Premier IFC permutations: Two through but everyone else still has a chance

While two of the 12 teams in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier IFC have booked their knockout spots with a game to spare, the remaining ten all still harbour hopes of qualifying.

Both Naomh Abán and Uibh Laoire have the comfort of knowing that they are safely through from Groups 2 and 3 respectively, with the added bonus of being group winners, though of course the fact that semi-final byes are awarded to the two highest-ranked clubs after the group stage means there is still plenty to play for for that pair as the groups conclude on Saturday evening (all games start at 6pm). Otherwise, the remaining four places are up for grabs and everybody has chance, albeit some greater than others.

Group 1 features the clubs that have lost the last three finals in this grade – Aghabullogue were beaten by Kilshannig after a replay last year while Bantry Blues fell to Kanturk in 2022 and Cill na Martra in 202. However, this time around, they have had contrasting fortunes.

Like the two teams already qualified, Aghabullogue have amassed four points but that is not yet enough to guarantee their progression.

If they were to lose to Aghada – who have two points – in Ballincollig and Nemo Rangers, also on two, beat Bantry Blues in Rosscarbery, then there would be a three-way tie, broken down by scoring difference. With Aghabullogue currently on +8 and Aghada on +2, a three-point victory would be enough for the east Cork side.

Alternatively, if Aghabullogue were to follow their impressive victory in Division 4 of the McCarthy Insurance Group Football League by making it three wins from three in the championship, Bantry could then put themselves in the mix to qualify by beating Nemo – they would need to win by at least six points in such a scenario.

Aghabullogue’s scoring-difference tally is the lowest of the three group leaders after two rounds, but they are just three behind Naomh Abán’s +11 – given that Uibh Laoire have scored 31 points more than they have conceded, we can take it that another win for them will be enough to sail through to the semi-finals.

Naomh Abán will look to put themselves in the last-four mix when they take on Bandon in Kilmichael on Saturday. The Lilywhites lost to Glanmire and then drew with Rockchapel to leave themselves on a point – they must win to have a chance of going through, but a victory would not be enough if Glanmire beat Rockchapel.

Last year’s IAFC winners are on two points thanks to their win over Bandon and could not be caught in second place if they made it to four. If Rockchapel win, they will need to hope that Bandon don’t – or else win by three points more than the west Cork side do.

Essentially, Group 3 is the same set-up as Group 2, with one team sure of topping the group no matter what happens, another with second place in their own hands and a pair of sides vying to capitalise on any slip-ups.

As mentioned, Uibh Laoire are in the box-seat and any win over Macroom will put them into a semi-final, barring victories in the 25-point region by the other leaders.

A draw with Kiskeam means that Macroom are not out of contention, but a victory for them would need to be allied with Castletownbere losing – if the Beara side were to draw with Kiskeam and Macroom won, Castletown would still progress thanks to their opening-round win.

Any victory for Castletownbere will guarantee second place while Kiskeam would need a win and for Macroom to fail to do so – otherwise, they would have a nine-point shortfall to make up.