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Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Current season or competition: 2024 Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Code	Hurling
Founded	2004; 20 years ago (2004)
Region	Cork (GAA)
Trophy	Séamus Long Cup
No. of teams	12
Title holders	Watergrasshill (1st title)
Most titles	Ballinhassig (2 titles) Blarney (2 titles) Courcey Rovers (2 titles)
Sponsors	Co-Op Superstores
Official website	Official website

The Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Cork PIHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking intermediate clubs in the county of Cork in Ireland. It is the third tier overall in the entire Cork hurling championship system.

The Cork Premier Intermediate Championship was introduced in 2004 following a split in the existing Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship. At the time of its creation it was the second tier of Cork hurling.

In its soon-to-be introduced format, the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship will begin in April. The 12 participating club teams will be drawn into three groups of four teams and play each other in a round-robin system. The three group winners and the three runners-up proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Páirc Uí Rinn in October. The winner of the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship, as well as being presented with the Séamus Long Cup, qualifies for the subsequent Munster Club Championship.

The competition has been won by 18 teams. Ballinhassig, Blarney and Courcey Rovers are the only teams to have won the tournament on more than one occasion. Watergrasshill are the title-holders, beating Carrigaline by 2-16 to 0-19 in the 2024 final.

History

The Cork Intermediate Championship was founded in 1909 in an effort to bridge the standard of play between the Cork Senior Championship and the Cork Junior Championship. For almost a century, the Cork Intermediate Championship was effectively the second tier championship in the Cork hurling championship system.

In 2003 the Cork County Board Executive established a Hurling Championship Review Committee in an effort to improve the competitiveness of the Cork Senior Championship. The committee also proposed the splitting of the existing Cork Intermediate Championship in two with the creation of a 16-team Cork Premier Intermediate Championship which became the second tier of the Cork hurling championship system.

The championship was first played in 2004 with the winner, St. Catherine's, gaining automatic promotion to the following year's Cork Senior Championship. Their place in the championship was taken by Watergrasshill who won the Cork Intermediate Championship. The idea of relegation was introduced in 2006 with St. Finbarr's becoming the first team to be relegated from the championship after losing a play-off to Ballincollig. Similarly, Delaney Rovers became the first team to be relegated to the championship after losing their senior status following a play-off defeat by Castlelyons. Relegation was suspended in 2013 and again from 2015 to 2019.

Format

History

16 clubs entered the inaugural championship in 2004 and a double elimination format was used. Each team was guaranteed at least two games before being eliminated from the championship. In 2006 a relegation section was introduced. The four teams who lost both their games in Round 1 and Round 2 entered the relegation play-offs with the eventual losing team being relegated. An extra round of games was added to the championship in 2010. Each team was now given the opportunity of losing both of their games in Round 1 and Round 2 but remaining in the championship. This format remained in place until 2016 when it was decided to revert to the previous format.

Current

Development

On 2 April 2019, a majority of 136 club delegates voted to restructure the championship once again. The new format also led to a reduction in the number of participating clubs from 16 to 12.

Overview

Group stage: The 12 club 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 knockout stage, with the two best-placed teams receiving byes to the semi-finals.

Quarter-finals: Two lone quarter-finals feature the four lowest-placed team from the group stage. Two teams qualify for the next round.

Semi-finals: The two semi-finals feature four teams. Two teams qualify for the next round.

Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions and gain automatic promotion to the following year's Cork Senior A Championship.

