Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship

The Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as The Echo Cork County Premier Intermediate Football Championship and abbreviated to the Cork PIFC) is an annual Gaelic football competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking intermediate clubs in the county of Cork in Ireland. It is the third tier overall in the entire Cork Gaelic football championship system.

Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship
Current season or competition:
2020 Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship
IrishCraobhchomórtas Peile Príomh Idirmheánach Chorcaí
CodeGaelic football
Founded2006 (2006)
Region Cork (GAA)
TrophyBilly Long Cup
No. of teams12
Title holders Éire Óg (1st title)
Most titles Mallow (2 titles)
Valley Rovers (2 titles)
St. Vincent's (2 titles)
SponsorsBon Secours Hospital
Official websiteOfficial website

The Cork Premier Intermediate Championship was introduced in 2006 following a split in the existing Cork Intermediate Football Championship. At the time of its creation it was the second tier of Cork Gaelic football.

In its soon-to-be introduced format, the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship will begin in April. The 12 participating club teams will be drawn into three groups of four teams and play each other in a round-robin system. The three group winners and the three runners-up proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Páirc Uí Rinn in October. The winner of the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship, as well as being presented with the Billy Long Cup, qualifies for the subsequent Munster Club Championship.

The competition has been won by 11 teams. Mallow, Valley Rovers and St. Vincent's are the only teams to have won the tournament on more than one occasion. Éire Óg are the reigning champions, having beaten St. Michael's by 0–14 to 0–12 in the 2019 final.[1]

Format

Development

On 2 April 2019, a majority of 136 club delegates voted to restructure the championship once again.[2][3] The new format also led to a reduction in the number of participating clubs from 16 to 12.

Overview

Group stage: The 12 teams are divided into three groups of four. Over the course of the group stage, which features one game in April and two games in August, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three games. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the group stage table by points gained, then scoring difference and then their head-to-head record. The top three teams in each group qualify for the knock-out stage.

Play-off: The second best and third best third placed teams from the group stage play off for last quarter-final place.

Quarter-finals: The play-off winner and the seven top-ranking teams from the group stage contest this round. The four winners from these four games advance to the semi-finals.

Semi-finals: The four quarter-final winners contest this round. The two winners from these four games advance to the semi-finals.

Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions and gain automatic promotion to the following year's Cork Senior A Championship.

Participating teams
Team Location Colours
Aghada Aghada Green and white
Bandon Bandon Yellow and white
Castletownbere Castletownbere Black and white
Cill Na Martra Kilnamartyra Blue and white
Gabriel Rangers Ballydehob Green and white
Knocknagree Knocknagree Blue and white
Naomh Abán Ballyvourney Blue and white
Newmarket Newmarket Red and black
Macroom Macroom Green and white
Na Piarsaigh Farranree Yellow and black
Nemo Rangers Trabeg Black and green
St. Vincent's Sundays Well Green and white

Sponsorship

Since 2006 the Premier Intermediate Championship has been sponsored by the Evening Echo.

Trophy

The winning team is presented with the Billy Long Cup. Billy Long was involved with the Lees club in the 1940s and 1950s. He was a selector with the Cork senior football team in 1956 and was a member of the County Board Executive.

List of finals
Year Winners Score Runners-up Score Venue
2006 St. Vincent's 1-05 Glanmire 0-07 Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork
2007 Mallow 1-07 Killavullen 0-07 Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork [4]
2008 St. Finbarr's 2-13 St. Vincent's 0-14 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork [5]
2009 Valley Rovers 0-07 Clyda Rovers 0-05 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork [6]
2010 Newcestown 0-10 Clyda Rovers 0-09 Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork [7]
2011 Newmarket 3-06 Clyda Rovers 1-10 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork [8]
2012 St. Vincent's 0-12 St. Michael's 0-11 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork [9]
2013 Clyda Rovers 0-13 Macroom 0-08 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork [10]
2014 Valley Rovers 0-12 Na Piarsaigh 0-08 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork [11]
2015 Carrigaline 0-12 St. Michael's 0-11 Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork [12]
2016 Kiskeam 2-12 Fermoy 0-14 Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork [13]
2017 Mallow 1-17 St. Michael's 1-16 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork [14]
2018 Fermoy 0-11 St. Michael's 0-07 Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork [15]
2019 Éire Óg 0-14 St. Michael's 0-12 Páirc Uí Rinn, Cork [16]

Notes:

  • 2006 - The final went to two replays after St. Vincent's and Glanmire drew 0-09 apiece and 0-12 apiece.

References
  1. "Éire Óg edge out St Michael's to capture the Premier Intermediate Football crown". Evening Echo. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  2. Cormican, Eoghan (26 March 2019). "Here's a breakdown of the proposals to restructure the Cork county championships". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  3. "Cork clubs vote down radical restructuring proposals". RTÉ Sport. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  4. Lester, Bob (22 October 2007). "Mallow dig deep". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  5. "Barr's secure senior goal". Irish Examiner. 6 October 2008. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  6. Lester, Bob (19 October 2009). "Glory for Valley Rovers and senior status for first time". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  7. Lester, Bob (1 November 2010). "Newcestown back in the big time". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  8. "Newmarket pip Clyda and rip form book to shreds". Irish Examiner. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  9. O'Sullivan, Jim (29 October 2012). "Courage gets Vincent's over line". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  10. "Glory at last for classy Clyda". Irish Examiner. 14 October 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  11. Hurley, Denis (20 October 2014). "Valiant Valleys stick to their guns". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  12. Hurley, Denis (19 October 2015). "Times never so sweet as Carrigaline reach promised land". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  13. Horgan, Noel (29 October 2016). "Kiskeam rise to shock Fermoy". The Corkman. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  14. O'Callaghan, Therese (16 October 2017). "Heartbreak for St Michael's as Mallow win Cork Premier Intermediate final". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  15. Hurley, Denis (21 October 2018). "Fermoy back in the big time Premier IFC triumph over St Michael's". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  16. "Éire Óg edge out St Michael's to capture the Premier Intermediate Football crown". Evening Echo. 27 October 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
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