Cork PSFC: 2024 scoring difference rankings and how they differ from last season
St Finbarr's Enda Dennehy is held by Castlehaven's Michael Hurley during the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC semi-final at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Having gone through each Cork Premier Senior Football Championship club to look at how they performed both offensively and defensively over the year, it seems only fair to now revisit that, and their scoring difference.
Of course, points difference is an integral to the round robin stage but quickly loses its significance when the knockout phases are reached.
Generally, scoring difference is reflective of how the championship unfolds, but there are always some unique exceptions for various reasons.
So here are the 12 PSFC sides ranked as per their scoring difference in 2024.
The Haven weren’t just the best team this season, they dominated. The west Cork side made it look easy from start to finish; they simply had no competition.
Their scoring difference reflects that, as they cruised through their five games to retain the title.
Nemo finished runner-up once again and not just in the scoring difference category. Almost identically to last season, their struggles up front proved to be what let them down come the final.
Defensively Rangers are one of the strongest, but they were no match for Castlehaven once more this season.
Despite producing another outrageous scoring tally across five games, it’s clear why St Finbarr’s fell short again this year.
While certainly a much worse season when compared to last – it wasn’t bad, and if they improve defensively, they’ll be able to challenge Castlehaven in 2025.
While Clon did end up improving statistically, it was marginal. So marginal, that they went out of the competition at the same stage, to the same opposition. The only difference is that they lost on penalties, rather than by a point.
Still – it’s clear that the west Cork side are best placed to challenge the big three going forward.
Admittedly this comes at a surprise – given how much Douglas struggled this year.
To their credit though, Douglas were sharp defensively. There were no hammerings, they just lacked conviction up front, particularly against Valley Rovers.
They’ve still come away with a positive scoring difference from three games though.
Ballincollig tend to be a middle of the road outfit, and that’s no different in 2024. An ever so slight improvement on last year, they are the benchmark for average.
Given that makes it two years in a row where they’ve averaged less than 10 white flags a game, it’s clear where the Village need to step up.
Despite going all the way to the semis and improving immensely on last year, Mallow’s scoring difference improves – but not as much as it should have.
Their semi-final result and poor defending at times leave them to be the second worst defence.
8th – Newcestown Scored: 0-31 Conceded: 2-30 Diff -5 Offensive ranking: 9th Defensive ranking: 5th GP 3 Newcestown probably could have done with a goal or two – but overall had a decent first season back at premier senior.
A little more conviction up front and they’ll be a mainstay in the top grade.
An unfortunate season in many respects – it felt that Ross were too good to be in that relegation playoff. While they proved that with their win on the day, it was a mediocre campaign and one they’ll want to improve on in 2025.
Another season where Valleys struggled to make a deep run into the competition – their defensive frailties were to the fore yet again, even if they did do better than last year in that regard.
The Ovens outfit faced the unfortunate drop, but the stats don’t look kind either. It’s easy to see why they were relegated, even if Éire Óg were not the worst side in the competition.
This is of course where the group stage draws are a factor. St Michael’s had a challenging group, but they were so far off the pace against Clonakilty and Castlehaven.
Were it not for a hard-fought victory over Carbery Rangers, they certainly would have faced the drop this season.
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