http://www.gaacork.ie/taggedNews/259577/99/county_championships:premier_intermediate_hurling
Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Clubs Involved:
Ballincollig, Ballyhea, Bandon, Blarney, Carrigaline, Castlelyons, Cloyne,Inniscarra, Kilbrittain, Kilworth, Mallow, Newcestown, Tracton, Valley Rovers, Watergrasshill, Youghal
In: Kilworth (Intermediate Champions 2012), Cloyne (Relegated from Senior)
Out: Ballinhassig (Premier Champions 2012), Aghabullogue (Relegated)
County Final 2012: Ballinhassig 1-19 Bandon 1-15
Recent Winners
2012 Ballinhassig (Runners-up: Bandon)
2011 Courcey Rovers (Runners-up: Youghal)
2010 Ballymartle (Runners-up: Tracton)
2009 Douglas (Runners-up: Ballymartle)
2008 Blarney (Runners-up: Courcey Rovers)
MALLOW
Manager: Ray Glynn
Captain: Fionn O'Neill
Colours: Red jersey with yellow trim, white shorts, red socks
First-round opponents: Tracton
2012 Championship: Lost to Blarney in fourth round
2012 League: Second in Division 3
Star Man: Cormac Murphy
One to Watch: Aaron Sheehan
Players In: Killian O'Connor, Padraig Buckley
Players Out: Denis Hayes, Joseph Hayes, Kevin Sheehan, Diarmuid Kerrisk, Clive Kerrisk
The North Cork side have suffered heavily with the loss of players through a combination of retirements, emigration and injuries over the winter, making them very much a team in transition.That does create an opportunity for younger players to establish them in the panel, though
obviously the first priority will be to ensure that premier status is assured.Mallow do have a good record in that regard, but there will be a lot riding on the Tracton game, especially as the losers must play Inniscarra or Bandon.
TRACTON
Manager: Pádraig Ó Raghallaigh
Captain: Micheál Browne
Colours: Red and green hooped jersey, white shorts, red and green socks
First-round opponents: Mallow
2012 Championship: Lost to Youghal in fourth round
2012 League: Eighth in Division 1
Star Man: Michael O'Sullivan
One to Watch: John Good.
Players In: -
Players Out: -
Since reaching the final in 2010, Tracton have struggled to challenge since then, with Youghal ending their interests at the last-14 stage on each occasion.The current squad is largely the same as that which reached the decider, however, so there is plenty of experience there and they will look at the first-round clash with Mallow as a great chance to build some momentum ahead of the summer, building on their current table-topping form in Division 1.Seventeen-year-old John Good could provide a bit of x-factor, and as 2010 proved, a run of games could do wonders for the Minane Bridge side.
NEWCESTOWN
Manager: Seán Twomey
Captain: TBC
Colours: Red and yellow hooped jersey, white shorts, red and yellow socks
First-round opponents: Blarney
2012 Championship:Lost to Ballinhassig in fourth round
2012 League: Fifth in Division 1
Star Man: Eoin Kelly
One to Watch: Trevor Horgan
Players In: -
Players Out: -
Newcestown go into the hurling championship buoyed by the senior football win over St Vincent's, meaning that there are no worries about an upcoming back-door game hindering their preparations.Squad numbers are limited,
as always, but Newcestown are lucky that the bulk of their panels are skilled in both sports and, under the management of Eddie Murphy, they will definitely be
challenging.Will be favourites to progress past Blarney and into the fourth round, and thereafter a lot will depend on how fixture commitments fall.
BLARNEY
Manager: Michael O'Mahony
Captain: Joe Jordan
Colours: Red jersey with white trim, white shorts, red socks
First-round opponents: Newcestown
2012 Championship: Lost to Youghal in quarter-final
2012 League: Ninth in Division 1
Star Man: Peter O'Driscoll
One to Watch: Shane Mulcahy
Players In: -
Players Out: Brian Hurley, Trevor Hegarty, James O'Sullivan
Since winning the intermediate All-Ireland title in 2009, Blarney have haemorrhaged players, and now just five of the side which began on that historic day in Croke Park still
remain.Brian Hurley's absence from midfield could prove costly for them, though the half-back line of Joe Jordan,
James Hughes and Mark O'Leary remains, giving them a solid foundation.The ability to run up big scores will be a challenge, however, and they are likely to come up against
sides with greater firepower. Shouldn't haven any relegation worries, though.
