Premier SFC: Carrigaline's league form didn't bear fruit in the championship group-stages, can they deliver this weekend in the relegation play-off?

A huge and nervy weekend coming up in the Bon Secours Hospital Premier SFC.

Carrigaline face Mallow in the relegation play-off on Sunday in Blarney at 3pm with top flight survival on the line. This isn’t unfamiliar territory for Carrigaline having been in this position two years ago when they defeated Ilen Rovers on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-10. Sub Callum Barrett struck a dramatic goal with the last kick of the game to preserve Carrigaline’s Premier Senior status. Eanna Desmond’s six points, two from frees, also helped significantly on that particular day and those two young players will be key again this weekend.

The vast majority of the players that lined out that day in Rosscarbery are still available. Having that experience and pressure under their belt has to be a benefit for the team in blue and yellow.

Since Carrigaline won the PIFC title back in 2015, they have done reasonably well in the top grade, without making a serious impression either. 2021’s pressure cooker of a relegation play-off win was Carrigaline’s first serious threat of losing their status.

The Carrigdhoun club lost all three group-stage games that season, albeit they were in a very difficult group that included Douglas, Nemo Rangers and Valley Rovers. Carrigaline lost to Douglas 1-15 to 0-9 then got hammered by a Nemo Rangers team who were going for a third consecutive county title. It finished up 6-17 to 1-8. Carrigaline then suffered another drubbing, Valley Rovers romped to a 5-12 to 0-8 victory as Carrig were sent to the relegation play-off.

The big story from that group was Nemo Rangers didn’t even qualify as they finished third with only two points, losing to Valley Rovers and Douglas. It just underlined how tough the group was. Carrig lost all three group-stage games as well in 2020 but only avoided a relegation play-off on scoring difference. 

Carrigaline were heavy favourites last season not just to slip into another relegation play-off, but to drop down to senior A level. After losing their first two group-stage games to Carbery Rangers and St Finbarr’s respectively, it looked like they were in trouble, but in another pressure game, in what was fundamentally a relegation play-off semi-final, Carrigaline stunned Éire Óg below in Ballygarvan, winning on a scoreline of 1-12 to 1-10.

A goal in the third minute of injury-time from Nathan O’Keeffe proved decisive for the team in blue and yellow. Carrigaline's never-say-die attitude bearing fruit for a second season on the bounce.

After a few challenging campaigns, there was hope in the club that 2023 would be different for the Carrigaline footballers. Niall Coakley was back playing for Carrigaline after moving back home from Dublin in March of this year. Coakley was working in Dublin and played for St Jude’s on the capital’s southside from 2015 to 2022. It was a huge boost for Carrig to have the former Cork senior footballer back in the ranks, adding another dimension to the forward line.

Manager Michael Meaney brought in former Cill na Martra boss Kevin O’Sullivan as the new coach, a smart move, given the impressive job he did with Cill na Martra which included the 2018 IFC triumph. There was a positive vibe around the club, that feel-good factor continued following a strong Cork Credit Unions Division 2 football league campaign which resulted in Carrigaline gaining promotion, winning seven and drawing two from nine outings.

To go unbeaten was a massive achievement, considering the quality of the teams that were in the league. Newcestown, Clonakilty, St Michael’s, O’Donovan Rossa, Fermoy, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, Clyda Rovers, Kanturk and Aghada made up a very competitive league. Carrigaline produced some very impressive performances, full of athleticism, physicality and a way of playing that suited the players. Carrig won the Division 2 football league title following a 1-14 to 0-11 over Newcestown in the league decider as they went into the championship in the best possible way.

The championship group-stage was a tough one, as it always is nowadays, but on The Echo Sport Podcast, I stuck my neck out and I fancied Carrigaline to qualify out of the group. It was based on the shrewd management team, big players returning, the experience of the last few years and their impressive league form.

But, similar to 2021 and 2020, the Carrigdhoun club lost all three group games. This time it was to Éire Óg (1-10 to 0-11), Ballincollig (2-12 to 0-12) and Nemo Rangers (0-15 to 1-9). It results in a do-or-die encounter on Sunday against Mallow. It will no doubt be a nerve-jangling contest, but, Carrigaline have shown in recent years that they show up when it matters. They need to do so again this weekend.