Promoted hurling sides have channelled momentum impressively

Earlier this week, we examined how, since the change in format for 2020, clubs had fared in the Cork hurling championships in the year immediately after a relegation – Glen Rovers’ 2024 Co-op SuperStores SAHC triumph was the only instance of a side managing to respond with an immediate return to the grade from which they had been demoted.

Prior to last year, the opposite was also true, in that no promoted side had been sent straight back down the next year; however, not long after the Glen’s ascension back to the top table, Aghabullogue levelled up the score, so to speak.

Such was the tight nature of the Premier IHC last year that every club went into the last round of fixtures with a chance of qualification for the knockout stages.

Defeat to Ballincollig in their last match meant Aghabullogue were in a three-way tie for second place with Éire Óg and Mallow. The North Cork side had the best scoring difference and ended up reaching the semi-finals; the Coachford outfit were ranked fourth and ended up in the relegation play-off.

After a draw with Kilworth initially, the replay that was not played until December 1, but Aghabullogue’s meant that, having won the IAHC in 2023, they will again ply their trade at the fourth grade for the coming year.

Their experience went against the grain, though, and the far more common occurrence has been for sides to take the step up to higher grades in their stride – in some cases, even going on to claim another title.

The Premier JHC (originally known as the Lower IHC) has been the stand-out grade for such occurrences. In 2021, Lisgoold followed junior A victory by going all the way; Ballygiblin did the same in 2022 and also benefited from the re-classification as they were Cork’s representative in the AIB Munster Club JHC and went on to All-Ireland glory.

Erin’s Own made it three from three as their second team won the fifth tier in 2023, just a year after junior A glory. In ordinary circumstances, Nemo Rangers’ achievement of making the semi-finals last year in their first campaign up would be admirable; it only pales in light of what gone before.

While Lisgoold were going back-to-back in 2020 and 2021, Castlemartyr were doing the same a level above as they won the IAHC at the first attempt. The next year, Lisgoold would make a good tilt at doing similar, only losing in the semi-finals after extra time.

Ballygiblin made the IAHC quarter-finals in 2023, while Erin’s Own came agonisingly close to a third consecutive title, losing out – to Lisgoold – after a replay last year.

Castlemartyr would also make a good fist of almost necklacing three straight championships together – they reached the 2022 Premier IHC final but lost out to Inniscarra in a replay.

However, apart from that the PIHC has been a tough nut to crack the first time around, with teams needing to acclimatise – Éire Óg (2021) and Dungourney (2023) finished third in their groups.

Conversely, teams progressing from the PIHC to senior A have done well, apart from Inniscarra needing to win the relegation play-off in 2023. Courcey Rovers reached the final in 2022, Castlelyons were semi-finalists last year and Blarney reached the quarter-finals in 2021.

Unsurprisingly, the very top tier is not one that can be easily infiltrated – no promoted side since the change in system has made the knockout stages, though Glen Rovers could change that trend this year.

However, just as importantly, none have been relegated either, with only Charleville in 2021 having to contest that game in their first year up. Kanturk and Fr O’Neills came third in their groups in 2022 and 2023 respectively while Newcestown were fourth last year but avoided the play-off.