The Cork Intermediate A Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as McCarthy Insurance Group Cork County Intermediate A Football Championship and abbreviated to the Cork IAFC) is an annual Gaelic football 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 football championship system.

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 football.

In its current format, the Cork Intermediate Championship begins in mid summer. The 12 participating club teams are drawn into three groups of four teams and play each other in a round-robin system. The two group winners proceed to the knockout phase that culminates with the final match at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The winner of the Cork Intermediate Championship, as well as being presented with the Seán Ó Súilleabháin Cup, gains automatic promotion to the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship for the following season.

Bantry Blues is the most successful teams in the tournament's history, having won it six times. Glanmire are the title-holders, defeating Boherbue by 2–10 to 0–15 in the 2024 final.

Format Development On 2 April 2019, a majority of 136 club delegates voted to restructure the championship. The new format limited the number of participating clubs to 16.

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 two teams in each group qualify for the knock-out stage.

Knockout stage Following the completion of the group stage, the top two teams from each group are ranked (1–6) in terms of points accumulated and scoring difference. The two top-ranking teams receive byes to separate semi-finals.

Quarter-finals: Teams designated 3-6 contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the semi-finals. Semi-finals: The two quarter-final winners and teams designated 1-2 contest this round. The two winners from these two games advance to the final. Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

Promotion and relegation At the end of the championship, the winning team is automatically promoted to the Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship for the following season. The three bottom-placed teams from the group stage take part in a series of play-offs, with the losing team being relegated to the Cork Premier Junior Football Championship.

Teams

2025 Teams The 12 teams competing in the 2025 Cork Intermediate A Football Championship are: Team Location Division Colours Position in 2024 In Championship since Championship Titles Last Championship Title AdrigoleAdrigoleBearaRed and white Semi-finals200711979 BallinoraBallinoraMuskerryGreen and redGroup stage19980 — BoherbueBoherbueDuhallowGreen and goldRunners-up20220 — DromtarriffeRathcooleDuhallowRed and whiteGroup stage201911935 Gabriel RangersSchullCarberyGreen and white Semi-finals20210 — GlanworthGlanworthAvondhuGreen and white Quarter-finals201011976 Ilen RoversBaltimoreCarberyGreen and whiteRelegated (Cork PIFC)202512003 KildorreryKildorreryAvondhuBlue and whiteGroup stage200811981 KilmurryKilmurryMuskerryGreen and gold Champions (Cork PJFC)202511933 MitchelstownMitchelstownAvondhuRed and blackQuarter-finals201441965 St Finbarr'sTogherSeandúnBlue and goldGroup stage202421970 St Vincent'sKnocknaheenySeandúnGreen and white Relegation playoff winners20230 —

Sponsorship In keeping with its sponsorship deal for all Cork hurling and football championships, Permanent TSB provided the sponsorship since the 1990s. The Evening Echo became the primary sponsors of all Cork hurling and football championships in 2005 and have continued their sponsorship ever since. McCarthy Insurance Group became the new title sponsor in December 2023.

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.

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, however, in recent times Páirc Uí Rinn has been the venue of choice for the final.

Trophy The winning team is presented with the Seán Ó Súilleabháin Cup. A secondary school teacher by profession, John Lock O'Sullivan (1976–2002) played with the Adrigole club and the Beara divisional team, with whom he won the Cork Senior Championship in 1997. He also lined out for Cork as a member of the under-21 and junior teams. O'Sullivan died suddenly on 19 November 2002.

