PIFC: Macroom face one of the biggest games in their recent history this weekend

MACROOM have played in many county finals in their long and proud history but they are in a different kind of final this weekend with so much on the line.

The Muskerry outfit face Na Piarsaigh in the Bon Secours Hospital PIFC relegation play-off on Sunday in Ovens at 3pm.

Macroom have won the top flight football championship in Cork 10 times, but the last of those victories was back in 1962. They have produced some legendary players that have donned the Rebel geansaí at senior level such as Tom Creedon, Colman Corrigan and Fintan Goold. Macroom have also won three intermediate football championships in 1982, 1990 and 2010. The restructuring of the grades in 2006 meant 2010’s IFC triumph resulted in a jump up to premier intermediate level and not straight up to the senior ranks like was the case before 2006.

It was generally felt at the time that the Mid-Cork side had the potential to make a bold bid for glory in the premier intermediate grade, after reaching the quarter-final in 2011, the following season was hampered by injuries which resulted in Macroom having to beat Mayfield in the relegation play-off final.

A return to the top flight for the first time since the 1993 season then looked likely in 2013 under their passionate manager Noel Twomey, who guided the team to the IFC success three years before. The team in green and white lost out to Clyda Rovers in the PIFC decider on a scoreline of 0-13 to 0-8. The team have only made three quarter-final appearances since and they all came in successive seasons in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Since the group-stage format was introduced in 2020, Macroom have failed to qualify out of the group-stages, finishing third in the first three seasons, and now facing a relegation play-off in the fourth campaign.

This season was a very difficult championship group for Macroom. The team in green and white would have earmarked the first group encounter against Naomh Abán as a critical one given Iveleary and Bantry Blues were also in the mix.

Naomh Abán were much hungrier and a more balanced outfit as they won 1-14 to 1-9. It wasn’t going to get any better for Macroom and a 2-13 to 1-11 defeat to Iveleary plunged them into big trouble heading into the last group match against last year’s beaten finalists Bantry Blues.

The West Cork side were already through and were without Ruairi Deane but would have still been expected to defeat a struggling Macroom team. The task was simple for Macroom, a win was a necessity. With their backs firmly to the wall, they came out fighting and probably in the end should have won as it ended 1-10 to 0-13. The draw wasn’t enough to save Macroom from a relegation play-off. Bantry Blues looked in a good position leading 1-7 to 0-6 heading into the final quarter but the team in green and white rallied and if it wasn't for wayward shooting, Macroom would have won. That fighting spirit and hunger will be required again this weekend.

Four Macroom players that lined out in the 2010 IFC success over Kildorrery are part of the current team in the form of Rory Buckley, Seán Kiely, Fintan Goold and Tony Dineen. Their experience will play a huge part this weekend.

The Macroom players have to deal with the weight of history on Sunday in Ovens. If the worst does happen then relegation wouldn’t be terminal but it would be a severe bump in the road. It's unthinkable for a club like Macroom to be playing in the fourth tier, but it could be a reality on Sunday evening.