Cork GAA: Big football clubs battling relegation heading into last group games

Given that five of the six Premier Senior Football Championship knockout slots have been occupied, much of the weekend’s final-round jeopardy will focus on the relegation picture.

Taken across all five grades, 11 of the 30 knockout places have been snapped up. Equally, 11 clubs can no longer qualify for the latter stages.

When it comes to relegation, 34 clubs could still fall into a relegation play-off. 

No places are predetermined. And 23 of those teams are balancing the promise of promotion with the possibility of relegation trouble. 

Even if, in some cases, the likelihood of being drawn into a trapdoor scrap looks low.

In Premier Senior, Mallow versus Valley Rovers and Carbery Rangers against Clonakilty form de facto relegation semi-finals. 

Were either of those games to finish in a draw, St Michael’s could be dragged into the mix. Ballincollig are less likely to be reeled in as they focus on a quarter-final return. It’s an intriguing mix, given that all of those sides have made the knockout stages in recent years. 

Clon were narrowly beaten finalists in 2021, and Mallow made the leap into the final four last year. Both need to shake off the disappointment of their Andy Scannell dreams ending so abruptly.

CONCERN

Their recent record will give Carbery Rangers cause for concern. Should they lose to their West Cork rivals, the Rosscarbery men will finish bottom of their group for the fourth time in five years.

Yet, in that time, Carbery have recorded three big-name draws and six one-score defeats. Head-to-head with Clon, they have drawn low-scoring games in 2023 and ‘24. 

They have never been far away from a statement victory, but then lose games they are expected to win.

The nature of Valleys’ round-robin defeats, conceding 50 points in two games, points to their key area for improvement.

Michael’s surprise draw against Ballincollig has made this scramble for safety all the more cutthroat.

Like Clon, there are ante-post front-runners caught in the mire at Senior A and Premier Intermediate levels.

Dohenys have been knocking on the door of promotion to the highest grade in recent years. Yet, their comprehensive semi-final defeat last year seems to have inflicted a blow to their confidence in stuttering to narrow defeats. 

They, and Fermoy, are the only two teams without a point.

Dohenys need to overturn O’Donovan Rossa, who they capably dealt with last year, to save themselves and send the Skibbereen men into the play-off for senior survival.

Off the back of a 10th consecutive group-stage defeat, Fermoy appear likely play-off opponents. 

They need to beat competition favourites Knocknagree, with a decent score-difference swing, to drag in the bottom side from Group 1, which features Kanturk, Éire Óg, Kilshannig, and Newmarket all on two points.

DROP OFF

In Premier Intermediate, Bantry Blues began in the conversation for overall honours. Yet the 2022 and ‘23 runners-up have leaked eight goals in two games to sit bottom of the table. 

They are the only team in their grade without a point to date.

A final-round win over Nemo Rangers is required. If they win by six or more, they could even pinch a knockout berth, depending on how Aghada fare against high-flying Aghabullogue.

Two drawn encounters in the other groups have reduced their margin for error. 

Score difference could determine the fates of Macroom (-1), Bandon (-4), Rockchapel (-6), and Kiskeam (-10).

Castletownbere, who face Kiskeam, and Glanmire, Rockchapel’s opponents, look safe on two points, if not mathematically so. Consolidating a knockout spot will be their focus.

Kiskeam are bidding to avoid back-to-back relegations, yet they also hold a plausible path to the quarter-finals. 

In fact, all 12 teams could qualify. Nine could tumble into a relegation final.

By contrast, only four remain in the Intermediate A danger zone. It’s a rare grade where the bottom team in each group sits on zero points. 

They are Dromtarriffe (-7 score difference), St Finbarr’s (-16), and St Vincent’s (-19).

Drom and Vincent’s can’t but finish bottom of their group, even if they defeat Gabriel Rangers and Ilen Rovers. The Barrs’ match with Glanworth is a direct match-up to avoid last place.

Vincent’s survived a relegation final against near neighbours Na Piarsaigh last year. Another city derby could be on the cards.

In Premier Junior, the losers of Glenville and Millstreet will be one relegation finalist (Millstreet in the case of a draw). 

Ballydesmond or Urhan may also be in trouble, although the wide-open Group 2 of Cullen, Kinsale, Na Piarsaigh, and Cobh could produce title contenders and a relegation candidate.

They’ll be aiming for the top, but the reverse outcome will provide a fascinating subplot.