List of finals Year Winners Runners-up Club Score Club Score 2024 Glanmire 2–10 Boherbue 0–15 2023 Aghabullogue 2–13 Mitchelstown 1–15 2022 Kilshannig 1–16 Aghabullogue 0–10 2021 Iveleary 0-20 Mitchelstown 0-07 2020 Rockchapel 1–10 Mitchelstown 0-09 2019 Knocknagree 2–10 Gabriel Rangers 1–11 2018 Cill Na Martra 2–17 Aghabullogue 1–10 2017 Kanturk 0–14 Mitchelstown 0–13 2016 Bandon 1–10 Rockchapel 1-07 2015 Fermoy 0-07, 1-12 (R) Mayfield 0-07, 0-09 (R) 2014 Éire Óg 0–14 Rockchapel 0-06 2013 Grenagh 0–12 Aghabullogue 0-05 2012 Castletownbere 1–12 Éire Óg 0–13 2011 Kinsale 1-09 Castletownbere 0-08 2010 Macroom 1-09 Kildorrery 0–10 2009 Carrigaline 0–11 Cill Na Martra 0-08 2008 Valley Rovers 1–12 Kildorrery 3-04 2007 Grenagh 2–13 Carrigaline 0–13 2006 Béal Átha Ghaorthaidh 0-09, 0-05 (R) Castletownbere 0-09, 0-04 (R) 2005 Carbery Rangers 1–13 Glanmire 2-05 2004 Nemo Rangers 3-06 Carbery Rangers 1–10 2003 Ilen Rovers 0–15 Carrigaline 0-07 2002 Nemo Rangers 2-09 Newmarket 0–10 2001 Newcestown 0–13 Nemo Rangers 0-06 2000 Youghal 1-09, 1-01 (R) Nemo Rangers 2-06, 0-03 (R) 1999 Naomh Abán 1-08, 1-09 (R) Castletownbere 2-05, 1-06 (R) 1998 St Michael's 1–11 St. Finbarr's 0-08 1997 Douglas 0-09, 0-09 (R) Castletownbere 1-06, 1-03 (R) 1996 Clyda Rovers 0–16 Carrigaline 1-05 1995 Dohenys 0–11 Kilmurry 0-07 1994 Ballincollig 2-07 Clyda Rovers 2-04 1993 Bantry Blues 0–12 Ballincollig 0–10 1992 Mallow 1–13 Kilmurry 2-09 1991 Aghada 0-09 Ballincollig 0-08 1990 Macroom 2–10 Castletownbere 1-07 1989 Rockchapel 1–10, 0-09 (R) Mallow 1–10, 0-04 (R) 1988 Kilshannig 2-09 Ballincollig 1-07 1987 Glanmire 3-05 Fermoy 0-06 1986 Castletownbere 1-09 Kilshannig 0-08 1985 O'Donovan Rossa 3–11 Glanmire 0-08 1984 Midleton 2–11 O'Donovan Rossa 1–12 1983 Passage West 0-07, 1-06 (R) O'Donovan Rossa 0-07, 0-07 (R) 1982 Macroom 1–12 Bandon 1-08 1981 Kildorrery 0–10 Glanmire 0-08 1980 Nemo Rangers 2-06 Midleton 1-04 1979 Adrigole 2-09 Kildorrery 1-06 1978 Castlehaven 0-08 St. Finbarr's 0-03 1977 Naomh Abán 1-08 Castlehaven 1-03 1976 Glanworth 1–10 Naomh Abán 2-06 1975 Bantry Blues 0-09 Naomh Abán 0-07 1974 Bishopstown 1–10 Newcestown 1-06 1973 Canovee 2–11 Glanworth 0-06 1972 Dohenys 4–10 Glanworth 1-07 1971 Newcestown 2–11 St. Finbarr's 3-02 1970 St. Finbarr's 1-08, 3-06 (R) Youghal 1-08, 1-07 (R) 1969 St Michael's 5-08 Dohenys 1-03 1968 Cobh 1–12 St. Vincent's 1-06 1967 Urhan 2–15 Millstreet 2-06 1966 Na Piarsaigh 1-08 St. Vincent's 2-04 1965 Mitchelstown 2-08 St. Vincent's 1-05 1939–1964No Championship 1938 Bantry Blues 1-01 Dohenys 0-02 1937 St. Nicholas 3-05, 3-03 (R) Bantry Blues 3-02, 1-02 (R) 1936 Bantry Blues 2-03 Dohenys 1-02 1935 Dromtarriffe 1-07 St. Columb's, Douglas 0-02 1934 Bantry Blues 1-01 St. Nicholas 0-03 1933 Kilmurry 2-03 Bantry Blues 0-06 1932 Fermoy 2-04 Kilmurry 0-01 1931 Clonakilty 3-06 Dromtarriffe 0-02 1930 St. Finbarr's 2-03 Dromtarriffe 1-01 1929 Mitchelstown 1-03 Owenabue 0-02 1928 Nemo Rangers 2-03 Kilmurry 0-01 1927 Duhallow United * Fermoy 1926 Buttevant 0-02 Kinsale 0-00 1925 Mitchelstown 3-04 Kilmurry 1-00 1924 O'Donovan Rossa 1-04 Mallow 0-00 1923 Shamrocks 1-01 Dohenys 0-00 1922Not completed 1921Not played 1920Unfinished 1919 Nils 0-07 Macroom 0-00 1918 Millstreet 0-02 Knockavilla 0-00 1917 St. Nicholas 7-07 Fermoy 0-00 1916 Cobh 0-02, 5-03 (R) Macroom 0-02, 2-01 (R) 1915 Fermoy 1-02 Kinsale 0-00 1914 Millstreet 1-03 O'Donovan Rossa 0-00 1913 Clonakilty 2-01 O'Brien's 1-00 1912 Bantry Blues 0-01 CYMS 0-00 1911 Mitchelstown 2-05 William O'Brien's 0-00 1910 Kanturk 3-04 CYMS 0-01 1909 Cobh 0-04, 5-13 (R) CYMS 0-04, 0-04 (R)

