Cork Intermediate A Hurling Championship
The Cork Intermediate A Hurling Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Co-Op Superstores Cork Intermediate A Hurling Championship and abbreviated to the Cork IAHC) is an annual hurling competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the second tier intermediate clubs in the county of Cork in Ireland. It is the fourth tier overall in the entire Cork hurling championship system.
| Cork Intermediate A Hurling Championship | |
|---|---|
Current season or competition: 2020 Cork Intermediate A Hurling Championship | |
| Irish | Craobh Iomána Idirmhéanach A Chorcaí |
| Code | Hurling |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Region |  Cork (GAA) |
| Trophy | Paddy Walsh Cup |
| No. of teams | 12 |
| Title holders |  Blackrock (1st title) |
| Most titles |  Ballincollig (7 titles) Glen Rovers (7 titles) |
| Sponsors | Co-Op Superstores |
| Official website | Official website |
The Cork Intermediate Championship was introduced in 1909 as a competition that would bridge the gap between the senior grade and the junior grade. At the time of its creation it was the second tier of Cork hurling.
In its soon-to-be introduced format, the Cork Intermediate A 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 Intermediate Championship, as well as being presented with the Paddy Walsh Cup, will gain automatic promotion to the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship for the following season.
The competition has been won by 55 teams. Ballincollig and Glen Rovers are the most successful teams in the tournament's history, having won it seven times each. Blackrock are the reigning champions, having beaten Cloughduv by 0-15 to 1-10 in the 2019 final.[1]
History
The Cork Intermediate Hurling Championship dates back to 1909, however, in 2003 it was decided to split the grade into Premier Intermediate and ordinary Intermediate. In its inaugural year in 2004, the Premier Intermediate grade was confined to sixteen clubs while the lowest ranked intermediate teams from 2003 were joined by the Junior Championship winners as well as the individual divisional winners - Argideen Rangers, Kanturk, Carrigaline, Blackrock and Watergrasshill. Grenagh, who won the Muskerry division in the junior grade, declined the invitation. In earlier years the winners of both the Premier Intermediate and Intermediate grades would have a play-off to decide which team would represent Cork in the Munster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship. In recent years the provincial place has been reserved for the Premier Intermediate champions.
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 club 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 two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage, with the two best-placed teams receiving byes to the semi-finals.
Quarter-finals: Two lone quarter-finals feature the four lowest-placed team from the group stage. Two teams qualify for the next round.
Semi-finals: The two semi-finals feature four teams. Two teams qualify for the next round.
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 Premier Intermediate Championship.
Participating teams
| Team | Location | Colours |
|---|---|---|
| Aghabullogue | Coachford | Green and white |
| Argideen Rangers | Timoleague | Maroon and white |
| Cloughduv | Cloughduv | Green and yellow |
| Douglas | Douglas | Green, black and white |
| Dungourney | Dungourney | Yellow and green |
| Éire Óg | Ovens | Red and yellow |
| Glen Rovers | Blackpool | Red and yellow |
| Kildorrery | Kildorrery | Blue and white |
| Mayfield | Mayfield | Red and white |
| Meelin | Meelin | Green and yellow |
| Midleton | Midleton | Black and white |
| Sarsfields | Glanmire | Blue, white and black |
Sponsorship
TSB Bank became the first title sponsor of the championship, serving in that capacity until 2005 when the Evening Echo signed a sponsorship deal. In 2020, Dairygold Co-Op Superstores were unveiled as the new title sponsor of the Cork Intermediate A Championship.[4]
The Cup
The winning team is presented with the Paddy Walsh Cup. Walsh was a native of Castlemartyr and served the club with distinction as a player, coach and administrator.
List of finals
Notes:
- 1927 - Cobh objected and were awarded the title.
- 1961 - The first match ended in a draw: Glen Rovers 2-3, Castletownroche 0-9.
- 1971 - The first match ended in a draw: Nemo Rangers 4-13, Carrigtwohill 8-1.
- 1996 - The first match ended in a draw: Newtownshandrum 2-7, Cloyne 1-10.
- 2001 - The first match ended in a draw: Killeagh 1-14, Mallow 1-14.
- 2002 - The first match ended in a draw: Delaneys 2-9, Carrigtwohill 1-12.
- 2005 - The first match ended in a draw: Argideen Rangers 1-8, Nemo Rangers 0-11.
- 2010 - The first match ended in a draw: Ballygarvan 2-12, Kilbrittain 1-15.[14]
- 2016 - The first match ended in a draw: Fr. O'Neill's 0-16, Kildorrery 1-13.[15]
References
- Moynihan, Michael (16 November 2019). "Blackrock edge Cloughduv in Cork IHC decider". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- Cormican, Eoghan (26 March 2019). "Here's a breakdown of the proposals to restructure the Cork county championships". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- "Cork clubs vote down radical restructuring proposals". RTÉ Sport. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
- O'Connor, Colm (27 July 2020). "Cork GAA ink hurling sponsorship deal with Dairygold Co-Op Superstores". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- "Carrigaline celebrate historic hurling success". Hogan Stand. 10 February 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
- "Bandon blitz O'Neill's to end heartache". Irish Examiner. 3 October 2011. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- "Kilworth finally end years of anguish". Irish Examiner. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
- "Awesome Kanturk stay fully focused". Irish Examiner. 4 November 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- "Shanahan fires Fermoy to glory". Irish Examiner. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- "Glory cruise for Charleville". Irish Examiner. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- "Video: Declan Dalton drives Fr O'Neill's to Intermediate title". Irish Examiner. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- "Classy Aghada win Cork Intermediate title". Irish Examiner. 28 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
- O'Callaghan, Therese (15 October 2018). "Determined Ballincollig set up victory parade". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
- "Kilbrittain will find it tough to lift themselves for replay". Ballygarvan GAA. 17 October 2010. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2016.
- "Justice done as O'Brien earns replay". The Corkman. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2016.