KILWORTH
Manager: Declan Walsh
Captain: Brian Tobin
Colours: Red jersey with white trim, white shorts, red socks
First-round opponents: Watergrasshill
2012 Championship: Beat Kanturk in IHC final
2012 League: Second in Division 1
Star Man: Adrian Mannix
One to Watch: Michael Wade
Players In: -
Players Out: Padraig Lynch, Kieran Lane
After what seemed like an age trying to get out of the lower intermediate grade, including plenty of heartbreak in the closing stages, things finally all came together for Kilworth
last year as they overcame Kanturk in the final.Injuries to Pádraig Lynch and Kieran Lane mean their squad is a little bit lighter ahead of the opener against Watergrasshill, while key attacker Adrian Mannix is also a doubt. Against that, though, they will carry the momentum of last year and getting over the first hurdle, and focusing on progress rather than fearing an immediate return, would really settle them.
WATERGRASSHILL
Manager: Ciarán O'Neill
Captain: Noel O'Riordan
Colours: Red jersey with white trim, white shorts, red socks
First-round opponents: Kilworth
2012 Championship: Beat Aghabullogue in relegation play-off
2012 League: Eleventh in Division 1
Star Man: John Halbert
One to Watch: Kevin O'Neill
Players In: Moss Barry, John Halbert, Kevin O'Neill, Dara O'Callaghan
Players Out: -
Last year, just five years after almost reaching senior level as they lost a gripping final to Carrigtwohill, Watergrasshill needed to overcome Aghabullogue in the relegation play-off to preserve their status, having done the same against Argideen Rangers in 2011.The upside of that is that
anything else - apart from relegation - would represent an improvement and the Hill are cheered by the return of John Halbert, who will provide a big presence in attack. Cork dual star Kevin O'Neill is also likely to catch the eye over the summer, and with no absentees from last year they will look to make a favourable impression.
BALLYHEA
Manager: JohnColeman
Captain: AidanO'Connor
Colours: Black and white hooped jersey, white shorts, black and white socks
First-round opponents: Carrigaline
2012 Championship: Lost to Ballinhassig in quarter-final
2012 League: Won Division 2
Star Man: Neil Ronan
One to Watch: Pa O'Callaghan
Players In: -
Players Out: -
Last year represented progress for Ballyhea as they got beyond the fourth round, which had been a glass ceiling of sorts in recent years, but while getting to the last eight will have been heartening, they will know that they had a chance of overcoming Ballinhassig.That the south-east side, who won that game by four points, went on to win the title will leave Ballyhea feeling that they have it in them to go further, and they will be favourites to see off Carrigaline in the opening round.In Neil Ronan and Pa O'Callaghan, they have two blue-chip attackers at different stages on the
experience curve, and if those two link well then opponents will find them difficult to deal with.
CARRIGALINE
Manager: Tony Barry
Captain: Stephen Corcoran
Colours: Blue jersey with gold hoop, blue shorts, blue socks
First-round opponents: Ballyhea
2012 Championship: Lost to Bandon in quarter-final
2012 League: Third in Division 1
Star Man: Robert O'Shea
One to Watch: Kevin O'Connell
Players In: -
Players Out: Joe Moran, Tony Murphy, Geoff Dillon, Gary Harrington, Brian Irwin
Though it did not end with any silverware, 2012 was a good year for Carrigaline, with a series of solid performances in league and championship having established them among the top tier of premier intermediate sides.Over the winter, however, they have suffered with the loss of players through emigration and retirement, and they are also set to lose marquee forwards David Drake and Simon O'Brien after the first round.If they do beat Ballyhea, then at least the pressure will be off in terms of preservation of status, but a
Ballyhea win might make things nervy.
