John Horgan on Cork hurling: Premier Intermediate draw produces terrific derbies

Once upon a time, if two clubs from neighbouring parishes were pitted against each other in the championship draw which was made at Cork County Convention, there would be gasps from some of the delegates present.

A local derby was a major topic of conversation and there was much anticipation in the clubs concerned, although the fixture was still months away in the distance.

Now, with the very successful group format when each club is guaranteed at least three championship fixtures, the complexion of the draws is much changed. It's no longer a case of who you got in the opening round but who are the other three teams in your group.

The jeopardy that once existed in that opening round game has been removed to some extent and if you lose your opener, you can make amends in the next two assignments. Mind you, if that opening game is lost the margin for error going forward is considerably lessened.

The groupings for next season's championship were revealed last week and while there won't be a ball struck in anger until next August, the talking points in the aftermath were many. And in one of the five grades, the PIHC, there were quite a few gasps when everything was revealed.

In all five grades, it's inevitable there will be local derbies featuring teams from the same division. In fact, in some instances, you might have two or three teams from the same division grouped together.

Well, this time it went one better, in Group 2 of the PIHC, four teams from East Cork found themselves bracketed together, Dungourney, Castlemartyr, Cloyne and Lisgoold, a remarkable sequence of events one would have to suggest.

RARE TREAT

How many times before since the group format was introduced has that happened? Four near neighbours who will be vying for the top two positions that will ensure their championship season is extended. I don't have the answer but I have no doubt that GAA correspondent of this newspaper, Denis Hurley, will set the record straight.

In many ways, the three groups for the PIHC are extremely localised and apart from the coming together of the four in East Cork you have three of the four in Group 1 all from the same division, beaten finalists last season Ballincollig, Éire Óg and Aghabullogue alongside each other with Bishopstown making up that quartet. And let's face, the Town is not a million miles away from the other three.

It all adds up to plenty of conversation in those four fine clubs over the festive period.

Move on to Group 3 and the story is very similar, three of the four are from the Carrigdhoun division, Carrigaline, Valley Rovers and Ballymartle with the one exception being Kilworth from Avondhu.

In many ways, the three groups in the third tier of Cork hurling are fascinating in their own right. 

It's far too early to even suggest who the six teams from the three who will emerge into the sunlight of the knockout stage of the competition will be, but there is the prospect of some blockbusting games.

And every effort must be made to ensure that these potential derby thrillers do not clash with each other. Yes, easier said than done but so much will be on the line in all those games, local bragging rights will take on a new meaning.

Take Castlemartyr against Dungourney, it will be their first championship encounter for quite some time, both reside in the same parish of Imogeela and the clubs are amalgamated at juvenile level as Kiltha Óg.

FOCUS

Of course, the main focus of attention on the groupings was in the Premier grade of the SHC and again there was much debate afterwards.

This championship might not be what it once used to be, dominated by the three big city clubs with the odd exception some years.

It's a much more open competition now although, at the same time, there is probably a select few of maybe five teams or six who will end the campaign as champions.

The three in the city remain in that category alongside Sarsfields and Midleton but who knows, the applecart might be upset again as it was back in 2011 when Carrigtwohill produced a quite stunning outcome.

A quick glance at how the three groups were formed and initial suggestions might be that from Group 1 the Rockies and the Glen will fill the two qualifying places. In Group 2, the holders Sarsfields and, based on last season, Charleville will be at the head of affairs while in Group 3 Midleton and the Barrs will be the prime fancies.

But not one of the other six teams should be ruled out either and in the latter group, newcomers Bride Rovers and Newcestown are renowned as being teak-tough opponents for any opposition.

Douglas must be a whole pile better than they have been in recent seasons, producing very good, young hurlers each year but unable to make the breakthrough.

Newtown avoided the big drop to Senior A last season, sending Erin's Own down instead, and the progress of Shandrum in this season's U20 championship has to bode well for them going forward.

Of the others, Fr O'Neill's and Kanturk are never easy pickings and never will be and, overall, there is always the potential for a team, maybe not overly fancied, to make deep inroads in the competition. 

Each of the five tiers of Cork hurling carry an appeal all of their own and none more so than the Senior A championship.

Whilst it might be slightly easier to predict what might transpire in the Premier grade, the A championship is maybe more difficult and there are some fine teams who have fallen off the Premier perch who will be going hell for leather in the effort to be elevated again.

When a club suffers the fate of relegation one year, it's a priority for them to try and be reinvented again the top flight almost immediately.

The Glen did it with distinction the season before last and are back again as leading contenders with the elite. Others have not been so lucky, clubs like Na Piarsaigh, Carrigtwohill and Killeagh but all three are not far away either.

Erin's Own now find themselves in that situation next season, trying to get back at the first attempt under a new management team. They will be involved in an East Cork derby encounter with Killeagh, surely carrying the potential to be one of the games of the opening rounds. 

Newcomers Ballinhassig are alongside Carrigtwohill, Inniscarra and Courcey Rovers and will need to be tuned in from the off.

That applies for all teams, all sixty of them across the five tiers but that first match remains of paramount importance.

Win your opener, the road opens up that bit more, lose and that same road becomes much narrower.

Much water will go under the bridges before tht big throw-in but conversing about it might shorten the long Winter nights