Cork Hurling: Repeat of 2021 Premier Senior decider gets busy weekend underway
Eoin Downey of Glen Rovers is tackled by Ciarmhac Smyth of Midleton during the 2021 Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC final - the clubs meet in a quarter-final tonight. Picture: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
Since the restructuring of the Cork county championships in 2019 and the creation of the 12-club Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC and group stages, only once have we seen a final pairing repeated in the knockout stages.
That came in last year’s semi-final, when Sarsfields repeated their 2023 final victory over Midleton. This weekend, the Magpies are again involved in a reunion from a decider of the recent past – and they will hope for the same outcome as the previous outing.
Having topped a group featuring Charleville, Newcestown and Newtownshandrum, the east Cork took the third seeding. Ordinarily, that would result in a quarter-final tie against the side ranked in fourth – but, as that was Charleville and repeat pairings are not allowed at this stage of the competition, instead the north Cork side must face Sarsfields while Midleton do battle with Glen Rovers.
Ger Fitzgerald was the victorious manager, with Ben O’Connor as coach – Fitzgerald had been captain when Midleton beat the Glen in the 1991 final. The former Cork star died earlier this year and, in honour of both him and the late Darragh McCarthy, they have been clad in their black second strip for the championship.
Midleton, who had two wins and a draw as they finished top of their group, are given the slight nod with the bookmakers, though, while the Glen come in off the back of a defeat, it was against the outright favourites Sarsfields after an entertaining tussle.
A semi-final tie against Blackrock – who received the automatic bye to the last four – awaits the winners in Páirc Uí Rinn this evening (7.30pm), while the victors in the other two quarter-finals will advance to meet each other.
Having beaten Fr O’Neills and then Erin’s Own by a cumulative total of 32 points, Sars looked set to take the highest seeding and the semi-final place that came with it, but their four-point victory over the Glen, combined with Blackrock beating Douglas by 22, meant they were pipped by the city side.
It means that they will meet Charleville in Castletownroche at 3pm on Sunday, strong favourites to stay on course for a third straight final appearance. At 4pm, the side that beat Sars in last year’s decider – divisional team Imokilly – clash with St Finbarr’s in Midleton.
Sunday will also see a team exit the top flight after a long stay, as Erin’s Own take on Newtownshandrum in the relegation play-off in Mourneabbey (4pm).
By that stage, the race to take the spot of the demoted team will be down to four. The automatic semi-final spots in the SAHC have been taken by Carrigtwohill and Castlelyons and the two remaining last-four spots will be decided in a Páirc Uí Rinn double-header on Saturday evening.
At 5.30pm, Bride Rovers – near-perennial semi-finalists in the grade – play Inniscarra, with the winners advancing to meet Carrigtwohill. A meeting with Castlelyons is up for grabs as Blarney, who have lost the last two finals, go head-to-head with Na Piarsaigh at 7.30pm.
The second-tier relegation play-off sees Bishopstown go up against Courcey Rovers in Bandon at 3pm on Sunday.
Midleton v Glen Rovers, Páirc Uí Rinn, 7.30pm
Mayfield v Youghal, Ovens, 7.45pm
Bride Rovers v Inniscarra, Páirc Uí Rinn, 5.30pm; Blarney v Na Piarsaigh, Páirc Uí Rinn, 7.30pm
Cloyne v Valley Rovers, Cobh, 4pm
Mallow v Castlemartyr, Glanworth, 4pm
Aghabullogue v Midleton, Carraig na bhFear, 4pm; Bandon v Erin’s Own, Ballinhassig, 5.30pm
Ballygarvan v St Catherine’s, Riverstown, 4pm
Sarsfields v Charleville, Castletownroche, 3pm; Imokilly v St Finbarr’s, Midleton, 4pm.
Erin’s Own v Newtownshandrum, Mourneabbey, 4pm
Bishopstown v Courcey Rovers, Bandon, 3pm
Ballincollig v Carrigaline, Riverstick, 3pm
Cloughduv v Argideen Rangers, Ballygarvan, 2pm
Meelin v Barryroe, Blarney, 2pm
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