Cork Hurling: Picking the five clubs heading for relegation
Bishopstown's Rian Foley tries to get away from Castlelyons' Peter Roche. Picture: David Creedon
Of the 10 teams facing relegation this weekend, half have already encountered a play-off to avoid the drop this decade.
Four have fallen through the trapdoor to a lower grade in that timespan.
The only match-up between two teams without recent play-off experience comes at Premier Senior, where Newtownshandrum, a top-tier side since 1997, face Erin’s Own, a top-tier side since 1988.
Just three years ago, both teams were competing in a semi-final double-header at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. It’s not so much that there’s been a dramatic fall off, but rather the fine margins have become even finer.
Last autumn, Newtown reached the quarter-finals, having traded toe-to-toe with Sarsfields in their group.
Yet as their neighbours, Charleville, will attest, it’s become a high-wire act among Cork’s top 12.
Since being promoted, Charleville have contested relegation play-offs in 2021, '22, and '24. In between, they made the knockout stages in 2023 and '25. Likewise, Kanturk went from a 2023 relegation final to the 2024 quarter-finals.
The rebound can be rapid, but there are no guarantees – especially for the team that drops.
There is a strong sense that they are building around the next generation. Half of their team were playing U21 hurling last year – Cian Dunphy, Peter O’Shea, Cormac McDonnell, Tiernan O’Connell, Matt O’Riordan, Finn O’Brien, Shane Irwin, and Oran O’Regan – and some have more time to serve at that level.
In the positive column, they have scored eight goals. In the negative, they have conceded just as many, and their overall concession rate is the highest of any side across the top five grades.
In fairness, not many other sides have had to face opposition like Sarsfields, Glen Rovers, and O’Neills.
Newtown scored 10 group-stage goals last year, but netted just once this campaign. They twice failed to break 20 points in the group stage.
Both teams know where they need to improve, and it’ll all be focused on the same half of the field.
At the other end, much of this outcome will depend on who can get the greater lift out of their county stars.
Having come so close against O’Neills, it may be difficult for the Glounthaune side to replicate that showing.
At Senior A, Courcey Rovers have also won just once in their last 10 championship games.
The 2021 Premier Intermediate champions and 2022 Senior A runners-up were saved by a last-gasp levelling free last September.
Without captain Seán Twomey this year, their performances have tailed off across the group phase. They have conceded 10 goals. Yet, most alarming was how they registered just 0-7 against Blarney, waiting until the 44th minute for their first point from play.
Bishopstown didn’t land much more against Ballyhea the last day: 1-9, with the goal coming in stoppage time.
Premier Intermediate relegation candidates Castlemartyr are the only side in play-off action to have won a game in their championship.
They will rue letting an early lead slip against Kilworth and Cathal Martin’s red card on their last outing against Ballincollig.
Mallow only dropped from Senior A in 2023 and contested the semi-finals in their first year down. Their undoing was failing to hammer home a four-point lead against 14-man Valley Rovers.
The return to fitness of Seán Hayes provides Mallow with a major boost, but Castlemartyr’s cocktail of Imokilly experience could swing matters in their favour.
At Intermediate A, Mayfield have made the knockout stages in four of the previous five seasons. Youghal have two wins in the past five campaigns, with one in a relegation play-off.
Last year, Mayfield were 2-16 to 1-10 victors, with 12 points from Nicky Kelly. The veteran has 1-24 to his credit this autumn, which accounts for more than half their total score.
With nine points between the sides last time, it’s hard to see enough having changed to reverse that result.
The Premier Junior relegation play-off matches fellow strugglers Barryroe and Meelin. The West Cork club have gone five of their last six group campaigns without a win.
Three times, they avoided the play-off on score difference, and they cruised through a one-sided decider in 2020.
That same year, Meelin escaped a three-way Intermediate A play-off, but didn’t win in the subsequent two seasons, succumbing to demotion after extra-time in 2022. The same fate may await.
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