Premier SHC preview - city derby gets busy weekend going

Since the introduction of the new format for the Cork county championships five years ago, Blackrock and St Finbarr’s have met four times in the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC.

Their 2021 group clash, a ten-point win for the Rockies, was only the clubs’ third clash since 2008, but they’ve more than made up for that since.

In 2022, the Barrs triumphed by a point in the group and then won by ten when the clubs met again in that year’s county final, while Blackrock came out on by 3-15 to 2-17 a year ago. Totalled up, Blackrock’s 8-64 and the Barrs’ 12-76 both give 88 points.

The winners of tonight’s Group 3 clash in Páirc Uí Rinn (7.30pm) will move to the top of the sides’ mini-table but, given that both were successful in their first outings a fortnight ago, defeat won’t be terminal for the defeated side.

William Buckley impressed for the Barrs as they beat Douglas in their opener – just the second time in the round-robin era that they have won their first assignment – while 1-2 from Michael O’Halloran was important as Blackrock saw off Kanturk in a repeat of last year’s quarter-final tie.

Victory would almost certainly guarantee a knockout spot with a game to spare and allow sights to be set on targeting the one automatic semi-final place, though the city derby is the only game this weekend between sides who picked up opening-round wins.

Obviously, the other Group 3 clash has a lot of pressure attached as Kanturk take on Douglas in what is effectively a championship eliminator. Castletownroche is the venue at 6.30pm on Saturday and, beyond the possibility of a win keeping alive hopes of qualification, the side leaving the venue with the points will feel a bit more breathing room in terms of avoiding the relegation play-off.

The other four games feature a side that won their first outing against a team that was beaten – theoretically, Groups 1 and 2 could have their qualification decided before the final round if the four winners win again, but such a chain of outcomes is far from a likelihood.

Munster club champions Sarsfields, fresh from winning the RedFM Hurling League for the third straight year, took their momentum into the championship as Colm McCarthy scored eight points and Cian Darcy landed 1-3 in a 1-28 to 1-14 Group 1 victory over Fr O’Neills.

The Riverstown side will be strong favourites against their neighbours Erin’s Own, who struggled to stop Glen Rovers, but could have Oran O’Regan and Shane Irwin back. Equally, both sides will still have memories of the 2020 quarter-final, when Sars, having topped their group with three wins, were eliminated by their divisional rivals at the quarter-final stage.

That game takes place in Páirc Uí Rinn at 7pm on Saturday, meaning Glen Rovers and Fr O’Neills will have a clearer picture of the situation in the group when they clash in Midleton 24 hours later.

The Glen’s attacking prowess was on show against Erin’s Own but O’Neills cannot be taken for granted on the pitch where they beat St Finbarr’s last year. Declan Dalton was forced off injured against Sars, however, and his availability, or lack thereof, will have a bearing on their prospects.

There’s a similar state of affairs in Group 2, with all eyes on Sunday’s North Cork derby between Charleville and Newtownshandrum (Milford, 4pm).

It’s the first time that the clubs’ top teams have met in the championship since a 1992 Avondhu JAHC encounter and Charleville have the advantage going in after a good win over Newcestown whereas Newtown lost out to Midleton.

The clash of Midleton and Newcestown takes place in Páirc Uí Rinn tomorrow evening with a 5.15pm throw-in.