Kilmurry and Adrigole hold the high ground as IAFC enters knockout stage
Kilmurry's Seán O'Leary on the move. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
The final day of the group stage in the McCarthy Insurance Group IAFC didn’t disappoint on Saturday afternoon in what was a crunch period for teams.
There are just six sides remaining in the hunt to move up to the PIFC for 2027 and it does look a very evenly balanced championship, with no one team jumping out.
In Group 1, the big story was that last year’s beaten finalists Ilen Rovers missed out on qualification after losing their winner-takes-all game with Buttevant.
The Avondhu side came good to win 1-17 to 0-15, with Mark Lenahan’s 1-4 including a two-pointer proving crucial, while David Hanlon’s 0-6 including two orange flags also proved vital. They move on to a tasty local derby with Mitchelstown in the quarter-finals.
Kilmurry secured a direct passage into the semi-finals after a 2-11 to 0-7 victory over Glanworth, who head for a relegation play-off with neighbours Kildorrery.
Tomás Collins was an unlikely goalscorer — in fact, he got both of them. Cork U20 footballer Seán O’Leary and Joe Ryan were among the standout performers for Kilmurry.
In Group 2, Dromtarriffe stunned a fancied Mitchelstown side, who had Cork footballer Cathail O’Mahony available following injury. Dromtarriffe won 4-12 to 0-15 as both sides progressed on four points. Evan Murphy was the main man for the winners, helping himself to 2‑4 in a commanding display.
Dromtarriffe now face Boherbue in the quarter-finals, while Mitchelstown lock horns with Buttevant.
Gabriel Rangers’ 2-12 to 0-10 success over St Finbarr’s second team proved in vain as both sides’ seasons finish at the group stage. Eddie Goggin kicked 1-3 for Gabriel’s, with Eoin O’Brien netting the other goal, while Paddy O’Driscoll — back from abroad — chipped in with 0-2.
In Group 3, Adrigole have gone directly to the semi-finals after a third win on the trot, this time over a dogged Kildorrery outfit on a scoreline of 2-8 to 0-10.
Ben O’Sullivan and David Harrington both landed 1-1 for Timmy O’Sullivan’s team. They are now hoping it will be fourth-time lucky after losing the last three semi-finals. Kildorrery will take positives as they now gear up for a huge Avondhu derby with Glanworth to avoid dropping down.
Boherbue edged out Bandon 1-11 to 0-13, with David O’Connor’s 1-7 going a long way towards securing a hard‑fought victory. It marks fresh disappointment for Bandon, who have struggled to make any real impression since suffering relegation from the PIFC last season.
The knockout draw has produced pairings that reflect the shape of the group stage perfectly.
Dromtarriffe, fresh from hitting Mitchelstown for four goals, carry real momentum into their meeting with Boherbue — a clash that promises a proper Duhallow edge.
Buttevant, buoyed by eliminating last year’s finalists Ilen Rovers, now face a Mitchelstown outfit who were rattled by Dromtarriffe but still possess scoring punch and the leadership of Cathail O’Mahony.
At the top end, Kilmurry and Adrigole have earned the luxury of watching the quarter-finals unfold. Kilmurry look defensively tight and well-balanced, while Adrigole’s three-from-three suggests a side finally ready to push past the semi-final hurdle that has stopped them in recent years.
Group 1: Kilmurry 2-11 Glanworth 0-7; Buttevant 1-17 Ilen Rovers 0-15.
Group 2: Dromtarriffe 4-12 Mitchelstown 0-15; Gabriel Rangers 2-12 St Finbarr’s 0-10.
Group 3: Adrigole 2-8 Kildorrery 0-10; Boherbue 1-11 Bandon 0-13.
Dromtarriffe v Boherbue
Buttevant v Mitchelstown
Kilmurry v Buttevant or Mitchelstown
Adrigole v Dromtarriffe or Boherbue
Repeat pairings will be avoided where possible.
Kildorrery v Glanworth.
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