Premier SFC preview: Meeting of Castlehaven and St Finbarr's tops the bill this weekend

Three quarter-finals and a relegation play-off this weekend as the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC enters a crucial juncture.

The standout tie is undoubtedly the meeting of Castlehaven and St Finbarr’s on Sunday in Clonakilty at 3pm.

For the last five seasons, the teams have met at the semi-final stage, with Castlehaven winning on three occasions including the last two battles.

The Haven are the holders and are going for an historic three-in-a-row of Andy Scannell titles this year.

They come into this encounter on the back of a flat performance against Newcestown two weeks ago in what was the final game in their respective group.

The West Cork team were already qualified, but they would have wanted to try and secure a direct route to the last four.

The Haven lost 0-12 to 0-10, so this could well be the ideal game to focus the minds in their attempts to find their mojo again.

The usual suspects will be to the fore for Seanie Cahalane’s outfit in what could be a thriller.

Brian Hurley, Micheál Maguire and Michael Hurley will be looking to get the necessary scores with Rory Maguire and Johnny O’Regan tasked with making sure the defence holds the line.

St Finbarr’s are coming into this heavyweight clash on the back of a 2-23 to 0-10 success against Carrigaline a fortnight ago.

Both teams were already through, but the Barrs made it their business to put in a performance.

They had beaten Clonakilty and Carbery Rangers respectively, but both of those displays fell short of what they would expect.

Steven Sherlock is flying it this year including 1-14 against Carrigaline. Manager Brian Roche will need his main man to be on fire if the Barrs want any chance of prevailing.

John Wigginton-Barrett, William Buckley and Ethan Twomey are also capable scorers. Ian Maguire’s experience will be important in midfield. Brian Hayes' return from injury is a boost.

Ballincollig meet Duhallow with a place in the semi-finals up for grabs.

That encounter is on in Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday with throw-in at 4pm.

Ballincollig have fallen at the quarter-final hurdle in the last two seasons having made the semi-finals in 2022.

Podsie O’Mahony’s team will see this Duhallow game as winnable, but the divisional outfit will be saying the same thing, which makes this very exciting.

Cian Dorgan remains the focal point of Ballincollig’s attack, but there remains the question of whether they have enough scoring options to really kick on.

Liam O’Connell, home from Australia during the AFL off-season, was very effective without scoring in Ballincollig’s two-point success over Douglas two weeks ago, which sealed progression to the knockout stages.

Duhallow were semi-finalists in 2023 under the guidance of Ger O’Sullivan and they will be determined to at least reach that stage again.

They came through the divisional/colleges section very impressively including a 4-9 to 0-13 win over Muskerry in the final in July.

Cork senior footballers Luke Murphy and Darragh Cashman are the driving forces in this team.

Gerry O’Sullivan and Jack Curtin are forwards who will need minding.

Páirc Uí Rinn is also the venue on Sunday for the meeting of Newcestown and Carrigaline (2pm) in an intriguing quarter-final tie.

The last two winners of the McCarthy Insurance Group SAFC have arguably defied the odds to be in this position. Now both will want to go even further.

Newcestown continue to thrill the neutrals as the West Cork team look to make the last four for the first time since 2019.

They won all three group games this season against Valley Rovers, Mallow and the holders Castlehaven.

Colm O’Donovan, Micheál McSweeney and Colm Dinneen are teak-tough defenders.

Luke Meade, David Buckley and Tadhg Twomey were outstanding in the previous outing against the Haven.

Carrigaline were without the injured Brian O’Driscoll in the heavy loss to St Finbarr’s, but they will still be disappointed with how it went.

They are in new territory as Michael Meaney’s side look to make the semi-finals for the first time.

It remains to be seen if O’Driscoll plays a part in this one. The Coakley brothers, Niall and Brian, carry a scoring presence with Éanna Desmond also well able to score.

Tomorrow, it’s do-or-die for Carbery Rangers and Valley Rovers with the teams contesting the relegation play-off in Enniskeane at 5pm.

The Rosscarbery team have been here before, just 11 months ago, when they defeated Éire Óg.

Valley Rovers will not be happy with how they have performed so far, losing convincingly to Newcestown, Castlehaven and Mallow in the group stage.

An improved display in every area is required from them to have the best chance possible of winning.