Challenging the big three, West Cork woe and orange count: Cork football storylines

We regret to inform said readers that commentary will continue until such time as a member of the chasing pack succeeds in upsetting the established order. And based on the evidence of the opening two rounds, the established order is safe for a while yet.

The big three of Castlehaven, Nemo Rangers, and St Finbarr’s all took care of group progression three weeks ago. Barring a surprise sprung by Newcestown, Carrigaline, or St Michael’s on Sunday, and the chances of such are slim given the big three have lost only one group fixture between them going right the way back to August 13, 2002, Castlehaven, Nemo, and the Barrs will, for the third year in succession, take the top three seedings for the knockout phase.

The annual question is asked again: Is there anyone who can wrestle in on their stranglehold of local matters.

Ballincollig troubled the Barrs and Haven in recent quarter-finals, but they’ve yet to record a victory in this championship, and unless they do so against Douglas, they are out.

As we saw in the opening round against Nemo, the players, the potential, and the ability to penetrate is there. Sustaining their challenge over the hour, rather than flagging at some point midway through the second period, has been Ballincollig’s unsolved issue against the leading trio.

Newcestown and Carrigaline, outside of the big three, are the other two club teams already qualified. They are the most recent promotees from Senior A. Carrigaline completely outsmarted Clonakilty last time out, Newcestown displayed greater composure in the clutch finish against Mallow.

Neither have in the locker experience of navigating the business end, not at this level anyway. Momentum is their trump card. Will that be enough when standing opposite a member of the big three in the quarters or semis?

We shall see.

West Cork woe

Might seem a strange take in light of Castlehaven’s usual competent negotiating of the group phase and Newcestown’s first set of back-to-back top tier championship victories since 2019, so hear us out, please.

Clon and their array of past and present Cork players were anointed, not for the first time, as the most capable of challenging the big three. Instead, they are winless and will fight relegation if they lose this weekend. They were utterly devoid of creativity when falling to Carrigaline.

Their Sunday opponents - neighbours Carbery Rangers - will also fight relegation should they be the ones to come off second best at Ballinacarriga. Rosscarbery have not won a group fixture since August 14, 2022. They’ve been competitive throughout that period. Being competitive is not enough.

A trough was always inevitable after the team of the last decade, which delivered maiden county glory in 2016, reached the end of the line. The new faces, as a collective, are still attempting to come up to the mark.

Both are jostling to avoid being pushed towards the drop. Down there in Senior A, Dohenys, beaten finalists two years ago, are already eliminated. They’ll fight relegation if they lose to O’Donovan Rossa at Drimoleague. Similarly, defeat for Skibb - semi-finalists in ‘22 - will send them into relegation peril.

Dohenys and O’Donovan Rossa finished in the two places outside Division 1 promotion this year. League form coming into championship was in no way disconcerting. Then again, neither has recent championship results. This format is unforgiving. Whoever is squeezed out on Sunday will be shoved within an hour of third-tier fare.

Speaking of Premier Intermediate fare, and finishing our West Cork holiday, Bantry Blues are the sole team of 12 yet to put a point on the board.

Bantry led the 2023 Premier Intermediate final by three points with six minutes remaining. Unless they overcome Nemo, they will stand 60 minutes from fourth-tier involvement.

A West Cork revival - of sorts

Following a first pair of back-to-back championship games unbeaten in six years, Ilen Rovers sit second in Group 3 of the Intermediate A championship. They need only a point off pointless St Vincent’s to cement their place in the quarter-finals. They are finally looking up.

In the four seasons prior to 2025, the men from Aughadown, Rath, and Baltimore suffered three demotions. 15 championship outings, 14 defeats. From the first step of the Cork football ladder to the fourth.

Emigration and injury hurt them. There were other less obvious factors. Baltimore is a highly sought-after summer residence. Attempting to put down roots in the area all-year round is far from straightforward, be that from a pricing or planning perspective. The tightening primary school numbers and size of the playing pool coming up through the age-grades reflects this reality.

“If you are a young couple looking to live in our area, the price of property is incredibly high. You are competing against a different type of person that has lots of disposable income. Our population, as a result, is very seasonal. It is down to 300 in winter,” explained Dominic Casey, club executive member and club coach, to the Irish Examiner last year.

The numbers they have are enjoying the first bit of progress seen in years in attempting to turn around their on-field reality.

Corbett clicking

One or two minor setbacks at the end of his recovery from cruciate ligament knee surgery meant Conor Corbett never got on the field with Cork in 2025. His early club form is a reminder of what wasn’t available to Cork this year and what they’ll seek to utilise, under the new rules, in 2026.

1-4 in the win over Fermoy, 1-9 in the defeat to Knocknagree. He is the second-tier championship’s top-scorer. He is a welcome sight back inside the whitewash. He must again raise flags and trouble if Clyda Rovers are to overcome Cill na Martra and continue on.

Orange count

Newcestown’s David Buckley also didn’t see a minute in red in 2025. He’s another using the club platform to remind those in positions of power what he’s capable of.

His Newcestown team lead the Premier Senior orange flag count with seven two-pointers. He himself leads the Premier Senior top-scorers chart with 0-23. Buckley is responsible for six of Newcestown’s seven two-pointers.

Bizarrely enough, St Finbarr’s are one of the two top-flight sides with no orange to their name, and this after a League where Steven Sherlock couldn’t keep them kicked over.

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