Cork GAA: Relegation cycle hard to break, just ask Ilen, St Nick's and Na Piarsaigh

The football championships are scattered with teams in a relegation death spiral. One drop too often triggers another. 

And another.

Of the 10 teams involved in this weekend’s play-offs, seven have already suffered demotion in the League earlier this year.

On top of their league woes, Na Piarsaigh and Ilen Rovers are facing back-to-back championship demotions. 

For Ilen, it could be a third relegation in four years. For St Nick’s, it could be a fourth downgrade in five years.

For extra spice, Northside pride will be on the line in the Intermediate A relegation play-off which pits Piarsaigh against St Vincent’s.

Less than a kilometre separates their pitches across Nash’s Boreen; a four-minute drive around the corner from Fair Hill to Dunmore Gardens.

Both these sides, like their Northside neighbours Nick’s, were competing together at the highest level a dozen years ago but have sunk down the grades.

It was Nick’s who relegated Piarsaigh from Senior in 2012 and Vincent’s who relegated Nick’s from Premier Intermediate in 2021. 

LONG WAIT

On Saturday, Piarsaigh and Vincent’s will complete the set (Mayfield, 4pm).

Piarsaigh look particularly imperilled. They have already been relegated to Division 6 of the league and it’s three years since their last championship victory. 

They lost their three group games by an average of 19 points, conceding 3-18 per contest.

In fairness, their scores against was even higher at Premier Intermediate last year and they raised a valiant last stand in losing the play-off to Macroom by 1-9 to 1-6. 

That arose with a healthy influx of hurlers after their championship elimination. Could they do the same here?

It’ll be some task to raise their spirits after the penalty shoot-out marathon that saw them eliminated by Castlelyons last weekend. 

Incidentally, hurling selector John Gardiner got on the scoresheet for the footballers the week previous.

Vincent’s have been more competitive under the guidance of Keith Ricken. 

They lost to a late Mitchelstown burst and an even later Glanworth goal on Blake Murphy’s return. 

The Cork forward then blasted 3-3 in a fightback which came up just shy against Ballinora. It was a repeat performance from Murphy, who also netted a second-half hat-trick in Vincent’s final group game last year. 

That greater firepower should be enough.

DROP

Nick’s, who they beat in the 2021 play-off, face St James’ in the battle to hold Premier Junior status. The Glenmen’s record in recent relegation finals has been joyless and they have dropped to Division 7 of the league.

In the credit column, they beat quarter-finalists Urhan and would’ve survived a three-way tiebreaker but for a stoppage-time Millstreet goal.

Jamie Corkery landed 1-10 in those games, Dean Brosnan came off the bench to add three points against Millstreet, and they have the Downey brothers’ athleticism down the middle. Former Cork selector Des Cullinane is in charge.

St James’ lost all of their group games without ever being blown away. Joe O’Sullivan’s accuracy offers a lifeline but they failed to capitalise on a numerical advantage against Cobh. Nick’s nous may be greater.

Working up the grades, the Premier Intermediate showdown is between two teams who suffered league relegations to Division 4 (Macroom) and Division 5 (Ilen Rovers).

Aidan O’Mahony’s first year has been a struggle but his side will fancy their chances against an emigration-hit Ilen outfit who have conceded 11 goals in three games.

Senior A is a contest between Clyda Rovers and Kiskeam, who met in a dead-rubber Division 2 fixture in June after both teams’ relegation had been confirmed. The Duhallow side won with their highest return of the year, 3-12 to 0-14.

Their championship tally of 0-22 across three games has scarcely topped that total but Clyda, down Conor Corbett, have coughed up 10 goals. Whichever team can buck the trend should survive.

It was feisty last year, when Clyda won, so expect more of the same with survival on the line.

Elsewhere, Éire Óg escaped a Premier Senior relegation final two years ago against Newcestown and face a Carbery Rangers side who slipped out of the league’s top division this term.

The Rosscarbery club are yet to score a goal but demonstrated their fight in rescuing a draw against Clonakilty which should stand them in good stead.