Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

History

The Cork Intermediate Championship was founded in 1909 in an effort to bridge the standard of play between the Cork Senior Championship and the Cork Junior Championship. For almost a century, the Cork Intermediate Championship was effectively the second tier championship in the Cork hurling championship system.

In 2003 the Cork County Board Executive established a Hurling Championship Review Committee in an effort to improve the competitiveness of the Cork Senior Championship. The committee also proposed the splitting of the existing Cork Intermediate Championship in two with the creation of a 16-team Cork Premier Intermediate Championship which became the second tier of the Cork hurling championship system.

The championship was first played in 2004 with the winner, St. Catherine's, gaining automatic promotion to the following year's Cork Senior Championship. Their place in the championship was taken by Watergrasshill who won the Cork Intermediate Championship. The idea of relegation was introduced in 2006 with St. Finbarr's becoming the first team to be relegated from the championship after losing a play-off to Ballincollig. Similarly, Delaney Rovers became the first team to be relegated to the championship after losing their senior status following a play-off defeat by Castlelyons. Relegation was suspended in 2013 and again from 2015 to 2019.

Format

History

16 clubs entered the inaugural championship in 2004 and a double elimination format was used. Each team was guaranteed at least two games before being eliminated from the championship. In 2006 a relegation section was introduced. The four teams who lost both their games in Round 1 and Round 2 entered the relegation play-offs with the eventual losing team being relegated. An extra round of games was added to the championship in 2010. Each team was now given the opportunity of losing both of their games in Round 1 and Round 2 but remaining in the championship. This format remained in place until 2016 when it was decided to revert to the previous format.

Current

Development

On 2 April 2019, a majority of 136 club delegates voted to restructure the championship once again. 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 Senior A Championship.

Teams

2026 Teams

The 12 teams competing in the 2026 Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship are:

Sponsorship

Permanent TSB became the first title sponsor of the championship, serving in that capacity for just one year 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 Premier Intermediate Championship.

Venues

Early rounds

Fixtures in the opening rounds of the championship are usually played at a neutral venue that is deemed halfway between the participating teams. Some of the more common venues include Clonmult Memorial Park, Páirc Shéamuis de Barra, St. Catherine's Park, Church Road and Páirc Liam Mhic Cárthaigh.

Final

The final has always been played at one of Cork GAA's two main stadiums. On several occasions the final has been played at Páirc Uí Chaoimh as the curtain raiser to the senior final. The rebuilding and subsequent improvement works to Páirc Uí Chaoimh resulted in several finals being held at Páirc Uí Rinn.

Managers

Managers in the Cork Championship are involved in the day-to-day running of the team, including the training, team selection, and sourcing of players. Their influence varies from club-to-club and is related to the individual club committees. The manager is assisted by a team of two or three selectors and a backroom team consisting of various coaches.

Trophy

The winning team is presented with the Séamus Long Cup. A national school teacher by profession, Séamus Long (1884-1953) was elected secretary of the Ballincollig club in 1914, before serving as the first secretary of the Muskerry Board in 1924. A founder-member of the Ballinora club the same year, he was the club's first chairman. Long also served as vice-chairman of the Cork County Board and was a Munster Council delegate from 1949 until his death in 1953.

List of Finals

Legend

• – Munster intermediate club champions
• – Munster intermediate club runners-up

List of Cork PIHC finals

Roll of honour

By club

By Division

Records and statistics

Teams

The following is a list of teams who have played in the Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship since its formation in 2004 to the current championships season. As of the 2020 season, 31 teams have played in the Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship.

All statistics here refer to time in the Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship only, with the exception of 'Most Recent Finish' (which refers to all levels of play). Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship teams playing in the 2020 championship season are indicated in bold. A 'spell' refers to a number of consecutive seasons within the championship, uninterrupted by relegation. If the longest spell is the current spell, this is shown in bold.

