The Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as McCarthy Insurance Group Cork County Premier Intermediate Football Championship and abbreviated to the Cork PIFC) is an annual Gaelic football competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by the top-ranking intermediate clubs in the county of Cork in Ireland. It is the third tier overall in the entire Cork Gaelic football championship system.
The Cork Premier Intermediate Championship was introduced in 2006 following a split in the existing Cork Intermediate Football Championship. At the time of its creation it was the second tier of Cork Gaelic football.
In its current format, the Cork Premier Intermediate Championship begins in April. The 12 participating club are 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 Premier Intermediate Championship, as well as being presented with the Billy Long Cup, qualifies for the subsequent Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship.
The competition has been won by 15 teams. Mallow, Newmarket, Valley Rovers and St. Vincent's are the only teams to have won the championship on more than one occasion. Kilshannig are the title holders, defeating Aghabullogue by 2–10 to 1–09 in the 2024 final replay.
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 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 three teams in each group qualify for the knock-out stage.
Play-off: The second best and third best third placed teams from the group stage play off for last quarter-final place.
Quarter-finals: The play-off winner and the seven top-ranking teams from the group stage contest this round. The four winners from these four games advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals: The four quarter-final winners contest this round. The two winners from these four games advance to the semi-finals.
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 due to compete in the 2026 Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship are: Team Location Division Colours Poaition in 2025 In Championship since Championship Titles Last Championship Title AghadaAghadaImokillyGreen and whiteSemi-finals20190 — Bantry BluesBantryCarberyBlue and white Group stage20220— CastletownbereCastletownbereBearaBlack and whiteGroup stage20130 — FermoyFermoyAvondhuBlack and amberRelegated (Cork SAFC)202612018 GlanmireGlanmireImokillyGreen and gold Quarter-finals20250 — IvelearyInchigeelaghMuskerryRed and white Runners-up20220 — KiskeamKiskeamDuhallowBlack and whiteQuarter-finals202512016 MacroomMacroomMuskerryGreen and whiteRelegation playoff winners20110— Naomh AbánBallyvourneyMuskerryBlue and whiteSemi-finals20110 — Nemo RangersTrabegSeandúnBlack and greenGroup stage20060— RockchapelRockchapelDuhallowMaroon and white Group stage20210 — Winners of the 2025 Cork IAFCTBDTBDTBDChampions (Cork IAFC)20260 —
Sponsorship Since 2006 the Premier Intermediate Championship has been sponsored by the Evening Echo. 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, however, Páirc Uí Rinn has sometimes been the venue of choice for the final.
Trophy The winning team is presented with the Billy Long Cup. Billy Long was involved with the Lees club in the 1940s and 1950s. He was a selector with the Cork senior football team in 1956 and was a member of the County Board Executive.
List of finals
Legend
Gold – Munster intermediate club champions Silver – Munster intermediate club runners-up
List of Cork PIFC finals Year Winners Runners-up Venue # Club Score Club Score2024Kilshannig 2-10Aghabullogue1-09Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2023 Cill Na Martra 3-11 Bantry Blues 2-13Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2022 Kanturk 3-11 Bantry Blues 1-10 Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2021 Newmarket 0-12 Kanturk 0-11 Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2020 Knocknagree 0-12 Kanturk 0-09 Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2019 Éire Óg 0-14 St Michael's 0-12 Páirc Uí Rinn 2018 Fermoy 0-11 St Michael's 0-07 Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2017 Mallow 1-17 St Michael's 1-16 Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2016 Kiskeam 2-12 Fermoy 0-14 Páirc Uí Rinn 2015 Carrigaline 0-12 St Michael's 0-11 Páirc Uí Rinn 2014 Valley Rovers 0-12 Na Piarsaigh 0-08 Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2013 Clyda Rovers 0-13 Macroom 0-08 Páirc Uí Chaoimh2012St Vincent's0-12St Michael's0-11 Páirc Uí Chaoimh2011Newmarket3-06Clyda Rovers1-10 Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2010 Newcestown 0-10 Clyda Rovers 0-09 Páirc Uí Rinn 2009 Valley Rovers 0-07 Clyda Rovers 0-05 Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2008 St. Finbarr's 2-13 St Vincent's 0-14 Páirc Uí Chaoimh 2007 Mallow 1-07 Killavullen 0-07 Páirc Uí Rinn 2006 St Vincent's 1-05 Glanmire 0-07 Páirc Uí Rinn
Notes 2006: The final went to two replays after St. Vincent's and Glanmire drew 0–09 apiece and 0–12 apiece. 2024: The final went to a replay after Kilshannig and Aghabullogue drew 1–14 apiece.
Roll of Honour
By club # Club Titles Runners-up Championships won Championships runner-up1 St. Vincent's 2 1 2006, 2012 2008 Valley Rovers 2 0 2009, 2014 — Mallow 2 0 2007, 2017 — Newmarket 2 0 2011, 2021 —5 Clyda Rovers 1 3 2013 2009, 2010, 2011 Kanturk12 20222020, 2021 Fermoy 1 1 2018 2016 St. Finbarr's 1 0 2008 — Newcestown 1 0 2010 — Carrigaline 1 0 2015 — Kiskeam 1 0 2016 — Éire Óg 1 0 2019 — Knocknagree 1 0 2020 — Cill Na Martra102023— Kilshannig102024 —16 St Michael's05 —2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019 Bantry Blues02 —2022, 2023 Glanmire01 —2006 Killavullen01 —2007 Macroom01 —2013 Na Piarsaigh01 —2014 Aghabullogue01 —2024 By Division # Division Titles Runners-Up Total Most recent success1 Avondhu55102024 Duhallow52720223 Seandun37102012 Carrigdhoun30320155 Muskerry22420236 Carbery12320107 Imokilly011 —
Records and statistics Final Team Most wins: 2, joint record: St. Vincent's (2006, 2012) Mallow (2007, 2017) Valley Rovers (2009, 2014) Newmarket (2011, 2021) Most appearances in a final: 5, St. Michael's (2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019) Most Final appearances without ever winning: 5, St. Michael's (2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019) Longest gap between wins: 10 years, joint record: Mallow (2007, 2017) Newmarket (2011, 2021)
Top scorers By season Overall YearTop scorerTeamScoreTotal2006James MurphyGlanmire0-39392007James MurphyGlanmire0-21212008John Paul MurphySt. Vincent's0-29292009James MurphyGlanmire2-25312010David DrakeCarrigaline0-39392011Nicky FlanaganNewmarket1-24272012Cian O'RiordanMallow1-28312013Conor HorganNemo Rangers1-2124Gearóid FinnKinsale0-242014Mícheál Ó CróinínNaomh Abán2-26322015Daniel GouldingÉire Óg1-34372016Daniel GouldingÉire Óg1-36392017Daniel GouldingÉire Óg1-27302018Daniel GouldingÉire Óg3-1726Maidhc Ó DuinnínNaomh Abán0-262019Daniel GouldingÉire Óg2020Fintan O'ConnorKnocknagree0-28282021Conor O'KeeffeNewmarket0-3232
See also
Munster Intermediate Club Football Championship Cork Intermediate A Football Championship
References