BANDON
Manager: Teddy McCarthy
Captain: James O'Donovan
Colours: White jersey with yellow trim, white shorts, yellow socks
First-round opponents: Inniscarra
2012 Championship: Lost to Ballinhassig in final
2012 League: Fourth in Division 1
Star Man: Mark Sugrue
One to Watch: Michael Cahalane
Players In: -
Players Out: Donough Lucey, Jason McCarthy
Having finally escaped the intermediate A grade in 2011 after final defeats in 2007 and '08, Bandon carried their fine form into the premier championship, getting all the way to the final only to fall against what was an excellent Ballinhassig team.Looking at recent history, Bandon can take solace from the fact that Courcey Rovers and Ballymartle recovered from PIHC final losses to claim the title, though reaching a third final in a row will be a big task.
Centre-back Donough Lucey will miss the first round but should be back for later in the campaign, while a young and swift attack will definitely pose big problems for opponents.
INNISCARRA
Manager: Liam Linehan
Captain: John O'Callaghan
Colours: Blue and white hooped jersey, white shorts, blue and white socks
First-round opponents: Bandon
2012 Championship: Lost to Ballinhassig in semi-final
2012 League: Tenth in Division 1
Star Man: John O'Callaghan
One to Watch: Paul Farmer
Players In: Paul Farmer, Tomás O'Connor, Seán O'Donogue, David O'Keeffe, David Barry
Players Out: Aidan O'Mahony, Conor Buckley
While 2011 was a disappointment, Inniscarra responded well last year to get to the semi-finals, but there they received a lesson as a much-stronger Ballinhassig saw them off. Aidan O'Mahony, whose free-taking was a huge asset, has relocated to Dublin and is now playing his
hurling there so he is a loss, but the Muskerry side do at least have the consolation of the injection of a few younger players from the minor grades.Though it will be a difficult assignment, they will at least know that the clash with Bandon will tell them much about how they are faring.
Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship
Clubs Involved:
Ballincollig, Ballyhea, Bandon, Blarney, Carrigaline, Castlelyons, Cloyne,Inniscarra, Kilbrittain, Kilworth, Mallow, Newcestown, Tracton, Valley Rovers, Watergrasshill, Youghal
In: Kilworth (Intermediate Champions 2012), Cloyne (Relegated from Senior)
Out: Ballinhassig (Premier Champions 2012), Aghabullogue (Relegated)
County Final 2012: Ballinhassig 1-19 Bandon 1-15
Recent Winners
2012 Ballinhassig (Runners-up: Bandon)
2011 Courcey Rovers (Runners-up: Youghal)
2010 Ballymartle (Runners-up: Tracton)
2009 Douglas (Runners-up: Ballymartle)
2008 Blarney (Runners-up: Courcey Rovers)
MALLOW
Manager: Ray Glynn
Captain: Fionn O'Neill
Colours: Red jersey with yellow trim, white shorts, red socks
First-round opponents: Tracton
2012 Championship: Lost to Blarney in fourth round
2012 League: Second in Division 3
Star Man: Cormac Murphy
One to Watch: Aaron Sheehan
Players In: Killian O'Connor, Padraig Buckley
Players Out: Denis Hayes, Joseph Hayes, Kevin Sheehan, Diarmuid Kerrisk, Clive Kerrisk
The North Cork side have suffered heavily with the loss of players through a combination of retirements, emigration and injuries over the winter, making them very much a team in transition.That does create an opportunity for younger players to establish them in the panel, though
obviously the first priority will be to ensure that premier status is assured.Mallow do have a good record in that regard, but there will be a lot riding on the Tracton game, especially as the losers must play Inniscarra or Bandon.
TRACTON
Manager: Pádraig Ó Raghallaigh
Captain: Micheál Browne
Colours: Red and green hooped jersey, white shorts, red and green socks
First-round opponents: Mallow
2012 Championship: Lost to Youghal in fourth round
2012 League: Eighth in Division 1
Star Man: Michael O'Sullivan
One to Watch: John Good.
