Cork county championship schedule to remain as originally planned

Cork County Board have confirmed that the master fixture plan will remain in place despite the senior hurlers reaching an All-Ireland final.

The McCarthy Insurance Group Football Championships will commence, as planned on the last weekend of July, though there is a possibility that some of the fixtures schedule for Friday, July 26 will be moved.

Currently, there are three Premier SFC games set for Friday featuring clubs that have Cork senior hurlers – St Finbarr’s (Brian Hayes) take on Douglas (Shane Kingston), Castlehaven (Damien and Conor Cahalane) meet Carbery Rangers and Newcestown (Luke Meade) clash with Éire Óg.

While there is a possibility that those games may be moved to a later slot in the weekend, the programme will not be moved on en masse. There was a facility for that to happen if Cork reached the All-Ireland senior football final, which takes place on the same weekend, but a communication from the county board to the clubs has reiterated that the status quo will remain.

“As clarified at last week's county committee meeting, there will be no change to the Cork GAA master fixture plan following yesterday's win by the senior hurlers,” read a statement that was circulated on Monday.

“The fixture plan, as ratified at the beginning of the year, took the possibility of Cork reaching an All-Ireland hurling final into account, with the county senior, intermediate and premier junior football championships due to start on the following weekend (July 26-28).

“If clubs with Cork senior hurlers involved wish to seek an adjustment in their fixture to a later time over the same weekend, the county CCC will consider such requests up until close of business on tomorrow, Tuesday, July 9.

“Finally, well done to Goleen and Ballinacurra, who won the first two of our nineteen adult county championships on Saturday in the confined junior B and C finals respectively.”

The county board declined to comment to The Echo beyond that.

Meanwhile, the traditional post-All-Ireland banquet, organised by the One Cork Dublin, will take place at the Clayton Hotel on Burlington Road from 8pm on Sunday, July 21. Tickets are available at €175 per person.

Thursday night sees the first of this year’s RedFM Hurling League finals take place, with Carrigaline and St Finbarr’s meeting in the Division 2 decider at Páirc Uí Rinn (7pm).

While Midleton began the campaign with seven straight wins, a loss to Newtownshandrum meant that their last match, away to the Barrs, was essentially a league semi-final as the Togher side went into it two points behind but knowing that a win would secure a final spot on head-to-head record.

Their 1-22 to 0-15 sent them through while Carrigaline’s walkover from Éire Óg in their final regular fixture ensured they topped the table and secured promotion to Division 1 along with the Barrs.

The south-east side are looking to complete a double, having overcome Nemo Rangers in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 1 final last weekend. Brian Kelleher, David Drake and Rob O’Shea ensure that Eddie Murphy’s side possess a strong attacking threat but, even without their Cork contingent, the Barrs have a strong hand available, with William Buckley and Jack Cahalane likely to lead the way on the scoring front.