2026 Cork County Championships: Season Review
2026 Cork County Championships: Season Review
The 2026 county championship season is complete, with ten champions crowned across hurling and football:
The finals at a glance
| Championship | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Relegated for 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-Op Superstores Premier Senior Hurling | Glen Rovers | 2-20 v 0-23 | St Finbarr’s | Douglas |
| Co-Op Superstores Senior A Hurling | Erin’s Own | 1-17 v 0-15 | Carrigtwohill | Fermoy |
| Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling | Ballincollig | 1-19 v 0-16 | Dungourney | Bishopstown |
| Co-Op Superstores Intermediate A Hurling | Bandon | 0-25 v 2-18 | Aghada | Russell Rovers |
| Co-Op Superstores Premier Junior Hurling | Kilshannig | 1-23 v 2-19 | St Catherine’s | Milford |
| McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Senior Football | Nemo Rangers | 1-19 v 2-12 | St Finbarr’s | St Michael’s |
| McCarthy Insurance Group Senior A Football | Kanturk | 1-15 v 0-14 | Éire Óg | O’Donovan Rossa |
| McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Intermediate Football | Uibh Laoire | 4-22 v 0-23 | Kiskeam | Glanmire |
| McCarthy Insurance Group Intermediate A Football | Kilmurry | 2-18 v 0-10 | Buttevant | Glanworth |
| McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Junior Football | Canovee | 0-10 v 0-9 | Cobh | Na Piarsaigh |
Hurling
Co-Op Superstores Premier Senior Hurling Championship
Champions: Glen Rovers
County Final: Glen Rovers 2-20 (26) St Finbarr’s 0-23 (23)
Relegated: Douglas
In the first final between the northside and southside giants in 38 years, Glen Rovers won their 28th county senior title and their first since 2016. Patrick Horgan finished as the championship’s top scorer with 1-57.
Co-Op Superstores Senior A Hurling Championship
Champions: Erin’s Own
County Final: Erin’s Own 1-17 (20) Carrigtwohill 0-15 (15)
Relegated: Fermoy
Relegated a year ago, Erin’s Own made an instant return to Premier Senior, winning the East Cork derby final to complete an unbeaten campaign. Maurice O’Carroll’s early goal set them up and Riain O’Regan was Man of the Match. Carrigtwohill, who knocked out favourites Blarney in the semi-final, can be proud of their run.
Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Champions: Ballincollig
County Final: Ballincollig 1-19 (22) Dungourney 0-16 (16)
Relegated: Bishopstown
Ballincollig won the club’s first Premier Intermediate title, with captain James Dwyer and manager Éamonn Keating leading them back to the senior ranks. They play Senior A hurling in 2027.
Co-Op Superstores Intermediate A Hurling Championship
Champions: Bandon
County Final: Bandon 0-25 (25) Aghada 2-18 (24)
Relegated: Russell Rovers
Beaten by a point in last year’s final, Bandon made amends at the second attempt, though only just. They were eight points clear with four minutes left before late goals from Jude Devoy and Pearse O’Neill set up a nervy finish. Captain Michael Cahalane lifted the cup, and Bandon move up to Premier Intermediate.
Co-Op Superstores Premier Junior Hurling Championship
Champions: Kilshannig
County Final: Kilshannig 1-23 (26) St Catherine’s 2-19 (25)
Relegated: Milford
Kilshannig trailed by seven at half time, 0-8 to 1-12, but a storming second half turned the final around and they won by a point. Captain Kieran Twomey was Man of the Match.
Football
McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Senior Football Championship
Champions: Nemo Rangers
County Final: Nemo Rangers 1-19 St Finbarr’s 2-12
Relegated: St Michael’s
Nemo reclaimed the Andy Scannell Cup from their old rivals, denying the Barrs back-to-back titles in their 150th year. Robbie O’Dwyer’s side led 1-8 to 0-5 at half time and held off a St Finbarr’s fightback. Mark Cronin scored 0-8 and Stephen Cronin lifted the cup. It was Nemo’s fifth county final in a row.
McCarthy Insurance Group Senior A Football Championship
Champions: Kanturk
County Final: Kanturk 1-15 Éire Óg 0-14
Relegated: O’Donovan Rossa
Kanturk won the Kevin McTernan Cup for the first time and will play Premier Senior in both hurling and football in 2027. Captain Paul Walsh scored 1-2 and was Man of the Match, and four points in the last five minutes, including a Tommy Walsh two-pointer, settled a tight final. Éire Óg had won every game until the final.
McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Intermediate Football Championship
Champions: Uibh Laoire
County Final: Uibh Laoire 4-22 Kiskeam 0-23
Relegated: Glanmire
A year after losing the final to Aghabullogue, Uibh Laoire won the Billy Long Cup and senior status for the first time in the club’s history. Ian Jones hit a first-half hat-trick and finished with 3-2 to earn Player of the Match, while his brother Chris Óg added 1-10. Kiskeam fought back with six two-pointers but never got level. Captain Cathal Vaughan lifted the cup.
McCarthy Insurance Group Intermediate A Football Championship
Champions: Kilmurry
County Final: Kilmurry 2-18 Buttevant 0-10
Relegated: Glanworth
Kilmurry were convincing winners of the Friday night final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh, their third county title in five seasons, and move up to Premier Intermediate for 2027. Buttevant, last year’s Premier Junior champions, fell just short of back-to-back titles.
McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Junior Football Championship
Champions: Canovee
County Final: Canovee 0-10 Cobh 0-9
Relegated: Na Piarsaigh
Two years after a late goal cost them the 2024 final against neighbours Kilmurry, Canovee got over the line in a tense, low-scoring decider. Their defence held firm at the end, with joint captain Liam Kelleher making a crucial late turnover to deny Cobh an equaliser.
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