Premier JHC: Big names absent as knockout stages begin

Proof, if it were needed, of the knife-edge nature of 12-team grades in the Cork championships can be seen in the Co-op SuperStores Premier JHC.

In 2020, the first season of the fifth tier – then known as the Lower IHC – Russell Rovers reached the final, which wasn’t played until the summer of 2021. They lost out to Castlemartyr, who subsequently went on to claim the 2021 IAHC and then reach the Premier IHC final last year, losing to Inniscarra after a replay.

Meanwhile, Rovers struggled to bounce back from the loss and ended up in the 2021 Lower IHC relegation play-off, beating Grenagh. They responded well in 2022, unlucky to lose to Ballygiblin in the semi-finals but, despite winning Division 5 of the RedFM Hurling League this year, the Churchtown/Shanagarry side exited this year’s Premier JHC at the group stage after a loss to St Catherine’s in their last group match.

After Ballygiblin beat Russell Rovers last year, they overcame Tracton in the final. Like Rovers, Tracton had a good league, losing out to Ballygarvan in the Division 6 final, but they lost their three group games. That leaves them to face St Finbarr’s in Sunday’s relegation play-off in Ballygarvan.

Encouraging league form seems to have been a jinx as Ballygarvan also failed to advance. The south-east side met Kilbrittain a fortnight ago, with the runners-up spot in Group B up for grabs as both had lost to Barryroe and beaten Milford. Kilbrittain won by six points to set up a quarter-final meeting with Glen Rovers – Ovens is the venue on Sunday at 2pm.

The Glen finished top of their group on scoring difference after they, Erin’s Own and Argideen Rangers all finished level on three points; however, had Argideen won by two points rather than one, they would have topped the group rather than being eliminated.

Erin’s Own are in quarter-final action tomorrow, with Meelin their opponents in Mallow at 4pm.

Barryroe and St Catherine’s await the two quarter-final winners in the semi-finals – the match-ups will depend on who emerges as repeat pairings are to be avoided.

For Ballygiblin and the side they succeeded as fifth-tier winners, Lisgoold, the hope of intermediate A success remains alive as they engage in quarter-final action this weekend.

After wins over Cloughduv – last year’s beaten finalists – and Douglas, both Ballygiblin and Midleton were assured of progression prior to their clash in the last round of group fixtures.

The Magpies won that to take one of the semi-final spots – it was the first time in 14 games that Ballygiblin had failed to win a Cork championship match, dating back to the 2021 Avondhu JAHC, and now they must face Blackrock, who topped a group featuring Mayfield, Sarsfields and Kildorrery.

Riverstown is the venue for that game at 4pm tomorrow, with the other quarter-final and the relegation play-off both taking place at the same time.

Mayfield, who finished level on points with Blackrock and were only denied first place on scoring difference, go up against Lisgoold in Cobh. The 2021 Lower IHC winners finished second to Aghabullogue in Group A.

After both games in the opening round finished level, Lisgoold overcame Aghada while Aghabullogue beat Youghal.

Lisgoold went up against the Coachford side in the final game, with the winners guaranteed top spot. Aghabullogue’s 2-17 to 1-19 victory took them to an automatic semi-final berth but defeat was not terminal for Lisgoold. Aghada’s win over Youghal left them tied on three points each with Lisgoold, who took second place thanks to their better head-to-head record.

Unfortunately for Youghal, the defeat left them bottom of the table on a point. Kildorrery, fourth in Group B, also had a point but their better scoring difference means Youghal – demoted from Premier IHC last year – must face Douglas, who lost all three games, in the relegation play-off. That takes place in Carrigtwohill.

PREMIER JHC

Saturday, September 16

Quarter-final: Erin’s Own v Meelin, Mallow, 4pm.

Sunday, September 17

Quarter-final: Kilbrittain v Glen Rovers, Ovens, 2pm.

Relegation play-off: Tracton v St Finbarr’s, Ballygarvan, 2pm.

IAHC

Saturday, September 16 (all 4pm)

Quarter-finals: Blackrock v Ballygiblin, Riverstown; Mayfield v Lisgoold, Cobh.
Relegation play-off: Douglas v Youghal, Carrigtwohill.