1927 Nemo Rangers and Kilmurry were disqualified after meeting in the other semi-final

Roll of Honour

By club # Team Titles Runners-up Championships won Championships runner-up1 Bantry Blues621912, 1934, 1936, 1938, 1975, 19931933, 19372 Mitchelstown441911, 1925, 1929, 19652017, 2020, 2021, 2023 Nemo Rangers421928, 1980, 2002, 20042000, 20014 Fermoy331915, 1932, 20151917, 1927, 1987 Macroom321982, 1990, 20101916, 1919 Cobh301909, 1916, 1968 —7 Castletownbere251986, 20121990, 1997, 1999, 2006, 2011 Dohenys241972, 19951923, 1936, 1938, 1969 O'Donovan Rossa231924, 19851914, 1983, 1984 St Finbarr's231930, 19701971, 1978, 1998 Glanmire231987, 20241981, 1985, 2005 Naomh Abán221977, 19991975, 1976 Rockchapel221989, 20202014, 2016 Millstreet211914, 19181967 St. Nicholas'211917, 19371934 Newcestown211971, 20011974 Kilshannig211988, 20221986 Clonakilty201913, 1931 — St Michael's201969, 1998 — Grenagh202007, 2013 — Kanturk201910, 2017 —20 Kilmurry 1 5 1933 1925, 1928, 1932, 1992, 1995 Kildorrery1319811979, 2008, 2010 Ballincollig 1 3 1994 1988, 1991, 1993 Carrigaline1320091996, 2003, 2007 Aghabullogue 1 3 2023 2013, 2018, 2022 Dromtarriffe1219351930, 1931 Glanworth1219761972, 1973 Mallow1219921924, 1989 Kinsale1220111915, 1926 Castlehaven1119781977 Midleton1119841980 Clyda Rovers1119961994 Youghal1120001970 Carbery Rangers1120052004 Éire Óg1120142012 Bandon1120161982 Cill Na Martra 1 1 2018 2009 Nils101919 — Shamrocks101923 — Buttevant101926 — Duhallow United101927 — Na Piarsaigh101966 — Urhan 1 0 1967 — Canovee 1 0 1973 — Bishopstown 1 0 1974 — Adrigole 1 0 1979 — Passage West 1 0 1983 — Aghada 1 0 1991 — Douglas 1 0 1997 — Ilen Rovers 1 0 2003 — Béal Átha'n Ghaorthaidh 1 0 2006 — Valley Rovers 1 0 2008 — Knocknagree 1 0 2019 — Iveleary 1 0 2021 —56 CYMS 0 3 — 1909, 1910, 1912 St Vincent's 0 3 — 1965, 1966, 1968 William O'Brien's 0 1 — 1911 O'Brien's 0 1 — 1913 Knockavilla 0 1 — 1918 Owenabue 0 1 — 1929 St. Columb's, Douglas 0 1 — 1935 Newmarket 0 1 — 2002 Mayfield 0 1 — 2015 Gabriel Rangers 0 1 — 2019 Boherbue01—2024

By division #DivisionTitlesRunners-UpTotalMost recent win1 Carbery18143220162 Muskerry1517322023 Avondhu15163120224 Seandún14163020045 Duhallow971620206 Imokilly851320247 Carrigdhoun471120118 Beara4592012

See also

Cork Intermediate A Hurling Championship

References