2025 Carbery Championship guide: Draws made for football and hurling grades

It’s a special year for Carbery GAA in what is their centenary year. 

Their divisional championships have always been highly enthralling at Junior A level in both codes and it’s expected to be no different this year. The championship draws for 2025 took place recently in Dunmanway.

Starting with the Bandon Co-Op JAFC. There are 16 teams, four groups of four. Kilmacabea are the defending champions after falling short the year before in the decider to Barryroe. The Leap-based team were unable to claim county glory last year after a narrow loss to eventual winners Inniscarra in the semi-final.

The reigning Carbery champions are in Group 2, where they will joust with Argideen Rangers, Randal Óg and Kilmeen.

In Group 1, Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas will be up against Ballinascarthy, Tadhg MacCarthaigh and St Oliver Plunkett’s.

At first glance, that group does look wide open with all four teams no doubt feeling confident of finishing in the top two. Ballinascarthy are now coached by former Cork minor football boss Mick Evans.

St James’ are back down at this grade after just two seasons at Premier Junior level. They lost to St Nick’s in the relegation play-off last year, so they will be one of the fancied sides for at least divisional silverware this year. St James’ will lock horns with Castlehaven’s second team, 2023 winners Barryroe and Kilbrittain in Group 3.

St Mary’s, Carbery Rangers reserves, St Colum’s and Goleen make up the final group.

Another interesting group with Carbery Rangers’ second team always capable of doing well in this championship while Goleen make the step up from the Junior B grade. How they will adjust will be fascinating. 

The RCM Tarmacadam Carbery JAHC has been difficult to predict in terms of who's going to finish as champions in recent years and the fact that in the last three seasons, there have been different winners each time, underlines that point.

Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas claimed the trophy last year as they tasted divisional success for the first time in 14 years.

They didn’t achieve their major goal after losing to Ballinora in the county quarter-final.

There are 12 teams with three groups of four.

The holders are in Group 2 with St Mary’s, Dohenys and St Oliver Plunkett’s.

A few local derbies to whet the appetite in that particular group.

St James', Newcestown’s second string, Randal Óg and St Colum’s make up Group 1.

Ballinascarthy, back-to-back winners in 2021 and ’22, go up against Kilbree, Clonakilty and Kilbrittain’s reserves in the final group.

For the winners of the respective championships in Carbery in both codes, the board have commissioned special centenary medals. They will be one of a kind.

Bandon Co-Op Carbery JAFC 

Group 1: Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas, Ballinascarthy, Tadhg MacCarthaigh, St Oliver Plunkett’s. 

Group 2: Kilmacabea, Argideen Rangers, Randal Óg, Kilmeen.

Group 3: St James', Castlehaven, Barryroe, Kilbrittain. 

Group 4: St Mary’s, Carbery Rangers, St Colum's, Goleen.

RCM Tarmacadam Carbery JAHC 

Group 1: St James', Newcestown, Randal Óg, St Colum’s.

Group 2: Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas, St Mary’s, Dohenys, St Oliver Plunkett’s. 

Group 3: Ballinascarthy, Kilbree, Clonakilty, Kilbrittain.