How first-round Cork PSHC winners perform in the second round

The second round of the Co-Op SuperStores Cork Premier Senior Hurling Championship throws in tonight, with Blackrock meeting St Finbarr’s in a clash of opening-round winners.

Only one can make it two from two, and history shows that first-round results often set the tone for the campaign.

Last year, these two met in the opening round – the Rockies winning by a solitary point, before seeing off Newcestown and eventually topping the group. The Barrs, in contrast, lost out to Fr O’Neill’s in the second round and were eliminated from the competition with a game to spare.

There’s no such immediate jeopardy for tonight’s potential loser, but in last year’s Group 2 it was O’Neill’s who got the better of Newcestown, meaning that both first round winners were the two to make the knockout stages.

Group 1 followed suit, as Newtownshandrum thumped eventually relegated Bishopstown, while Sarsfields swept aside Douglas.

It was Newtown v Sars in the second round, the latter getting the win, but both emerged from the group.

Group 3 brought more of the same, Midleton beating Charleville and Kanturk getting the better of Fr O’Neill’s. Midleton and Kanturk met in the second round and played out a draw, but both came through to the knockouts.

That leaves first round winners with a record of three wins, two draws and one loss in 2024’s second round fixtures, with all six making it through to the knockouts.

In 2023, Blackrock beat Glen Rovers and Midleton got the better of Bishopstown in Group 1. Both winners won their second round fixtures, and took the top two spots.

Group 2 that year saw Douglas come out on top in the first round against Erin’s Own, while Charleville and Fr O’Neill’s drew. Douglas would win their second game, and qualify for the knockouts.

Group 3 also only had one winner on the first day – the Barrs beating Newtown, while Sars and Kanturk drew. The Togher outfit would come through the group phase with eventual champions Sars, though it was the latter who won their second round meeting.

That leaves 2023 first round winners with a second round record of three wins, one loss.

In 2022, Douglas beat Midleton and Newtownshandrum bested Kanturk in the first two Group 1 fixtures. Both winners would make it out of the group, though Midleton beat Newtown in the second round, while Douglas decimated Kanturk.

First round winners in Group 2 had one win, one loss. Erin’s Own beat Glen Rovers while Bishopstown edged Na Piarsaigh. The east Cork side would win their next game and go through, but the Town lost to the Glen, and the final knockout placing to Rovers.

Blackrock were the only opening round winners in Group 3 as the Barrs and Sars drew. 

The Rockies lost the second round meeting to St Finbarr’s, but still made it out of the group with the Togher side.

Final record for first round teams in the second in 2022: two wins, three losses. Although four of the five first game winners did still make it out of the group.

In 2021, Douglas, Midleton, Sarsfields and Erin’s Own all scored back to back wins. Only St Finbarr’s won the first round before losing the second. They were also the only one of the five to not make it out of the group.

The first year of the round-robin format in 2020 had four of five first round winners meet in the second, where Sarsfields beat Douglas in Group 1 and Blackrock beat Newtown in Group 2.

The Glen beat Carrigtwohill by two points in the second round to leave three teams with back-to-back wins. Newtown were the only first round winner not to make it out of the group that season.

It means that first round winners have made it out of the group stage 83% of the time, with Bishopstown in 2022 are the last first round winner not to emerge from the round-robin.