Cork GAA: Draw made for new Simcox Cup season

The Simcox Cup draw for the 2025/26 season took place recently and threw up some intriguing ties.

Hamilton High School Bandon are the reigning champions after their victory over West Cork rivals Skibbereen Community School back in March. It was a memorable final that drew a large crowd to Páirc Uí Rinn as Hammies won on a scoreline of 0-11 to 1-6.

The Simcox Cup has been a huge part of underage development over many years. The last campaign was a continuation of that with some excellent matches and no shortage of drama.

There’s no doubt that the new split season has caused problems for this competition with so much going on in a short space of time. There’s also the element of the weather with many matches called off and therefore causing fixture pile-ups.

There are 11 evenly matched teams in the competition this season with all of them believing they can lift the silverware at the end.

The holders have received a bye in Round 1 as well as De La Salle College Macroom, so both teams will meet in the quarter-finals according to the master plan.

Clonakilty Community College, Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig and Kinsale Community School have also received a bye.

In the opening-round encounters, Coachford College meet St Francis College Rochestown, last season’s beaten finalists Skibbereen Community School take on Patrician Academy Mallow while finally from Round 1, St Colman’s College Fermoy lock horns with Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh.

DELAYED

The opening-round ties are scheduled to be played on Friday, September 19 according to the fixture list, but that will depend on a number of factors.

The Simcox Cup has been dogged by delays in recent years, especially under the new GAA calendar, so it remains to be seen if the fixtures get played on that particular date or whether they will be pushed out.

The Corn Uí Mhuirí competition gets going in October and with Rebel Óg finals also down for decision, it could well be challenging to play Simcox Cup games in that month. 

Whenever it does start, there’s still the appetite and drive for the Simcox Cup to flourish.

It gives the school, players and then the clubs a springboard and most importantly the younger players on the panel exposure to competitive school football.

There have been different winners in the last two seasons in the shape of Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh and Hamilton High School Bandon.

It wouldn’t be a surprise whatsoever if a different team emerges from the pack this time around.