Teams

2025 Teams

The 12 teams competing in the 2025 Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship are:

Team	Location	Division	Colours	Position in 2024	In Championship since	Championship Titles	Last Championship Title
Ballincollig	Ballincollig	Muskerry	Green and white	Semi-finals	2019	0	—
Ballinhassig	Ballinhassig	Carrigdhoun	Blue and white	Quarter-finals	2014	2	2012
Ballymartle	Riverstick	Carrigdhoun	Green and gold	Group stage	2023	1	2010
Carrigaline	Carrigaline	Carrigdhoun	Blue and yellow	Runners-up	2009	0	—
Castlemartyr	Castlemartyr	Imokilly	Red and white	Group stage	2022	0	—
Cloyne	Cloyne	Imokilly	Red and black	Relegation playoff losers (Cork SAHC)	2025	0	—
Dungourney	Dungourney	Imokilly	Yellow and green	Quarter-finals	2023	0	—
Éire Óg	Ovens	Muskerry	Red and yellow	Group stage	2021	0	—
Kilworth	Kilworth	Avondhu	Red and white	Relegation playoff winners	2021	0	—
Lisgoold	Lisgoold	Imokilly	Blue and gold	Champions (Cork IAHC)	2025	0	—
Mallow	Mallow	Avondhu	Red and yellow	Semi-finals	2024	0	—
Valley Rovers	Innishannon	Carrigdhoun	Green and white	Group stage	2010	0	—

Sponsorship

Permanent TSB became the first title sponsor of the championship, serving in that capacity for just one year until 2005 when the Evening Echo signed a sponsorship deal. In 2020, Dairygold Co-Op Superstores were unveiled as the new title sponsor of the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship.

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. Some of the more common venues include Clonmult Memorial Park, Páirc Shéamuis de Barra, St. Catherine's Park, Church Road and Páirc Liam Mhic Cárthaigh.

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. The rebuilding and subsequent improvement works to Páirc Uí Chaoimh resulted in several finals being held at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Managers

Managers in the Cork Championship are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and sourcing of players. Their influence varies from club-to-club and is related to the individual club committees. The manager is assisted by a team of two or three selectors and a backroom team consisting of various coaches.

Sean Guiheen - Courcey Rovers - 2021 Paul mc carthy - Inniscarra - 2022

Trophy

The winning team is presented with the Séamus Long Cup. A national school teacher by profession, Séamus Long (1884-1953) was elected secretary of the Ballincollig club in 1914, before serving as the first secretary of the Muskerry Board in 1924. A founder-member of the Ballinora club the same year, he was the club's first chairman. Long also served as vice-chairman of the Cork County Board and was a Munster Council delegate from 1949 until his death in 1953.

List of Finals

Legend

• Gold – Munster intermediate club champions
• Silver – Munster intermediate club runners-up

List of Cork PIHC finals

Roll of honour

By club

#	Club	Titles	Runners-up	Championships won	Championships runner-up
1	Courcey Rovers	2	3	2011, 2021	2004, 2008, 2018
	Ballinhassig	2	0	2005, 2012	—
	Blarney	2	0	2008, 2020	—
4	Castlelyons	1	3	2023	2013, 2020, 2021
	Carrigtwohill	1	1	2007	2006
	Ballymartle	1	1	2010	2009
	Youghal	1	1	2013	2011
	Newcestown	1	1	2015	2014
	Bandon	1	1	2016	2012
	Watergrasshill	1	1	2024	2007
	St. Catherine's	1	0	2004	—
	Bishopstown	1	0	2006	—
	Douglas	1	0	2009	—
	Ballyhea	1	0	2014	—
	Kanturk	1	0	2017	—
	Charleville	1	0	2018	—
	Fr O'Neills	1	0	2019	—
	Inniscarra	1	0	2022	—
19	Kilworth	0	2	—	2019, 2023
	Aghada	0	1	—	2005
	Tracton	0	1	—	2010
	Valley Rovers	0	1	—	2015
	Fermoy	0	1	—	2016
	Mallow	0	1	—	2017
	Castlemartyr	0	1	—	2022
	Carrigaline	0	1	—	2024

By Division

Division	Titles	Runners-Up	Total	Most recent win
Imokilly	6	9	15	2024
Carrigdhoun	5	7	12	2021
Muskerry	4	0	4	2022
Avondhu	2	4	6	2018
Carbery	2	2	4	2016
Seandún	2	0	2	2009
Duhallow	1	0	1	2017

Records and statistics

Teams

The following is a list of teams who have played in the Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship since its formation in 2004 to the current championships season. As of the 2020 season, 31 teams have played in the Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.

