Draws made for the 2026 McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC
St Finbarr's won the championship this year. Picture: Tom Beary/Sportsfile
There are some mouthwatering encounters to look forward to in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC next year after the 2026 club draws were made at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Tuesday night.
St Finbarr’s will defend the Andy Scannell trophy after they won the championship back in October for the first time since 2021.
They ended Castlehaven's three-in-a-row bid at the quarter-final stage. The Haven though, while disappointed to have been knocked out early, have been on the go for a number of years and the extended break should aid them in their pursuit of championship glory next year.
Naturally enough as reigning champions, the Barrs will be fancied to defend their crown next year.
The draw ahead of the new campaign have possibly come at a good time for the Togher outfit after their controversial one-point loss to Dingle in the Munster final on Sunday.
Nemo Rangers, who lost the county final this year, which was their third defeat in the decider on the bounce for the first time in their history, will also be contenders for the big prize in 2026.
Outside of St Finbarr’s, Castlehaven and Nemo Rangers, Carbery Rangers were the last team to win the Andy Scannell, which was back in 2016.
The Rosscarbery-based outfit suffered relegation this year.
Starting with Group 1 and the Barrs will be favourites to finish top of the pile in this particular group as they are joined by Carrigaline, Mallow and Douglas.
A key game in St Finbarr’s season was their respective last group stage win over Carrigaline back in September on a scoreline of 2-23 to 0-10.
Brian Roche’s side had stuttered through their previous two games against Clonakilty and Carbery Rangers.
The Togher side didn’t look back after the hammering of Carrigaline as it was followed by the eye-catching victory over the holders Castlehaven and the rest is history as they say.
The three other teams in Group 1 will fancy their chances of potentially joining St Finbarr’s in the knockout stages.
Mallow got to the semi-final in 2024 which included a group win over the Barrs.
Carrigaline were unlucky to lose out to Newcestown after a penalty shoot-out at the quarter-final juncture this year while Douglas didn’t get out of their group.
In Group 2, Nemo Rangers will be hotly fancied to fill one of the two qualification spots. The city side have made it look easy in recent years.
Robbie O’Dwyer’s charges will come up against Newcestown, a repeat of a classic semi-final encounter this year while St Michael’s and Valley Rovers also make up that group.
Group 3 is without doubt the most appealing given the quality of the teams that are in this group.
Castlehaven will look to get back on the horse in 2026. They won’t have it easy with Ballincollig, newcomers Knocknagree and Clonakilty joining them.
Both Ballincollig and Clonakilty would be considered to be just outside the so called ‘top three’ and are tipped by many to make a big push in the coming years.
Both though will have a fight on their hands to qualify for the knockout stages. Knocknagree on their maiden voyage in 2026 at Premier Senior level couldn’t have possibly wished for a harder group.
Under the experienced John Fintan Daly, they will relish their three tough group games.
Dates, times and venues will be announced in the coming weeks.
St Finbarr’s, Carrigaline, Mallow, Douglas.
Newcestown, Nemo Rangers, St Michael’s, Valley Rovers.
Castlehaven, Ballincollig, Knocknagree, Clonakilty.
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