Cork GAA talking points: Can Carrigaline and Clonakilty upset the big guns?

Following Carbery Rangers and Ballincollig’s advancement success in 2016 and ’14, Nemo, Barrs and Castlehaven have actually monopolised the Andy Scannell Cup. Just Clon and Duhallow (in 2018 and ’19) have actually even reached the last exterior of the huge 3 in that duration.

For novelty alone, the neutrals will lag Carrigaline and Clonakilty this weekend. They’re both unbeaten, Carrigaline topping a group that consisted of the Barrs, Clon drawing with the Haven and winning their other 3 video games. They’re well-coached and have depth.

Champions the Barrs made the knockout phases on scoring distinction by virtue of a single triumph, while Nemo were flat in their opener versus Newcestown.

The issue for the underdogs is Cork’s football kingpins have actually collected momentum.

Robbie O’Dwyer’s charges swept Valley Rovers aside and led throughout versus the Haven.

The Blues had excessive firepower for Carbery and have actually gotten an increase from their hurlers’exploits. Who would back versus them when it matters?

DOUBLE DIAMONDS:

An extinct types at inter-county level, double gamers can still prosper on the club scene.

St Finbarr’s stay the standard-bearers because regard, a win over Clonakilty far from including in both Premier Senior finals on Leeside. They last handled that task in 2022 when ending a tossing dry spell versus Blackrock however were rejected a double when dismissed by Nemo Rangers. Hurler of the Year candidate Brian Hayes is likewise the Barrs’ accomplished footballer, in addition to Steven Sherlock and Ian Maguire. William Buckley is likewise an evasive operator with the huge ball.

Carrigaline will try to put their tossing dissatisfaction behind them when they hit Nemo Rangers; Kevin Kavanagh, Dan Greene, Éanna Desmond, David Griffin and Kevin O’Reilly are amongst their beginners in both codes.

The core of the Kanturk side that came so close in the Premier Senior Hurling semi will be action once again at Senior A Football level versus Carbery Rangers, while St Nicks can get in touch with Robert and Eoin Downey in their efforts to go back to the Premier Junior Football decider.

They might have been fulfilling Cork pal Seán O’Donoghue there, however Inniscarra were knocked out by Canovee on Friday night. A tossing All-Star in 2025, 9 years previously, he captained the Cork U21 footballers to an All-Ireland last versus Mayo.

STAGE:

The Páirc is not available on Sunday due to UEFA policies ahead of the Irish ladies’s soccer match 2 days later on, which suggests the Senior A semis are being hosted beyond the city.

It’s Éire Óg-Cill na Martra on Saturday at 3pm in Coachford, a repeat of in 2015’s clash, and a Mid Cork derby in a Mid Cork setting. It’s ensured to draw a capacity to Aghabullogue’s spotless primary pitch. Colm O’Callaghan, Darragh Clifford, Daniel Goulding, Dan Ó Duinnín, Tadhg Ó Corcora and Micheál Ó Deasúna, whose twin sibling Christina remained in expert boxing action on Friday night at Parochial Hall, are amongst the standout gamers.

On Sunday, the 2nd Senior A semi sees Carbery Rangers hit Kanturk at 4pm in Macroom. It’s preceded by Uibh Laoire versus Naomh Abán at Premier Intermediate level, with Cork sharpshooter Chris Óg Jones in one corner and the extremely appealing U20 graduate Ed Myers in other, though Donal Ó Ceallaigh ransacked 3-3 in their thrashing of Macroom.

Clonakilty staged the Premier Senior Football quarter-finals in front of a bumper crowd and there’s something intoxicatingly old-school about knockout video games in rural places.

BOUNCEBACKABILITY:

5 clubs lost county football finals in 2015 and 4 of them are still on an objective of satisfaction, with just Ilen Rovers stopping working to negotiate their group, in the Premier Intermediate tier.

Nemo are pursuing a 5th successive look in the Premier Senior decider however have actually lost the last 3. For context, considering that reaching their very first county last in 1970, the Trabeg attire having actually won 23 and lost simply 7. Getting Mark Cronin and Conor Horgan back fit in addition to Ross Corkery and Bryan Hayes’ advancement, implies they still load a punch.

Cill na Martra was up to Knocknagree 12 months ago however went back to the Senior last 4 as front runners. At Intermediate A, Uibh Laoire recuperated from the frustration of their defeat to Aghabullogue by getting promoted to Division 1 of the league, in addition to high-flying Carrigaline, and getting to a 5th semi on the bounce.

St Nicks are possibly the most fascinating side, provided the grá for tossing in Blackpool.

They made a quarter-final in the old senior grade 11 years ago however once they were relegated when the grades were broadened in 2020, they kept dropping.

In 2024, they needed to beat St James or be sent out down to Junior A in the Seandún Division.

Club legend Robert Brosnan has actually had a significant impact in jailing the slide and landing an U21 B county last winter season was a substantial increase.

SELF-CONFIDENCE RESTORED:

Simply 10 years back, Carbery Rangers were kingpins of Cork football, the conclusion of a marvelous duration when they were continually at business end of champion.

As that group aged, their outcomes dipped so it wasn’t a significant shock when they were relegated. They didn’t win a group video game in 2023, ’24 or ’25 and after that were beaten in their very first Senior A tie for great step, albeit versus a fancied Cill na Martra.

They’ve got back in the groove. Ross followed up a set of past due group wins with a quarter-final termination of Newmarket, Paul Hodnett, Daragh Hayes and Cork U20 Dylan O’Neill integrating for 1-15. They still have John O’Rourke pulling the strings and Paul Shanahan is a great shot-stopper and a risk from two-point releases.

Robbie Ahern’s side must be fresher than Kanturk this weekend however the Duhallow side are skilled at switching codes and going week in, week out at this point. 2 clubs have actually gone directly back up after transfer from Premier Senior, Newcestown and Carrigaline, though Éire Óg were beaten in the Senior A semis last October.