Cork Junior B Football Championship

Cork Junior B Football Championship
Irish	Craobh Peile Shóisearach B Chorcaí
Code	Gaelic football
Founded	1984;41 years ago (1984)
Region	Cork (GAA)
No. of teams	14
Title holders	St Oliver Plunketts (3rd title)
Most titles	Argideen Rangers (4 titles)
Sponsors	Bon Secours
Official website	Cork GAA

The Cork Junior B Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Bon Secours Cork Junior B Football Championship and abbreviated to the Cork JBFC) is an annual Gaelic football competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association and contested by junior clubs in the county of Cork in Ireland. It is the seventh tier overall in the entire Cork football championship system.

The Cork Junior B Championship was introduced as a knockout tournament in 1984. In its current format, the championship is completed over the course of ten weeks. Unlike the Cork Junior A Football Championship, it is a countywide competition not limited to divisional champions. The championship includes a round robin followed by a knockout stage, which culminates with the final match at Páirc Uí Rinn.

The competition has been won by 27 teams, eight of which have won it more than once. Argideen Rangers are the most successful team in the competition's history, having won it four times. St Oliver Plunketts are the title holders after defeating Ballyphehane by 1–10 to 1–09 in the 2023 final. ^[1]

Format

Group stage

The 12 teams are divided into two groups of four and two groups of three. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group. 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 two teams in each group qualify for the knockout stage.

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals: The eight qualifying 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.

Teams

2025 Teams

Team	Location	Division	Colours	In Championship since	Championship titles	Last championship title
Araglen	Araglen	Avondhu	Green and white	2022	0	—
Ballinacurra	Ballinacurra	Imokilly	Green and white	2025	0	—
Ballyphehane	Ballyphehane	Seandún	Blue and white	2023	1	2025
Belgooly	Belgooly	Carrigdhoun	White and blue	2025	1	2011
Brian Dillons	Montenotte	Seandún	Blue and white	2025	0	—
Clann na nGael	Drimoleague	Carbery	Green, white and black	2022	1	2006
Garnish	Allihies	Beara	Green and yellow	2020	0	—
Glengarriff	Glengarriff	Beara	Green and red	2017	1	1999
Muintir Bháire	Durrus	Carbery	Maroon and white	2023	1	2003
Shanballymore	Shanballymore	Avondhu	Red and black	2011	0	—
St Catherine's	Ballynoe	Imokilly	Purple and yellow	2021	0	—

Sponsorship

In keeping with its sponsorship deal for all Cork hurling and football championships, Permanent TSB provided the sponsorship since 1994. The Evening Echo became the primary sponsors of all Cork hurling and football championships in 2005. In July 2020, Bon Secours Hospital were unveiled as the title sponsor of all of Cork's Gaelic football competitions. ^[2]

Roll of honour

#	Team	Titles	Runners-up	Years won	Years runners-up
1	Argideen Rangers	4	0	1993, 2001, 2008, 2017	—
2	Kilbrin	3	2	1985, 1996, 2010	2017, 2020
	Diarmuid Ó Mathúna's	3	0	1995, 2012, 2022	—
	St Oliver Plunketts	3	0	1990, 2007, 2023	—
5	Kilmeen	2	2	1984, 2015	2012, 2014
	Kilbrittain	2	0	1992, 2009	—
	Castlelyons	2	0	1989, 2014	—
	Dripsey	2	0	2005, 2020	—
9	Rathpeacon	1	2	1991	2003, 2004
	Charleville	1	2	2013	2010, 2011
	Grange	1	2	2019	2015, 2018
	Glengarriff	1	1	1999	1997
	Belgooly	1	1	2011	2002
	Ballyhooly	1	1	2016	2001
	Ballinacurra	1	1	2018	2013
	Randal Óg	1	1	2021	1999
	Ballinure	1	0	1986	—
	Inniscarra	1	0	1987	—
	Abbey Rovers	1	0	1988	—
	Kilmacabea	1	0	1994	—
	St Colum's	1	0	1997	—
	Rathluirc Rovers	1	0	1998	—
	Liscarroll	1	0	2000	—
	Barryroe	1	0	2002	—
	Muintir Bháire	1	0	2003	—
	St Mary's	1	0	2004	—
	Clann na nGael	1	0	2006	—
28	Awbeg Rangers	0	3	—	1984, 1987, 1991
	Kilworth	0	2	—	1985, 1995
	Freemount	0	2	—	1992, 1998
	Araglen	0	2	—	2005, 2008
	Russell Rovers	0	2	—	1986, 2009
	Goleen	0	2	—	2019, 2021
	Ilen Rovers	0	1	—	1988
	Whitechurch	0	1	—	1989
	Burton Rovers	0	1	—	1990
	Killavullen	0	1	—	1993
	Lough Rovers	0	1	—	1994
	Carrignavar	0	1	—	1996
	Lyre	0	1	—	2000
	Churchtown	0	1	—	2006
	Passage	0	1	—	2007
	Cobh	0	1	—	2016
	Fr. O'Neill's	0	1	—	2022
	Ballyphehane	0	1	—	2023

