Premier SFC preview: Race for the Andy Scannell gets underway
Castlehaven’s Brian Hurley celebrates after winning the Cork Premier SFC last year. He is out for this weekend due to suspension. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne
The jewel in the crown for football supporters in Cork, the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC, gets underway this evening.
Will a team break Castlehaven's stranglehold on the championship?
The Haven begin their quest for an historic three-in-a-row, something they have never done before. They travel to Ovens tomorrow (7.30pm) to lock horns with Mallow.
It’s a potential banana skin for Seanie Cahalane’s charges, but they should have enough experience and quality to get over the line.
It’s easy to name the familiar faces that will be key to the Haven, the likes of Brian Hurley, Mark Collins, Rory Maguire and Conor Cahalane, but they have some unsung heroes in their squad who have impressed in the league this year. Hurley is out of the game though tomorrow due to suspension.
Castlehaven finished just below mid-table in Division 1 after a slow start with Jamie O’Driscoll, Jack O’Neill, Seán Browne and Micheál Maguire just some of the influential figures.
After reaching the last four for the first time since 2004 in the last campaign, building on that will be the challenge now for Mallow.
They are capable of going toe-to-toe with the big boys as shown in beating St Finbarr’s in the group stage last season.
Cork footballers Matty Taylor and Seán McDonnell will be central players as will Shane Merritt and Jack Dillon. Youngsters Trevor Kiely, Gearóid Daly and Cathal Mullins are guys to keep an eye on this season and into the future.
Despite being in different divisions, the meeting of Newcestown and Valley Rovers has a real local derby feel to it. A large crowd should flock to Kilmurry tomorrow with throw-in at 5.30pm.
Both were unable to get out of their respective group last year and a loss here would put the pressure up another notch.
Micheál McSweeney, Luke Meade and David Buckley give Newcestown a strong spine while for Valley Rovers, the returning Chris O’Leary, Adam Walsh-Murphy and Fiachra Lynch are crucial to their side’s chances.
The clash of St Finbarr’s and Clonakilty doesn’t really need any introduction. Two teams who will have serious ambitions of going all the way this year. It isn’t do-or-die territory tomorrow in Bandon at 7.30pm, but a chance for a side to lay down a marker.
The Barrs are Division 1 league winners after getting the better of Clon after extra time three weeks ago. The real stuff starts now though.
Steven Sherlock is arguably playing his best football in a long time. If he’s on fire, his team will be hard to stop.
Clonakilty don’t have recent good memories of Charlie Hurley Park, beaten by Nemo Rangers at the quarter-final hurdle in 2023 and ’24.
They have a stronger squad on paper now compared to recent seasons, but they have to show that now. Dara Ó Sé, Conor Daly and Darragh Gough will look to contribute on the scoreboard.
The meeting of Carbery Rangers and Carrigaline on Sunday in Newcestown (7.30pm) has a feel of must-win territory to it given the difficulty of the other two games in the group.
Similar to 12 months ago for Carbery Rangers when they lost to St Michael’s and ended up in the relegation play-off.
Carrigaline, who won the SAFC last year, lost a narrow game to Éire Óg in the opening match two years ago and ended up going down.
Both teams will know the significance of this game.
For the third year on the bounce, Nemo Rangers and Ballincollig meet in the first group game. The city side have won the previous two meetings fairly comfortably, but there is a belief in the Village that they can be more competitive this time around.
Robbie O’Dwyer has a sprinkle of fine young gems in his Nemo squad mixed in with no shortage of experience. Eoin Nation, Oisín Whyte and Bryan Hayes bring youthful dynamism while the likes of Conor Horgan, Stephen Cronin and Alan O’Donovan are invaluable for both their experience and what they do on the pitch.
Since losing to Nemo at the semi-final stage in 2022, Ballincollig have lost two successive quarter-finals. They rattled both Castlehaven and St Finbarr’s on those occasions.
There is still an over reliance on Cian Dorgan up front. That needs to change if the Collig want to improve on recent seasons.
David O’Leary, a dual Cork minor in 2023, is a newcomer to the panel. Podsie O’Mahony is heading into his sixth championship campaign as manager.
Ballygarvan is the venue this evening with throw-in at 7.30pm.
The other game in the group this weekend is a city derby in Shanbally tomorrow (5.30pm) with both knowing how crucial this one is. Douglas and St Michael’s would have targeted this game ever since the draws were made last December.
Douglas have flattered to deceive for too long with their league a mixed bag this year, finishing mid-table in Division 1. It didn’t give us a proper indication as to where they are at. Cork’s 2010 All-Ireland winner Paudie Kissane is the coach this year of Douglas.
Seán Powter, as ever, will be the driving force in this Douglas team.
St Michael’s were tipped by many as relegation candidates this time last year, but defied the odds. They won’t be surprised that they are in that bracket again. They suffered Division 1 league relegation this season having lost eight of their nine games.
They have a strong spine though with the likes of Alan O’Callaghan, Eoin Hickey, Liam O’Sullivan and Luke O’Herlihy.
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