Guide to the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 3 and 4 football league fixtures

LAST week the focus was on the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 and 2 football league fixtures for the 2024 season, now it’s time to concentrate on Division 3 and 4.

Out of the seven football leagues under the umbrella of Cork GAA, Division 3 served up the most entertainment last year and it was without doubt the most competitive of the lot. Dohenys finished top on 15 points, but below the West Cork side, three teams were deadlocked on 12 points, with Knocknagree’s scoring difference enough to see them get promoted ahead of unlucky Bishopstown and Macroom.

Mallow and Castletownbere finished up in mid-table, but both were within a shout of finishing second, which illustrates that anyone can beat anyone on any given day in this league. Coming down from Division 2 are Aghada and Kanturk. Ilen Rovers and Glanworth went through the trap door and they were replaced by Kilshannig and Newmarket.

Trying to pick out two teams for promotion is literally like trying to do the lotto, realistically, over half of the ten teams will feel they will have a legitimate opportunity of moving into the second-tier of the league. Newmarket, Bishopstown, Macroom, Kanturk, Mallow, Castletownbere and Kilshannig will be confident, but every team will be at this time of year.

Moving down to Division 4, and there are derbies galore everywhere you look, which makes it probably even harder to nail your colours to the mast. Boherbue and Glanmire are the new teams in this particular league after achieving promotion from Division 5 in 2023.

Last year’s IAFC winners Aghabullogue will be one of the fancied sides, especially after they finished third last season, three points off the promotion places. Their first game is at home to Muskerry rivals Naomh Abán, who will be hoping to improve on their league form after finishing third from bottom in the previous campaign.

Bantry Blues, beaten in the last two PIFC finals, will be another team that will be targeting promotion to Division 3.

DIVISION 3 

MARCH (11.30am throw-in times unless stated) - first teams are at home unless stated - (fixtures are subject to change) 

2nd: Nemo Rangers v Rockchapel, 3pm; Newmarket v Bishopstown, 4pm.

3rd: Macroom v Kanturk; Mallow v Aghada.

10th: Castletownbere v Kilshannig, 12 noon.

15th: Bishopstown v Mallow, 8pm.

16th: Nemo Rangers v Macroom, 3pm.

17th: Kanturk v Castletownbere; Kilshannig v Newmarket; Rockchapel v Aghada.

30th: Kanturk v Nemo Rangers, 3pm.

31st: Aghada v Newmarket; Bishopstown v Castletownbere; Kilshannig v Macroom; Rockchapel v Mallow.

APRIL 

13th: Castletownbere v Nemo Rangers, 3pm.

14th: Aghada v Bishopstown; Macroom v Rockchapel; Mallow v Kilshannig; Newmarket v Kanturk.

27th: Nemo Rangers v Kilshannig, 3pm.

28th: Castletownbere v Aghada; Kanturk v Rockchapel; Macroom v Bishopstown; Newmarket v Mallow.

MAY 

11th: Bishopstown v Nemo Rangers, 3pm.

12th: Aghada v Macroom; Kilshannig v Kanturk; Mallow v Castletownbere; Rockchapel v Newmarket.

25th: Nemo Rangers v Aghada, 3pm.

26th: Castletownbere v Newmarket; Kanturk v Bishopstown; Kilshannig v Rockchapel; Macroom v Mallow.

JUNE 

8th: Mallow v Nemo Rangers, 3pm.

9th: Aghada v Kanturk; Bishopstown v Kilshannig; Newmarket v Macroom; Rockchapel v Castletownbere.

22nd: Nemo Rangers v Newmarket, 3pm.

23rd: Kanturk v Mallow; Kilshannig v Aghada; Macroom v Castletownbere; Rockchapel v Bishopstown.

DIVISION 4 

MARCH (11.30am throw-in times unless stated) - first teams are at home unless stated – (fixtures are subject to change) 

3rd: Aghabullogue v Naomh Abán; Bantry Blues v Glanworth; Boherbue v Glanmire; Ilen Rovers v Iveleary; St Vincent’s v Bandon.

17th: Bandon v Boherbue; Glanmire v Ilen Rovers; Glanworth v Aghabullogue; Naomh Abán v St Vincent’s; Iveleary v Bantry Blues.

31st: Aghabullogue v Iveleary; Bantry Blues v Glanmire; Ilen Rovers v Bandon; Naomh Abán v Glanworth; St Vincent’s v Boherbue.

APRIL 

14th: Bandon v Bantry Blues; Boherbue v Ilen Rovers; Glanmire v Aghabullogue; Glanworth v St Vincent’s; Iveleary v Naomh Abán.

28th: Aghabullogue v Bandon; Bantry Blues v Boherbue; Glanworth v Iveleary; Naomh Abán v Glanmire; St Vincent’s v Ilen Rovers.

MAY 

12th: Bandon v Naomh Abán; Boherbue v Aghabullogue; Glanmire v Glanworth; Ilen Rovers v Bantry Blues; Iveleary v St Vincent’s.

26th: Aghabullogue v Ilen Rovers; Glanworth v Bandon; Naomh Abán v Boherbue; St Vincent’s v Bantry Blues; Iveleary v Glanmire.

JUNE 

9th: Bandon v Iveleary; Bantry Blues v Aghabullogue; Boherbue v Glanworth; Glanmire v St Vincent’s; Ilen Rovers v Naomh Abán.

23rd: Aghabullogue v St Vincent’s; Glanmire v Bandon; Glanworth v Ilen Rovers; Naomh Abán v Bantry Blues; Iveleary v Boherbue.