By Division

#	Division	Titles	Runners-up	Total
1	Carbery	21	6	27
2	Avondhu	6	14	20
3	Seandun	3	7	10
	Duhallow	3	5	8
	Muskerry	3	0	3
6	Imokilly	2	5	7
7	Beara	1	1	2
	Carrigdhoun	1	1	2

List of finals

Year	Winners		Runners-up		#
	Club	Score	Club	Score
2025	Ballyphehane	9-06	Araglen	3-07
2024	Goleen	0-11	Ballyphehane	0-09
2023	St Oliver Plunkett's	1–10	Ballyphehane	1–09	[3]
2022	Diarmuid Ó Mathúna's	2–13	Fr. O'Neill's	1–09	[4]
2021	Randal Og	2–10	Goleen	1–06	[5]
2020	Dripsey	3–14	Kilbrin	1–09	[6]
2019	Grange	2–04	Goleen	0–07	[7]
2018	Ballinacurra	3–11	Grange	2–07	[8]
2017	Argideen Rangers	3–13	Kilbrin	3–07	[9]
2016	Ballyhooly	2–11	Cobh	1–08	[10]
2015	Kilmeen	5–14	Grange	0–05	[11]
2014	Castlelyons	1–06	Kilmeen	0–07	[12]
2013	Charleville	0–06	Ballinacurra	0–05	[13]
2012	Diarmuid Ó Mathúna's	2–09	Kilmeen	0–09	[14]
2011	Belgooly	2–14	Charleville	1–08	[15]
2010	Kilbrin	1–07	Charleville	1–05	[16]
2009	Kilbrittain	2–11	Russell Rovers	0–09	[17]
2008	Argideen Rangers	0–09	Araglen	1–02	[18]
2007	St Oliver Plunkett's	1–13	Passage	2–07	[19]
2006	Clan na Gael	1–14	Churchtown	0–09	[20]
2005	Dripsey	1–09	Araglen	0–05	[21]
2004	St Mary's	2–10	Rathpeacon	0–08	[22]
2003	Muintir Bháire	3–11	Rathpeacon	0–12	[23]
2002	Barryroe	2–11	Belgooly	0–04	[24]
2001	Argideen Rangers	1–15	Ballyhooly	1–09	[25]
2000	Liscarroll	1–13	Lyre	0–03	[26]
1999	Glengarriff	2–09	Randal Óg	1–07	[27]
1998	Rathluirc Rovers	1–06	Freemount	0–04
1997	St. Colum's	0–11	Glengarriff	0–05
1996	Kilbrin	2–10	Carrignavar	1–07
1995	Diarmuid Ó Mathúna's	2–09	Kilworth	2–05
1994	Kilmacabea	0–13	Lough Rovers	1–03
1993	Argideen Rangers	1–17	Killavullen	0–06
1992	Kilbrittain	3–10	Freemount	0–08
1991	Rathpeacon	0–10	Awbeg Rangers	1–06
1990	St. Oliver Plunkett's	1–06	Burton Rovers	0–07
1989	Castlelyons	3–04	Whitechurch	1–09
1988	Abbey Rovers	1–06	Ilen Rovers	0–06
1987	Inniscarra	1–07	Awbeg Rangers	0–04
1986	Ballinure	1–06	Russell Rovers	1–03
1985	Kilbrin	0–06	Kilworth	0–02
1984	Kilmeen	0–12	Awbeg Rangers	0–07

