Cork board map out the path to the club finals as county panels return to training

Tue, 15 Sep, 2020 - 17:58

Eamonn Murphy

THE Cork County Board have mapped out the rest of the club championships, which will run until the second weekend in October.

The bulk of the county finals are set for the weekend of October 2-4, though a number of those are provisional, due to the potential dual commitments of Kanturk, Éire Óg, Aghabullogue and St Michael's/Blackrock.

Two attractive hurling finals will definitely be played though, Glen Rovers or Erin's Own against UCC or Blackrock in the Premier SHC and Castlelyons or Courcey Rovers against Blarney or Carrigaline in the PIHC.

If UCC make the decider that's likely to put the PIHC final on the Saturday and the Premier SHC the following day, due to College hurlers involved across both grades.

The board, from this weekend, can admit 200 supporters into games again after government restrictions were eased on fans attending matches.

Sars' Paul Leopold racing away from Erin's Own's Mossie O'Carroll. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

The Cork hurlers are back training this week but their panel is a combination of the senior and U20 players, due to so many still on duty with their clubs.

Pat Ryan's U20 hurlers face Kerry in their Munster championship opener, while Kieran Kingston's squad take on Waterford in the Munster semi-final on the October Bank Holiday weekend.

Pat Ryan has a more pressing commitment with the Sars' minors, who battle St Finbarr's at Páirc Uí Rinn on Wednesday night in a P1 final that will be streamed by The Irish Examiner.

Kingston told this Examiner this week:

"Our numbers will be limited at training but I think it would be unfair on players to bring them in for county training while they’re still involved in club championships.

“The period dedicated to the clubs has helped them enormously and I think the players have responded accordingly. It’s been brilliant. It wouldn’t be my intention to disrupting that for the sake of a few weeks.

“I would consider ourselves in Cork being lucky in that our lads have the opportunity to be involved in high-quality club games like we saw this past weekend right up to the start of October."

Kieran Kingston, Diarmuid O'Sullivan, and Pat Keane watching Na Piarsaigh and UCC. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Kieran's sons Conor and Shane impressed with Douglas in recent weeks, though they were beaten in the PSHC after a belter of a battle with rivals Blackrock. The Rebel boss feels the club-only window was ideal to put the county's best hurlers in the spotlight.

“Of course, as an inter-county manager you would like more time with your players and it won’t be the week of October 5 until we have them all together and that’s while giving the fellas involved in the county final a break. But we don’t have a choice but to be fair to the clubs.

“We would certainly be looking at giving opportunities to guys on the basis of what they did in the club championship. At the same time, we have to consider how much influence they can have in such a short timeframe to the Championship. You have to be fair to them in that regard as well.”

Date	Comp	Round	Fixture
Fri, Sept 18th @7.30pm	IAFC	Rel. p/o	Glanmire v Mayfield in Na Piarsaigh (note change)
Fri, Sept 18th @7.30pm	SAFC	Rel. p/o	St Nick’s v Bantry Blues in Dunmanway (note change)

Sat, Sept 19th @2pm	PIFC	QF	Nemo Rangers v Knocknagree in Donoughmore
Sat, Sept 19th @2pm	PIFC	QF	Kanturk v Aghada in Ovens
Sat, Sept 19th @2pm	PIFC	Rel. p/o	Gabriel Rangers v Na Piarsaigh in Ballinacarriga
Sat, Sept 19th @4pm	IAFC	QF	Kilshannig v Glanworth in Killavullen
Sat, Sept 19th @4pm	IAFC	QF	Millstreet v Aghabullogue in Ballyvourney
Sat, Sept 19th @4pm	IAFC	QF	Mitchelstown v Kinsale in Carrigtwohill
Sat, Sept 19th @4pm	IAFC	QF	Rockchapel v Ballinora in Mallow
Sat, Sept 19th @3.30pm	PIHC	SF	Castlelyons v Courcey Rovers in Páirc Uí Rinn
Sat, Sept 19th @7pm	PIHC	SF	Carrigaline v Blarney in Páirc Uí Rinn

