Cork GAA club draws: Premier IFC, IAFC and PJFC groups are revealed for 2025 season

The 2025 McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC, IAFC and PJFC draws threw up plenty of intriguing ties at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday evening.

A change to the format of this year’s draws saw two groups of six clubs utilised in an effort to deliver fresher matchups.

The Cork GAA county board deserves praise for that endeavour as it minimised repeat pairings of recent years. 

It also made for much smoother county championship draws in front of a huge attendance at the annual county board convention.

Aghabullogue pushed Kilshannig all the way before losing this year’s county Premier IFC decider after a replay. 

The Muskerry club will be expected to challenge once again in 2025 and have been drawn in Group 1 where they will face perennial challengers from West Cork, Bantry Blues, in their opening game.

Neither Aghada nor Nemo Rangers managed to emerge from their respective groups last year. 

Both will be hoping for better fare this time around.

Glanmire join the Premier IFC ranks for 2025 having claimed last year’s Intermediate AFC title. A Group 2 opener against Bandon should provide an early test of Glanmire’s credentials.

In the same group, 2024 semi-finalists Naomh Abán and quarter-finalists Rockchapel will be looking to kick on from positive campaigns. Their opening encounter should be an occasion to savour.

Kiskeam are the Premier IFC grade’s other newcomers. After suffering relegation from the senior A ranks, the Duhallow club will face last year’s county semi-finalists Uibh Laoire in their first Group 3 outing.

Castletownbere and Macroom are the other clubs to make up Group 3. Last year, the Beara side edged Macroom 0-10 to 0-8 at the same group stage. The latter survived a relegation play-off by defeating Ilen Rovers.

IAFC Boherbue were defeated by Glanmire, 2-10 to 0-15, in this year’s Intermediate A county decider. The Duhallow club will be amongst the frontrunners once again in 2025, as will semi-finalists Adrigole and Gabriel Rangers.

Boherbue will start their Group 3 campaign against Ilen Rovers who were relegated from last year’s PIFC. In the same group, Munster junior champions Kilmurry begin life as an Intermediate A club against St Vincent’s.

Group 1 of the IAFC sees 2024 county semi-finalists Adrigole facing off against a quarter-finalist from last season, Glanworth. Two sides that failed to get out of the group stages, Ballinora and St Finbarr’s, complete an interesting quartet.

In Group 2, county semi-finalists Gabriel Rangers defeated Mitchelstown in the last eight and should produce another cracker in next year’s championship opener.

Dromtarriffe defeated Kildorrery 1-13 to 0-12 at the same group stage last September and will cross swords once again in 2025.

PJFC As ever, the Premier Junior grade will be one of the most difficult to call of all next year’s county championships.

Canovee lost to Kilmurry by a point in the 2024 Premier JFC final. 

The Muskerry side will be anxious to go one better and have been drawn alongside Urhan, fellow Duhallow rivals Ballydesmond and St Nick’s in Group 1. 

Urhan will face Canovee and Ballydesmond will take on St Nick’s in the group’s opening round.

Na Piarsaigh and a Kinsale club that reached the last four of the 2024 championship will get things underway in Group 2. 

Cobh will face Cullen on the same weekend.

Inniscarra’s dramatic county junior A final win over Ballygarvan confirmed the Muskerry club’s promotion to next year’s Premier JFC. 

As a result, they will face Millstreet in their Group 3 opener. Last year’s semi-finalists Buttevant and Glenville are the two other clubs in that group.

So, plenty to look forward to across three of the most competitive Cork GAA football grades.

McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Intermediate FC Draw:

Group 1: Aghabullogue, Bantry Blues, Aghada, Nemo Rangers 

Group 2: Naomh Abán, Rockchapel, Bandon, Glanmire 

Group 3: Kiskeam, Uibh Laoire, Castletownbere, Macroom 

McCarthy Insurance Group Intermediate A FC Draw:

Group 1: Adrigole, Glanworth, Ballinora, St Finbarr’s 

Group 2: Mitchelstown, Gabriel Rangers, Dromtarriffe, Kildorrery 

Group 3: Boherbue, Ilen Rovers, Kilmurry, St Vincent’s 

McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Junior FC Draw:

Group 1: Canovee, Urhan, Ballydesmond, St Nick’s 

Group 2: Kinsale, Na Piarsaigh, Cobh, Cullen 

Group 3: Buttevant, Glenville, Inniscarra, Millstreet.