IAFC and Premier JFC wrap: Na Piarsaigh pick up first championship win in four years

There was plenty of action in the lower grades of the McCarthy Insurance Group Football Championship over the course of the first weekend in the Intermediate A and Premier Junior levels.

Starting with the IAFC, after suffering back-to-back relegations, Ilen Rovers have steadied the ship courtesy of a 1-12 to 0-12 victory over Boherbue in their Group 3 contest. Ilen's first championship win in three years.

Down by three points at the break, the Carbery club rallied in the second half, with Adrian O’Driscoll’s goal after 42 minutes giving his side the platform to record a morale-boosting win over last year’s beaten finalists. O’Driscoll ended up with 1-5 (0-3 f, 1 2pt).

In the other game in the group, 2024 Premier JFC winners Kilmurry started life in the higher grade with a victory over St Vincent’s. Denis O’Mullane scored 3-3 (0-1 f) as the green and gold won 4-17 to 0-12.

Kilmurry's Denis O'Mullane scored 3-3 (0-1 f) in their big win over St Vincent's. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

In Group 1, Adrigole put down a marker early on after an impressive 2-15 to 0-6 victory over Glanworth. After reaching the last four in the last two seasons, the Beara men are determined to go one step further this time around. Ben O’Sullivan kicked 2-3 (0-1 f) while Tom O’Connor also contributed to the scoring in a big way with 0-5 (0-3 f).

Mark O’Brien’s tally of 1-4 and Kevin Werner’s 1-3 (0-1 f) helped Ballinora defeat St Finbarr’s second team 2-17 to 2-9.

After a consistent run without any injuries, Cathail O’Mahony missed Mitchelstown’s Group 2 game against Gabriel Rangers due to a hamstring injury sustained recently. The Cork footballer is expected to be out for a number of weeks.

He was missed as the Avondhu outfit lost 0-19 to 0-16.

There was a nice spread of scorers for Gabriel Rangers with nine different scorers including club chairperson Mark Cronin, who got a point.

In the other game in the group, Kildorrery got the better of Dromtarriffe, 0-14 to 0-12. James Keating’s two two-pointers went a long way to getting the North Cork team over the line.

Kildorrery manager Ephie Fitzgerald. Picture: INPHO/Ben Brady

Moving down to the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier JFC, and the biggest result from this competition and from the weekend was Na Piarsaigh’s stunning victory over Kinsale.

It looked like another loss for them, trailing by two points with time up before corner-forward Alan Keating finished the ball to the net as the northsiders won 2-14 to 2-13. Keating also chipped over 0-4 (0-3 f), Keith Buckley also impressed with 0-5 (2 2pt).

The city side came into their opening Group 2 contest on the back of not having won a championship game since September 2021 and that was in the PIFC against Newmarket.

Since then, they had suffered 11 straight championship losses and two relegations.

It’s a massive win for Na Piarsaigh against a strong Kinsale team and it could potentially be a turning point for them with regards to the big ball.

The other game in the group went in favour of another underdog. Maybe not a massive surprise, but the margin was as Cullen hammered Cobh 2-18 to 0-13. Cork footballer Luke Murphy led the way for the Duhallow team with 0-8 (0-2 f, 1 2pt). Aaron Nolan goaled from the penalty spot while Michael Twomey also raised a green flag.

Cork footballer Luke Murphy, in action for Duhallow, impressed for Cullen. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

In Group 1, Canovee, many people’s fancy to win the championship this year, proved too strong for Urhan on a scoreline of 2-21 to 1-11. Conor Dodd and Seán O’Connor scored the goals for last year’s beaten finalists.

An incredible haul of 0-17, including four two-pointers, from Cork’s 2010 All-Ireland winner Donncha O’Connor wasn’t enough to secure victory for Ballydesmond. Goalkeeper Ross Cronin kicked a late free for St Nick's to make sure honours were even, 4-9 to 0-21. Diarmuid Wall, Eoin O’Leary, Jake Brosnan and a penalty from Jack O’Sullivan raised the green flags for St Nick’s.

Finally from Group 3, Buttevant powered past Glenville on a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-12 thanks to a strong display after the short whistle.

Joey Hanlon’s team led by a point at half-time, but trailed by two points after 40 minutes. An Aaron Horgan goal proved important with the Avondhu men dominating the game after that.

Conor Hanlon scored a late goal to make sure of victory with Mark Lenahan the top scorer with 0-7 (0-3 f).

Buttevant's Conor Hanlon kicks a point last year. Picture: David Creedon

Last year’s County JAFC winners Inniscarra made an impressive start to life in the Premier Junior grade with a 2-12 to 0-12 victory over Millstreet.

Liam O’Connor clipped over 0-7 (0-1 f). Cork hurler Seán O’Donoghue and Stephen Dornan both scored 1-1.

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