy | ||
| 1926 | Buttevant | 0-02 | Kinsale | 0-00 |
| 1925 | Mitchelstown | 3-04 | Kilmurry | 1-00 |
| 1924 | O'Donovan Rossa | 1-04 | Mallow | 0-00 |
| 1923 | Shamrocks | 1-01 | Dohenys | 0-00 |
| 1922 | Not completed | |||
| 1921 | Not played | |||
| 1920 | Unfinished | |||
| 1919 | Nils | 0-07 | Macroom | 0-00 |
| 1918 | Millstreet | 0-02 | Knockavilla | 0-00 |
| 1917 | St. Nicholas | 7-07 | Fermoy | 0-00 |
| 1916 | Cobh | 0-02, 5-03 (R) | Macroom | 0-02, 2-01 (R) |
| 1915 | Fermoy | 1-02 | Kinsale | 0-00 |
| 1914 | Millstreet | 1-03 | O'Donovan Rossa | 0-00 |
| 1913 | Clonakilty | 2-01 | O'Brien's | 1-00 |
| 1912 | Bantry Blues | 0-01 | CYMS | 0-00 |
| 1911 | Mitchelstown | 2-05 | William O'Brien's | 0-00 |
| 1910 | Kanturk | 3-04 | CYMS | 0-01 |
| 1909 | Cobh | 0-04, 5-13 (R) | CYMS | 0-04, 0-04 (R) |
- 1927 Nemo Rangers and Kilmurry were disqualified after meeting in the other semi-final
Roll of Honour
By club
| # | Team | Titles | Runners-up | Championships won | Championships runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bantry Blues
|
6 | 2 | 1912, 1934, 1936, 1938, 1975, 1993 | 1933, 1937 |
| 2 | Mitchelstown
|
4 | 4 | 1911, 1925, 1929, 1965 | 2017, 2020, 2021, 2023 |
 Nemo Rangers
|
4 | 2 | 1928, 1980, 2002, 2004 | 2000, 2001 | |
| 4 |  Fermoy
|
3 | 3 | 1915, 1932, 2015 | 1917, 1927, 1987 |
| Macroom
|
3 | 2 | 1982, 1990, 2010 | 1916, 1919 | |
| Cobh
|
3 | 0 | 1909, 1916, 1968 | — | |
| 7 |  Castletownbere
|
2 | 5 | 1986, 2012 | 1990, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2011 |
| Dohenys
|
2 | 4 | 1972, 1995 | 1923, 1936, 1938, 1969 | |
| O'Donovan Rossa
|
2 | 3 | 1924, 1985 | 1914, 1983, 1984 | |
| St. Finbarr's
|
2 | 3 | 1930, 1970 | 1971, 1978, 1998 | |
| Glanmire
|
2 | 3 | 1987, 2024 | 1981, 1985, 2005 | |
| Naomh Abán
|
2 | 2 | 1977, 1999 | 1975, 1976 | |
 Rockchapel
|
2 | 2 | 1989, 2020 | 2014, 2016 | |
| Millstreet
|
2 | 1 | 1914, 1918 | 1967 | |
| St. Nicholas
|
2 | 1 | 1917, 1937 | 1934 | |
 Newcestown
|
2 | 1 | 1971, 2001 | 1974 | |
| Kilshannig
|
2 | 1 | 1988, 2022 | 1986 | |
| Clonakilty
|
2 | 0 | 1913, 1931 | — | |
| St Michael's
|
2 | 0 | 1969, 1998 | — | |
| Grenagh
|
2 | 0 | 2007, 2013 | — | |
| Kanturk
|
2 | 0 | 1910, 2017 | — | |
| 20 | Carrigaline
|
1 | 3 | 2009 | 1996, 2003, 2007 |
| Aghabullogue
|
1 | 3 | 2023 | 2013, 2018, 2022 | |
| Dromtarriffe
|
1 | 2 | 1935 | 1930, 1931 | |
| Glanworth
|
1 | 2 | 1976 | 1972, 1973 | |
| Mallow
|
1 | 2 | 1992 | 1924, 1989 | |
| Kinsale
|
1 | 2 | 2011 | 1915, 1926 | |
| Castlehaven
|
1 | 1 | 1978 | 1977 | |
| Kildorrery
|
1 | 1 | 1981 | 1979 | |
| Midleton
|
1 | 1 | 1984 | 1980 | |
| Clyda Rovers
|
1 | 1 | 1996 | 1994 | |
| Youghal
|
1 | 1 | 2000 | 1970 | |
 Carbery Rangers
|
1 | 1 | 2005 | 2004 | |
| Éire Óg
|
1 | 1 | 2014 | 2012 | |
 Bandon
|
1 | 1 | 2016 | 1982 | |
| Cill Na Martra
|
1 | 1 | 2018 | 2009 | |
| Nils | 1 | 0 | 1919 | — | |
| Shamrocks
|
1 | 0 | 1923 | — | |
| Buttevant
|
1 | 0 | 1926 | — | |
| Duhallow United | 1 | 0 | 1927 | — | |
| Kilmurry
|
1 | 0 | 1933 | — | |
| Na Piarsaigh
|
1 | 0 | 1966 | — | |
| Urhan
|
1 | 0 | 1967 | — | |
| Canovee
|
1 | 0 | 1973 | — | |
| Bishopstown
|
1 | 0 | 1974 | — | |
| Adrigole
|
1 | 0 | 1979 | — | |
 Passage West
|
1 | 0 | 1983 | — | |
| Aghada
|
1 | 0 | 1991 | — | |
| Ballincollig
|
1 | 0 | 1994 | — | |
 Douglas
|
1 | 0 | 1997 | — | |
| Ilen Rovers
|