Players In: -
Players Out: -
Since reaching the final in 2010, Tracton have struggled to challenge since then, with Youghal ending their interests at the last-14 stage on each occasion.The current squad is largely the same as that which reached the decider, however, so there is plenty of experience there and they will look at the first-round clash with Mallow as a great chance to build some momentum ahead of the summer, building on their current table-topping form in Division 1.Seventeen-year-old John Good could provide a bit of x-factor, and as 2010 proved, a run of games could do wonders for the Minane Bridge side.
NEWCESTOWN
Manager: Seán Twomey
Captain: TBC
Colours: Red and yellow hooped jersey, white shorts, red and yellow socks
First-round opponents: Blarney
2012 Championship:Lost to Ballinhassig in fourth round
2012 League: Fifth in Division 1
Star Man: Eoin Kelly
One to Watch: Trevor Horgan
Players In: -
Players Out: -
Newcestown go into the hurling championship buoyed by the senior football win over St Vincent's, meaning that there are no worries about an upcoming back-door game hindering their preparations.Squad numbers are limited,
as always, but Newcestown are lucky that the bulk of their panels are skilled in both sports and, under the management of Eddie Murphy, they will definitely be
challenging.Will be favourites to progress past Blarney and into the fourth round, and thereafter a lot will depend on how fixture commitments fall.
BLARNEY
Manager: Michael O'Mahony
Captain: Joe Jordan
Colours: Red jersey with white trim, white shorts, red socks
First-round opponents: Newcestown
2012 Championship: Lost to Youghal in quarter-final
2012 League: Ninth in Division 1
Star Man: Peter O'Driscoll
One to Watch: Shane Mulcahy
Players In: -
Players Out: Brian Hurley, Trevor Hegarty, James O'Sullivan
Since winning the intermediate All-Ireland title in 2009, Blarney have haemorrhaged players, and now just five of the side which began on that historic day in Croke Park still
remain.Brian Hurley's absence from midfield could prove costly for them, though the half-back line of Joe Jordan,
James Hughes and Mark O'Leary remains, giving them a solid foundation.The ability to run up big scores will be a challenge, however, and they are likely to come up against
sides with greater firepower. Shouldn't haven any relegation worries, though.
KILWORTH
Manager: Declan Walsh
Captain: Brian Tobin
Colours: Red jersey with white trim, white shorts, red socks
First-round opponents: Watergrasshill
2012 Championship: Beat Kanturk in IHC final
2012 League: Second in Division 1
Star Man: Adrian Mannix
One to Watch: Michael Wade
Players In: -
Players Out: Padraig Lynch, Kieran Lane
After what seemed like an age trying to get out of the lower intermediate grade, including plenty of heartbreak in the closing stages, things finally all came together for Kilworth
last year as they overcame Kanturk in the final.Injuries to Pádraig Lynch and Kieran Lane mean their squad is a little bit lighter ahead of the opener against Watergrasshill, while key attacker Adrian Mannix is also a doubt. Against that, though, they will carry the momentum of last year and getting over the first hurdle, and focusing on progress rather than fearing an immediate return, would really settle them.
WATERGRASSHILL
Manager: Ciarán O'Neill
Captain: Noel O'Riordan
Colours: Red jersey with white trim, white shorts, red socks
First-round opponents: Kilworth
2012 Championship: Beat Aghabullogue in relegation play-off
2012 League: Eleventh in Division 1
Star Man: John Halbert
One to Watch: Kevin O'Neill
Players In: Moss Barry, John Halbert, Kevin O'Neill, Dara O'Callaghan
Players Out: -
Last year, just five years after almost reaching senior level as they lost a gripping final to Carrigtwohill, Watergrasshill needed to overcome Aghabullogue in the relegation play-off to preserve their status, having done the same against Argideen Rangers in 2011.The upside of that is that
anything else - apart from relegation - would represent an improvement and the Hill are cheered by the return of John Halbert, who will provide a big presence in attack. Cork dual star Kevin O'Neill is also likely to catch the eye over the summer, and with no absentees from last year they will look to make a favourable impression.
