Cork Hurling: Knockout pairings confirmed across top five grades
Luke O'Farrell of Midleton and Glen Rovers' David Dooling during the 2021 Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC final at Páirc Ui Chaoimh. The clubs will meet in this year's quarter-finals: Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
While Blackrock are the only team to have made the knockout stages in each year since the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC was restructured, they had never managed to avail of the automatic semi-final spot.
Though the other four grades offer two places in the last four to group winners, the fact that one division or college feeds into the quarter-finals of the competition means that there are three ties at that stage and so only team manages to avoid it.
In the closing stages of Sunday’s games, it looked like Sarsfields might take the top seeding for the third year out of six – Glen Rovers in 2020, Erin’s Own in 2022 and Midleton in 2023 were the other clubs to go straight through – but the Rockies’ big win over Douglas coupled with ten second-half wides for Sars against Glen Rovers meant that Jamie Harrington’s side edged it.
Ordinarily, the draw pits the second seed against the side in fifth, with third taking on fourth as sixth must meet the divisions/colleges winners. However, such a scenario paired Sars and the Glen together again and so instead Sars as second seeds will face Charleville, who ranked fourth, while the Glen face Midleton and St Finbarr’s will have to do battle with the county champions Imokilly. In the semis, Blackrock take on the Glen or Midleton while the winners of the other two games play each other.
Eighteen years after they met in the county final, Erin’s Own and Newtownshandrum will meet with top-flight status on the line.
In the senior A grade, the semi-final spots have gone to Carrigtwohill and Castlelyons. Carrig will come up against either Bride Rovers or Inniscarra while the winners of the Blarney-Na Piarsaigh quarter-final will have a last-four joust with Castlelyons.
Sarsfields v Charleville, Midleton v Glen Rovers, St Finbarr’s v Imokilly;
Blackrock v Midleton/Glen Rovers, Sarsfields/Charleville v St Finbarr’s/Imokilly.
Erin’s Own v Newtownshandrum.
Bride Rovers v Inniscarra, Blarney v Na Piarsaigh;
Carrigtwohill v Bride Rovers/Inniscarra, Castlelyons v Blarney/Na Piarsaigh.
Bishopstown v Courcey Rovers.
Cloyne v Valley Rovers, Carrigaline v Ballincollig;
Dungourney v Carrigaline/Ballincollig, Ballinhassig v Cloyne/Valley Rovers.
Castlemartyr v Mallow.
Bandon v Erin’s Own, Aghabullogue v Midleton;
Sarsfields v Bandon/Erin’s Own, Aghada v Aghabullogue/Midleton.
Mayfield v Youghal.
Cloughduv v Argideen Rangers, Ballygarvan v St Catherine’s;
Kilbrittain v Ballygarvan/St Catherine’s, Glen Rovers v Cloughduv/Argideen Rangers.
Barryroe v Meelin.
App?
