Premier SFC: Divisions have struggled to advance beyond quarter-finals against club sides
Carbery's Ben Murphy gets in a challenge on Seán Kiely of Ballincollig during the 2022 Premier SFC quarter-final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Denis Boyle
St Finbarr’s will be aiming to complete a double of sorts in Clonakilty on Sunday afternoon.
Having qualified for the semi-finals of the Co-op SuperStores Premier SHC with victory over Imokilly last weekend, the Togher outfit will put their defence of the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC on the line when they meet Carbery in Clonakilty (1.45pm).
The Barrs will be favourites but they do come in to this having won just one of their group games, beating Douglas in between defeats to Carrigaline – who took the automatic semi-final spot – and Mallow, with scoring-difference giving them second place in the section.
That left them as third-ranked of the group runners-up and so sixth seed in all. Incidentally, it’s worth noting that Nemo Rangers were third with four points and Castlehaven were fourth with five as the table-toppers must occupy the first three berths; in any case, it’s somewhat immaterial as those two clubs face each other in the second quarter-final in Clon on Sunday.
The nature of the draw means that the club in sixth must face the winners of the divisions and colleges section – though since the change in format of the championship for 2020, that spot has only been occupied by divisions.
On four occasions, Duhallow have emerged to contest the quarter-finals proper, with Carbery having done so once before this year and Muskerry also with a solitary appearance.
The south-west side are aiming to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2013, when they lost to holders, and eventual winners, Castlehaven by a single point.
Gene O’Donovan’s side became the first winners of the new Derry Gowen Cup – previously, the Tadhg Crowley Cup had been awarded to the divisional winners – as they beat Muskerry and then Duhallow. They had been due to face UCC to determine progression to the main championship but unfortunately the college side were unable to field a team.
Since the implementation of the new system, Carbery’s only previous experience of this stage came in 2022. After beating Imokilly, Beara, Avondhu, UCC and Duhallow, they met Ballincollig in the quarter-finals but two goals apiece from Cian Dorgan and Darren Murphy helped the mid-Cork side to triumph on a 4-11 to 1-15 scoreline.
Unfortunately for the divisional sides, such an occurrence has been the rule rather than the exception across the six seasons of the new championship layout.
Duhallow were pre-eminent regional side back in 2020, having reached the county finals of 2018 and 2019 – losing to St Finbarr’s and Nemo Rangers respectively – and they overcame Valley Rovers in the first year of the new championship mode before losing to Nemo in the semis.
A year later, they were in a strong position against Clonakilty before a six-point lead gave way to a one-point defeat. After losing to Carbery in 2022, Duhallow came back strongly in 2023, beating Douglas by ten points – though semi-final defeat followed against Nemo again – and then in 2024, Muskerry took the spot but couldn’t capitalise as they lost to Mallow.
Last year, Duhallow were the best of the divisions again but a narrow defeat to Ballincollig ended their campaign, giving a record of two wins from six at the quarter-final stage.
App?