All statistics here refer to time in the Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship only, with the exception of 'Most Recent Finish' (which refers to all levels of play). Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship teams playing in the 2020 championship season are indicated in bold. A 'spell' refers to a number of consecutive seasons within the championship, uninterrupted by relegation. If the longest spell is the current spell, this is shown in bold.

Final

Team

• Most wins: 2:
  • Ballinhassig (2005, 2012), Blarney (2008, 2020) and Courcey Rovers (2011, 2021)
• Most appearances in a final: 3:
  • Courcey Rovers (2004, 2008, 2018)
• Biggest win: 18 points
  • Newcestown 1-23 - 0-08 Valley Rovers, (2015)
• Most goals in a final: 6
  • Carrigtwohill 3-14 - 3-12 Watergrasshill, (2007)
• Most points in a final: 36
  • Douglas 0-20 - 0-16 Ballymartle, (2009)
• Most goals by a winning side: 3
  • Carrigtwohill 3-14 - 3-12 Watergrasshill, (2007)
• Most goals by a losing side: 3
  • Watergrasshill 3-12 - 3-14 Carrigtwohill, (2007)
• Most points by a winning side: 23
  • Newcestown 1-23 - 0-08 Valley Rovers, (2015)
• Most points by a losing side: 16
  • Ballymartle 0-16 - 0-20 Douglas, (2009)
  • Newcestown 0-16 - 1-17 Ballyhea, (2014)
• Highest cumulative score overall: 44
  • Carrigtwohill 3-14 - 3-12 Watergrasshill, (2007)
• Highest cumulative score by a winning team: 26
  • Newcestown 1-23 - 0-08 Valley Rovers, (2015)
• Highest cumulative score by a losing team: 21
  • Watergrasshill 3-12 - 3-14 Carrigtwohill, (2007)
• Most defeats: 2
  • Courcey Rovers (2004, 2008, 2018)

Top scorers

All time

As of match played 12 October 2019.

By season

Overall

Single game

In finals

Cumulative

Individual

See also

• Cork Intermediate A Hurling Championship

References

1. Cormican, Eoghan (26 March 2019). "Here's a breakdown of the proposals to restructure the Cork county championships". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
2. "Cork clubs vote down radical restructuring proposals". RTÉ Sport. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
3. O'Connor, Colm (27 July 2020). "Cork GAA ink hurling sponsorship deal with Dairygold Co-Op Superstores". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
4. 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.
5. Horgan, John (13 October 2019). "Dalton and Dunne deliver glory for Fr O'Neill's hurlers against Kilworth". Evening Echo. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
6. O'Callaghan, Therese (30 October 2018). "Charleville back in the big time as Courceys held at bay". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
7. O'Callaghan, Therese (9 October 2017). "Kanturk the kingpins after show of fitness and courage". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
8. O'Callaghan, Therese (10 October 2016). "Masterclass by Ronan Crowley earns Bandon senior status". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
9. Hurley, Denis (12 October 2015). "Five-star Newcestown's glorious day". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
10. Hurley, Denis (13 October 2014). "Ballyhea 'yes' at return to senior ranks". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 October 2014.
11. O'Callaghan, Therese (14 October 2013). "Youghal smash 'n' grab". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
12. O'Callaghan, Therese (8 October 2012). "Ballinhassig back at the top table". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
13. Lester, Bob (10 October 2011). "Clinical Courcey's finally go the distance". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
14. Moynihan, Michael (11 October 2010). "Tracton second best again in derby duel". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
15. Weldon, Eoin (15 October 2009). "Douglas set for senior". Cork Independent. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
16. "Blarney make the breakthrough". Southern Star. 25 October 2008. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
17. "Carrigtwohill make the ascent". Hogan Stand. 15 January 2008. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
18. Larkin, Brendan (21 October 2006). "Bishopstown's young guns bid to come of age". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 October 2017.

• Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
• Hurling competitions in County Cork
• Intermediate hurling county championships