The McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Senior Football Championship reaches its knockout stages this weekend, with three quarter-finals and a relegation play-off set to shape the closing stages of the competition.

Carrigaline have already secured their place in the semi-finals, finishing top of their group with three wins from three. The remaining three semi-final places will be decided across this weekend’s quarter-finals, while Ballincollig and St Michael’s meet with Premier SFC status at stake.

The three quarter-finals see Clonakilty face Newcestown, Carbery take on St Finbarr’s, and Nemo Rangers meet Castlehaven.

Clonakilty v Newcestown

Saturday, September 26 | 5:00pm | Dunmanway | Live on Clubber.ie

Clonakilty and Newcestown get the Premier SFC quarter-finals underway in Dunmanway on Saturday evening.

Clonakilty finished the group phase unbeaten, beginning with an eight-point victory over Knocknagree before drawing 1-12 apiece with Castlehaven.

They then produced one of the standout results of the group stages, defeating Ballincollig by 23 points, 3-22 to 0-8.

That performance secured Clonakilty’s place at the top of their group and gives them considerable momentum heading into the knockout stages.

Newcestown also finished strongly. They opened their campaign with a six-point victory over Nemo Rangers, winning 2-16 to 1-13.

A second-round meeting with Valley Rovers produced another Newcestown victory, this time by four points, 1-16 to 3-9.

They completed their group campaign with a six-point win over St Michael’s, 0-16 to 0-10.

The two sides therefore arrive in Dunmanway having both finished their group campaigns with three wins, although Clonakilty’s unbeaten record gives this quarter-final an added edge.

Carbery v St Finbarr’s

Sunday, September 27 | 1:45pm | Clonakilty | Live on Clubber.ie

St Finbarr’s begin their knockout campaign against Carbery on Sunday afternoon.

The Barrs came through a competitive Group 1, with their opening game against Carrigaline ending in a two-point defeat, 2-15 to 1-20.

They bounced back against Douglas, winning by 11 points, 1-11 to 3-16, before their final group game against Mallow ended in another close contest.

Mallow won that encounter by one point, 1-15 to 2-11.

Despite those results, St Finbarr’s progressed to the quarter-finals, where they now face Carbery.

Carbery enter the Premier SFC knockout stages through the Divisional/Colleges route, having secured their place in the quarter-finals.

For St Finbarr’s, Sunday’s game represents the next step in their championship campaign, while Carbery will be looking to make the most of their opportunity at the top level.

The winner will advance to the semi-finals, where Carrigaline are already waiting.

Nemo Rangers v Castlehaven

Sunday, September 27 | 4:00pm | Clonakilty | Live on Clubber.ie

The final Premier SFC quarter-final of the weekend sees Nemo Rangers meet Castlehaven in Clonakilty.

Nemo Rangers recovered from their opening-round defeat to Newcestown in impressive fashion.

They defeated St Michael’s by eight points, winning 1-21 to 2-10, before producing another convincing performance in the final round against Valley Rovers.

Nemo won that game by 12 points, 1-14 to 0-5.

Castlehaven’s group campaign was similarly competitive.

They opened with a three-point victory over Ballincollig, 0-22 to 3-10, before drawing 1-12 apiece with Clonakilty.

Their final group game saw them overcome Knocknagree by six points, 2-18 to 4-10.

Both sides therefore come into Sunday’s meeting having finished strongly, and there is plenty of championship experience on both sides.

Ballincollig v St Michael’s

Saturday, September 26 | 4:00pm | Ovens

Ballincollig and St Michael’s meet in Saturday’s relegation play-off, with Premier SFC status on the line.

Ballincollig opened their campaign with a three-point defeat to Castlehaven before responding with an 11-point victory over Knocknagree.

They finished the group phase against Clonakilty, suffering a heavy defeat to the West Cork side.

St Michael’s faced three difficult games during the group stage.

They began with a two-point defeat to Valley Rovers before losing to Nemo Rangers by eight points.

Their final game against Newcestown ended in a six-point defeat.

Both clubs will now have everything to play for in Ovens, with the winner retaining Premier SFC status.

The Road to the Semi-Finals

Carrigaline are already through to the last four after finishing top of their group with three wins from three.

The three quarter-final winners will join them in the Premier SFC semi-finals.

Quarter-Finals

Fixture	Venue	Date	Time
Clonakilty v Newcestown	Dunmanway	Saturday, Sept 26	5:00pm
Carbery v St Finbarr’s	Clonakilty	Sunday, Sept 27	1:45pm
Nemo Rangers v Castlehaven	Clonakilty	Sunday, Sept 27	4:00pm

Relegation Play-Off

Fixture	Venue	Date	Time
Ballincollig v St Michael’s	Ovens	Saturday, Sept 26	4:00pm