Final

Team

• Most wins: 3:
  • Ballinhassig (2005, 2012, 2025)
• Most appearances in a final: 3:
  • Courcey Rovers (2004, 2008, 2018)
  • Ballinhassig (2005, 2012, 2025)
• Biggest win: 18 points
  • Newcestown 1-23 - 0-08 Valley Rovers, (2015)
• Most goals in a final: 6
  • Carrigtwohill 3-14 - 3-12 Watergrasshill, (2007)
• Most points in a final: 43
  • Fr O'Neill's 3-23 - 1-20 Kilworth, (2019)
• Most goals by a winning side: 3
  • Carrigtwohill 3-14 - 3-12 Watergrasshill, (2007)
• Most goals by a losing side: 3
  • Watergrasshill 3-12 - 3-14 Carrigtwohill, (2007)
• Most points by a winning side: 23
  • Newcestown 1-23 - 0-08 Valley Rovers, (2015)
• Most points by a losing side: 16
  • Ballymartle 0-16 - 0-20 Douglas, (2009)
  • Newcestown 0-16 - 1-17 Ballyhea, (2014)
• Highest cumulative score overall: 44
  • Carrigtwohill 3-14 - 3-12 Watergrasshill, (2007)
• Highest cumulative score by a winning team: 26
  • Newcestown 1-23 - 0-08 Valley Rovers, (2015)
• Highest cumulative score by a losing team: 21
  • Watergrasshill 3-12 - 3-14 Carrigtwohill, (2007)
• Most defeats: 2
  • Courcey Rovers (2004, 2008, 2018)

Top scorers

All time

By season

Overall

Single game

In finals

Cumulative

Finals

References

References

1. Cormican, Eoghan. (26 March 2019). "Here's a breakdown of the proposals to restructure the Cork county championships". Irish Examiner.
2. (2 April 2019). "Cork clubs vote down radical restructuring proposals". RTÉ Sport.
3. O'Connor, Colm. (27 July 2020). "Cork GAA ink hurling sponsorship deal with Dairygold Co-Op Superstores". Irish Examiner.
4. Horgan, John. (28 July 2019). "Work on the new pitch at Páirc Uí Chaoimh is underway to take advantage of summer growth". Evening Echo.
5. (19 October 2025). "Cork Premier IHC final: Ballinhassig impress in win over Ballincollig". Irish Examiner.
6. (10 November 2024). "Watergrasshill complete remarkable turnaround to win Cork Premier IHC title". Irish Examiner.
7. O'Mahony, Barry. (15 October 2023). "Castlelyons come good late on to defeat Kilworth and land PIHC title". Echo Live.
8. (22 October 2022). "Colm Casey's late, late goal sees Inniscarra beat Castlemartyr in a classic county hurling final". Echo Live.
9. Hurley, Denis. (27 November 2021). "Stirring Courcey Rovers fightback secures PIHC final victory". Echo Live.
10. O'Callaghan, Therese. (3 October 2020). "Mark Coleman masterclass sees Blarney promoted to senior ranks". Irish Examiner.
11. Horgan, John. (13 October 2019). "Dalton and Dunne deliver glory for Fr O'Neill's hurlers against Kilworth". Evening Echo.
12. O'Callaghan, Therese. (30 October 2018). "Charleville back in the big time as Courceys held at bay". Irish Examiner.
13. O'Callaghan, Therese. (9 October 2017). "Kanturk the kingpins after show of fitness and courage". Irish Examiner.
14. O'Callaghan, Therese. (10 October 2016). "Masterclass by Ronan Crowley earns Bandon senior status". Irish Examiner.
15. Hurley, Denis. (12 October 2015). "Five-star Newcestown's glorious day". Irish Examiner.
16. Hurley, Denis. (13 October 2014). "Ballyhea 'yes' at return to senior ranks". Irish Examiner.
17. O'Callaghan, Therese. (8 October 2012). "Ballinhassig back at the top table". Irish Examiner.
18. Lester, Bob. (10 October 2011). "Clinical Courcey's finally go the distance". Irish Examiner.
19. Moynihan, Michael. (11 October 2010). "Tracton second best again in derby duel". Irish Examiner.
20. Weldon, Eoin. (15 October 2009). "Douglas set for senior". Cork Independent.
21. (25 October 2008). "Blarney make the breakthrough". Southern Star.
22. (15 January 2008). "Carrigtwohill make the ascent". Hogan Stand.
23. Larkin, Brendan. (21 October 2006). "Bishopstown's young guns bid to come of age". Irish Examiner.