Notes:

• 1988 - The first match ended in a draw: Abbey Rovers 0-08, Ilen Rovers 0-08.
• 2016 - The first match ended in a draw: Ballyhooly 1-13, Cobh 2-10.
• 2018 - The first match ended in a draw: Ballinacurra 0-11, Grange 1-08.

Team records and statistics

Longest gaps between successive championship titles:

• 31 years: Kilmeen (1984-2015)
• 25 years: Castlelyons (1989-2014)
• 17 years: St Oliver Plunketts (1990-2007)
• 17 years: Kilbrittain (1992-2009)
• 17 years: Diarmuid Ó Mathúna's (1995-2012)
• 16 years: St Oliver Plunketts (2007-2023)
• 15 years: Dripsey (2005-2020)
• 14 years: Kilbrin (1996-2010)
• 11 years: Kilbrin (1985-1996)
• 10 years: Diarmuid Ó Mathúna's (2012-2022)

See also

• Cork Junior B Hurling Championship

References

1. McCarthy, Kieran (16 July 2023). "Plunkett's crowned county junior B football champions!". The Southern Star. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
2. O'Connor, Colm (21 July 2020). "Bon Secours Hospital Cork to sponsor football championships". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
3. O'Mahony, Barry (15 July 2023). "Fast start stands to St Oliver Plunkett's in county final win over Ballyphehane". Echo Live. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
4. O'Shea, John (8 August 2023). "Junior B joy for Diarmuid Ó Mathúnas after cracking clash with Fr O'Neill's". Echo Live. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
5. Leonard, John (8 August 2023). "Historic first Junior B county title for Randal Óg in beating Goleen". Echo Live. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
6. "Dripsey capture 2020 Cork Junior B Football Championship after exciting win over Kilbrin". Echo Live. 1 August 2021. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
7. Ryan, Pat (27 July 2019). "Grange finally get over the line in Junior B final". The Corkman. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
8. Ryan, Pat (11 August 2018). "Grange second best in replay". The Corkman. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
9. "Argideen join junior A ranks". The Southern Star. 9 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
10. Ryan, Paddy (7 September 2016). "Ballyhooly are Cork County junior 'B' football champions". The Avondhu. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
11. "Kilmeen hit gold on third attempt". Irish Examiner. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
12. "Heartbreak for Kilmeen in county junior B football final". The Southern Star. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
13. "Charleville leave it late in Co JBFC final". Mallow Star. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
14. "Glory for mighty Mathúnas". Irish Examiner. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
15. Hurley, Denis (29 August 2011). "Belgooly turn on the style". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
16. "GAA club reflects on the highs and lows of 2010 at AGM". Irish Independent. 13 January 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
17. "Club history". Russell Rovers GAA website. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
18. Hurley, Denis (13 August 2010). "Araglen looking to end a wait of 22 years for junior B hurling glory". Echo Live. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
19. Hurley, Matthew (15 July 2023). "Plunkett's footballers eye county junior title". The Southern Star. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
20. "Scorchers crash title barrier". Irish Independent. 12 November 2006. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
21. "Araglin edge out battling Kilbrin". Irish Examiner. 4 August 2008. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
22. Horgan, John (3 June 2020). "Cork City legend John Caulfield also had a rich sporting life as a Gaelic footballer". Echo Live. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
23. Palmer, Paudie (1 April 2021). "Paudie Palmer on Muintir Bhaire, the small West Cork club with real heart". Echo Live. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
24. "Junior B Football - County Final". Barryroe GAA website. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
25. Roche, Marian (5 December 2022). "Memories from the Archives – November 2001". The Avondhu. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
26. "Liscarroll are champs". Irish Independent. 22 February 2011. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
27. "History". Randal Óg GAA website. Retrieved 8 August 2023.