1 | 0 | 2003 | — | |
| Béal Átha Ghaorthaidh
|
1 | 0 | 2006 | — | |
| Valley Rovers
|
1 | 0 | 2008 | — | |
| Knocknagree
|
1 | 0 | 2019 | — | |
| Iveleary
|
1 | 0 | 2021 | — | |
| 56 | Kilmurry
|
0 | 5 | — | 1925, 1928, 1932, 1992, 1995 |
| CYMS | 0 | 3 | — | 1909, 1910, 1912 | |
| St. Vincent's
|
0 | 3 | — | 1965, 1966, 1968 | |
| Ballincollig | 0 | 3 | — | 1988, 1991, 1993 | |
| Kildorrery | 0 | 2 | — | 2008, 2010 | |
| William O'Brien's | 0 | 1 | — | 1911 | |
| O'Brien's | 0 | 1 | — | 1913 | |
| Knockavilla | 0 | 1 | — | 1918 | |
| Owenabue | 0 | 1 | — | 1929 | |
| St. Columb's, Douglas | 0 | 1 | — | 1935 | |
| Newmarket
|
0 | 1 | — | 2002 | |
| Mayfield
|
0 | 1 | — | 2015 | |
| Gabriel Rangers
|
0 | 1 | — | 2019 | |
| Boherbue
|
0 | 1 | — | 2024 |
By division
| Winner | Wins | Runners-Up |
|---|---|---|
| Carbery | 17 | 13 |
| Seandun | 15 | 10 |
| Muskerry | 14 | 17 |
| Avondhu | 14 | 16 |
| Duhallow | 9 | 7 |
| Imokilly | 8 | 5 |
| Carrigdhoun | 6 | 6 |
| Beara | 4 | 5 |
| CYMS | 0 | 3 |
| William O'Brien's | 0 | 1 |
| O'Brien's | 0 | 1 |
| Knockavilla | 0 | 1 |
| Owenabue | 0 | 1 |
| St. Columb's, Douglas | 0 | 1 |
See also
References
- Cormican, Eoghan (26 March 2019). "Here's a breakdown of the proposals to restructure the Cork county championships". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- "Cork clubs vote down radical restructuring proposals". RTÉ Sport. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- Cormican, Eoghan (14 December 2023). "Castlehaven drawn with Clonakilty and Carbery Rangers for second successive year". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- Horgan, John (28 July 2019). "Work on the new pitch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh is underway to take advantage of summer growth". Evening Echo. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
- Moynihan, Michael (24 December 2012). "John Lock O'Sullivan will forever be remembered in Adrigole". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- "Probe as teacher's body found in pool". Irish Independent. 21 November 2002. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- Tarrant, John (22 August 2021). "Rockchapel upset the odds in county final against Mitchelstown". Echo Live. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
- "Knocknagree hold off late challenge from Gabriel Rangers to claim Cork IFC". Irish Examiner. 2 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
- "Bandon footballers win county intermediate football title". The Southern Star. 16 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2016.
- "Mayfield live to fight another day". Irish Examiner. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
- "Fired up Fermoy claim crown". Irish Examiner. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- "Goulding guides Éire Óg to glory". The Irish Examiner. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- "Lucky 13 as gritty Grenagh double up". Irish Examiner. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- "Castletownbere stand firm to edge past battling Éire Óg". Irish Examiner. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- "Nemo retain intermediate crown as Carbery crumble in second-half". Irish Examiner. 8 November 2004. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
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