BALLYHEA
Manager: JohnColeman
Captain: AidanO'Connor
Colours: Black and white hooped jersey, white shorts, black and white socks
First-round opponents: Carrigaline
2012 Championship: Lost to Ballinhassig in quarter-final
2012 League: Won Division 2
Star Man: Neil Ronan
One to Watch: Pa O'Callaghan
Players In: -
Players Out: -
Last year represented progress for Ballyhea as they got beyond the fourth round, which had been a glass ceiling of sorts in recent years, but while getting to the last eight will have been heartening, they will know that they had a chance of overcoming Ballinhassig.That the south-east side, who won that game by four points, went on to win the title will leave Ballyhea feeling that they have it in them to go further, and they will be favourites to see off Carrigaline in the opening round.In Neil Ronan and Pa O'Callaghan, they have two blue-chip attackers at different stages on the
experience curve, and if those two link well then opponents will find them difficult to deal with.
CARRIGALINE
Manager: Tony Barry
Captain: Stephen Corcoran
Colours: Blue jersey with gold hoop, blue shorts, blue socks
First-round opponents: Ballyhea
2012 Championship: Lost to Bandon in quarter-final
2012 League: Third in Division 1
Star Man: Robert O'Shea
One to Watch: Kevin O'Connell
Players In: -
Players Out: Joe Moran, Tony Murphy, Geoff Dillon, Gary Harrington, Brian Irwin
Though it did not end with any silverware, 2012 was a good year for Carrigaline, with a series of solid performances in league and championship having established them among the top tier of premier intermediate sides.Over the winter, however, they have suffered with the loss of players through emigration and retirement, and they are also set to lose marquee forwards David Drake and Simon O'Brien after the first round.If they do beat Ballyhea, then at least the pressure will be off in terms of preservation of status, but a
Ballyhea win might make things nervy.
BANDON
Manager: Teddy McCarthy
Captain: James O'Donovan
Colours: White jersey with yellow trim, white shorts, yellow socks
First-round opponents: Inniscarra
2012 Championship: Lost to Ballinhassig in final
2012 League: Fourth in Division 1
Star Man: Mark Sugrue
One to Watch: Michael Cahalane
Players In: -
Players Out: Donough Lucey, Jason McCarthy
Having finally escaped the intermediate A grade in 2011 after final defeats in 2007 and '08, Bandon carried their fine form into the premier championship, getting all the way to the final only to fall against what was an excellent Ballinhassig team.Looking at recent history, Bandon can take solace from the fact that Courcey Rovers and Ballymartle recovered from PIHC final losses to claim the title, though reaching a third final in a row will be a big task.
Centre-back Donough Lucey will miss the first round but should be back for later in the campaign, while a young and swift attack will definitely pose big problems for opponents.
INNISCARRA
Manager: Liam Linehan
Captain: John O'Callaghan
Colours: Blue and white hooped jersey, white shorts, blue and white socks
First-round opponents: Bandon
2012 Championship: Lost to Ballinhassig in semi-final
2012 League: Tenth in Division 1
Star Man: John O'Callaghan
One to Watch: Paul Farmer
Players In: Paul Farmer, Tomás O'Connor, Seán O'Donogue, David O'Keeffe, David Barry
Players Out: Aidan O'Mahony, Conor Buckley
While 2011 was a disappointment, Inniscarra responded well last year to get to the semi-finals, but there they received a lesson as a much-stronger Ballinhassig saw them off. Aidan O'Mahony, whose free-taking was a huge asset, has relocated to Dublin and is now playing his
hurling there so he is a loss, but the Muskerry side do at least have the consolation of the injection of a few younger players from the minor grades.Though it will be a difficult assignment, they will at least know that the clash with Bandon will tell them much about how they are faring.
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