Sun, Sept 20th @2pm	PSFC	QF	Nemo Rangers v Ballincollig in Páirc Uí Rinn
Sun, Sept 20th @2pm	PSFC	Rel. p/o	Ilen Rovers v Bishopstown in Clonakilty
Sun, Sept 20th @2pm	SAFC	QF	St Michael’s v Éire Óg in Ballyanly
Sun, Sept 20th @4pm	PSFC	QF	St Finbarr’s v Newcestown in Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Sun, Sept 20th @4pm	SAFC	QF	Mallow v Bandon in Coachford (venue TBC)
Sun, Sept 20th @7pm	PSFC	QF	Valley Rovers v Duhallow in Páirc Uí Rinn

Fri, Sept 25th @7.30pm	PIFC	SF	Cill Na Martra v Kanturk or Aghada in Cloughduv (provisional if Aghada)

Sat, Sept 26th @2pm	SAHC	SF	Charleville v Kanturk in Mallow
Sat, Sept 26th @3pm	LIHC	SF	St Catherine’s v Russell Rovers in Killeagh
Sat, Sept 26th @4pm	PIFC	SF	Newmarket v Nemo Rangers or Knocknagree in Coachford or Kiskeam
Sat, Sept 26th @TBC	IAFC	SF	Mitchelstown/Kinsale v Millstreet/Aghabullogue (if Millstreet)
Sat, Sept 26th @TBC	IAFC	SF	Kilshannig/Glanworth v Rockchapel/Ballinora
Sat, Sept 26th @5pm	PSHC	SF	Blackrock v UCC in Páirc Uí Chaoimh
Sat, Sept 26th @7.30pm	PSHC	SF	Glen Rovers v Erins Own in Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Sun, Sept 27th @1pm	SAHC	SF	Fr O’Neill’s v Newcestown in Páirc Uí Rinn
Sun, Sept 27th @2pm	SAHC	Rel. p/o	Kilworth v Killeagh in Ballynoe
Sun, Sept 27th @2pm	IAHC	SF	Éire Óg v Sarsfields in Blarney
Sun, Sept 27th @3pm	PSFC	SF	Castlehaven v St Finbarr’s or Newcestown (in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (if St Finbarr’s)
Sun, Sept 27th @3pm	SAFC	SF	Fermoy v Mallow/Bandon in Glanworth or Inniscarra
Sun, Sept 27th @4pm	LIHC	SF	Castlemartyr v Kibrittain in Páirc Uí Rinn
Sun, Sept 27th @4pm	IAHC	SF	Kildorrery v Aghabullogue in Glantane
Sun, Sept 27th @5.30pm	PSFC	SF	Nemo Rangers/Ballincollig v Valley Rovers/Duhallow in Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Oct 2nd-4th	PSHC	Final	Glen Rovers or Erins Own v Blackrock or UCC
Oct 2nd-4th	SAHC	Final	Charleville or Kanturk v Fr O’Neill’s or Newcestown (provisional)
Oct 2nd-4th	PIHC	Final	Castlelyons or Courcey Rovers v Carrigaline or Blarney
Oct 2nd-4th	IAHC	Final	Kildorrery or Aghabullogue v Eire Óg or Sarsfields (provisional)
Oct 2nd-4th	PSFC	Final	Castlehaven/St Finbarr’s/Newcestown v Nemo Rangers/Ballincollig/Valley Rovers/Duhallow (provisional)
Oct 2nd-4th	PIFC	Final	Newmarket/Nemo Rangers/Knocknagree v Cill Na Martra/Kanturk/Aghada (provisional)
Oct 2nd-4th	IAFC	Final	Mitchelstown/Kinsale/Millstreet/Aghabullogue v Kilshanning/Glanworth/Rockchapel/Ballinora (provisional)
Oct 2nd-4th	SAFC	SF	O’Donovan Rossa v St Michael’s or Eire Óg (provisional)
Oct 2nd-4th	IAHC	Rel. RR (ii)	Argideen Rangers v Meelin (provisional)

Oct 9th-11th	SAFC	Final	O’Donovan Rossa/St Michael’s/Eire Óg v Fermoy/Mallow/Bandon (provisional)
Oct 9th-11th	LIHC	Final	St Catherine's or Russell Rovers v Castlemartyr or Kilbrittain
Oct 9th-11th	IAHC	Rel. RR (iii)	Argideen Rangers v Glen Rovers (provisional)