Cork GAA: Muskerry football and hurling draws for 2025 confirmed 

The draws for the 2025 Muskerry GAA championships took place last week in Coachford.

The competitions will run parallel with the Cork county championships with the first group stage matches in Junior A football scheduled for the last weekend in July, while the start date for the Junior A hurling is the following weekend.

Starting with the Ross Oil JAFC. There will be new winners in 2025 following Inniscarra’s elevation after winning the divisional and county championships in 2024 in dramatic fashion.

They got the better of Aghinagh after a replay in the Mid-Cork final, who would have been tipped to lift the divisional crown before beating Ballygarvan in the county final thanks to a last-gasp Seán O'Donoghue free.

The last three winners of the Ross Oil JAFC have all gone on to win the county in Kilmurry, Canovee, and Inniscarra. Further proof of the quality that is in the division.

Starting with Group 1, a team that will be expected to do well again this year are Donoughmore. They won the Division 1 league in Muskerry last year and narrowly lost to Aghinagh in the semi-final of the championship. Mossie Barrett has stepped down as boss though, which was a surprise. Donoughmore are pitted against Ballincollig’s second team along with Blarney and Dripsey.

Aghinagh will be the warmest of favourites to finish top of Group 2 as the 2021 winners for the first time will look to add a second one in 2025. Trying to predict who will finish in the second spot is a lot more difficult. Grenagh, Clondrohid, and Kilmichael will all be vying to book a knockout spot.

In Group 3, and amazingly, with how the draw just panned out, all four teams are second teams in the form of Éire Óg, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, Ballinora and Kilmurry. Those sides will be looking at it as a great opportunity to progress to the knockout stages.

Moving onto the MJK Oils Muskerry JAHC, there is a new format for this year. There was previously three groups, one group of four teams and two groups of three.

The Muskerry Board has now reduced the groups down to two, meaning there will be five teams in each group. Each team will get four matches. The top two in each group will progress to the semi-finals.

Ballinora achieved a fourth consecutive divisional title last year. It was the first time they did that, and it was also the first time it was ever done in Mid-Cork. It's no surprise that they are favourites to lift the silverware this year, but there is a feeling that the gap is closing to a certain degree. 

The Mid-Cork championship is getting more competitive again, and Ballinora have found it tough in recent years. The holders are in Group 2 with Grenagh, Dripsey, Éire Óg’s reserves and Kilmichael.

Donoughmore have made steady progress in recent years, and at the start of every campaign, they are always a dark horse. They are in Group 1 with second teams, Ballincollig, Inniscarra, Blarney and Aghabullogue.

The draws for the other grades in both codes at Junior level were also made and they are in full below.

MUSKERRY GAA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAWS:

Ross Oil Junior A Football:

Group 1: Donoughmore, Ballincollig, Blarney, Dripsey.

Group 2: Aghinagh, Grenagh, Clondrohid, Kilmichael.

Group 3: Éire Óg, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, Ballinora, Kilmurry.

Ballincollig Credit Union Junior B Football:

(13 teams, open draw and a plate competition for Round 1 losers)

Round 1: Macroom v Donoughmore, Cill na Martra v Naomh Abán, Iveleary v Gleann na Laoi, Aghinagh v Éire Óg, Canovee v Inniscarra, Grenagh v Aghabullogue, Ballincollig have received a bye.

Rochestown Park Hotel Junior C Football:

(Nine teams, straight knockout, no plate competition) 

Round 1: Naomh Abán v Inniscarra, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh v Kilmichael, Ballincollig v Canovee, Macroom v Kilmurry, Clondrohid have received a bye.

MJK Oils Junior A Hurling:

Group 1: Ballincollig, Inniscarra, Donoughmore, Blarney, Aghabullogue.

Group 2: Ballinora, Grenagh, Dripsey, Éire Óg, Kilmichael.

Oriel House Hotel Junior B Hurling:

(11 teams, three groups, top two in each group qualify for knockout stage, a plate competition for five non-qualifying teams) 

Group 1: Ballincollig, Grenagh, Donoughmore, Éire Óg. 

Group 2: Blarney, Cloughduv, Gleann na Laoi, Iveleary. 

Group 3: Inniscarra, Ballinora, Laochra Óg.