Premier IHC: All 12 sides still in with a chance of qualification for knockout stages

The even nature of the premier intermediate hurling grade in Cork has been a factor since its inception, first as the second tier in the mid-2000s and now as the third level, below premier senior and senior A.

Proof, if it were required, comes from Group 3 of the Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC ahead of Sunday’s final set of round-robin fixtures (all games taking place at 2pm) – all four sides are on two points after a win and a loss.

It could have probably have been expected that a section containing Ballinhassig, Ballymartle, Dungourney and Kilworth would be closely fought. Last year, Kilworth and Ballymartle progressed to the knockout stages last year – Kilworth reaching the final – on head-to-head and scoring difference respectively, the same margins by which Ballinhassig and Dungourney missed out.

In the case of Kilworth and Ballinhassig, they were on opposite sides of the same fine margins, with the North Cork side prevailing in the last set of fixtures last year, and this time around they are in a similar scenario.

The clubs’ game in Castlelyons and the meeting of Ballymartle and Dungourney in Ballymaw essentially serve as quarter-final play-offs – the winners go through while the losers are out. Ballinhassig have a scoring-difference advantage on Kilworth in the event of a draw, as do Ballymartle on Dungourney. However, if both games were drawn – a first four-way tie since the format came in – then Ballinhassig and Kilworth would advance.

Groups 1 and 2 are similar in there is a clear front-runner in each, albeit not yet guaranteed to advance, while the sides without a win yet in those sections could still squeeze through.

In Group 1, Watergrasshill won their first game since 2021 as they came back to beat Carrigaline in their opener and then saw off Castlemartyr. Going two years without a victory sounds more dramatic than it was – they drew five out of six games, but were unable to qualify in 2022 or 2023 – but they are now in the box-seat ahead of a clash with Valley Rovers in Ballinspittle.

Another win for the Hill guarantees top spot, but a loss could make for a three-way tie if Carrigaline beat Castlemartyr in Lisgoold. On the other hand, a win for the Imokilly side against the winners of Division 2 of the RedFM Hurling League could leave a trio level in second place on two points.

The story is much the same in Group 2, though leaders Ballincollig do have an extra half-point in the shape of a scoring difference of +14. It means that, in order not to qualify, they would have to lose by at least eight points to Aghabullogue in Ballyanly, with Éire Óg simultaneously beating Mallow by 12 in Grenagh.

If Mallow were to win that by three or more, it could be enough to qualify in second on scoring difference if Ballincollig were to beat Aghabullogue.