Cork Junior Football Championship
The Cork Junior Football Championship is an annual Gaelic football competition organised by the Cork County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1895 for the fourth tier Gaelic football teams in the county of Cork in Ireland.
The series of games are played during the autumn months with the county final currently being played in October. The prize for the winning team is the Donal O'Sullivan Cup. The championship has always been played on a straight knock-out basis, whereby once a team loses they are eliminated from the championship. Since 2017, defeated divisional finalists have been allowed to enter the championship.
The Cork Junior Championship is an integral part of the wider Munster Junior Club Football Championship. The winners of the Cork county final join the champions of the other five counties to contest the provincial championship.
Sixteen clubs currently participate in the Cork Junior Championship. The title has been won at least once by 63 different clubs. The all-time record holders are Nils who have won a total of 7 titles.
The 2019 championship was won by Kilshannig, they beat St. James in the final in Pairc Ui Rinn on the 10th of November. It was the club's first title in 23 years, having previously won the tournament in 1996 and 1985.
History
Established in 1895 as a championship for the second teams of clubs playing in the Cork Senior Championship, the junior championship was initially played on a countywide basis. With the creation of the Cork Intermediate Championship in 1909, victorious clubs in the junior grade were gained promotion to the intermediate grade.As more and more clubs were founded, the decision was taken in 1926 to organise the junior championship on a divisional basis. Each of the eight divisions provided their championship-winning team to represent their division in the county championship.
After the intermediate grade was disbanded in 1939, the winners of the Cork Junior Championship gained promotion to the Cork Senior Championship. This system of promotion and relegation lasted until 1964 when the intermediate grade was reintroduced.
In 2017 the eight divisional runners-up were also allowed to field teams in the junior championship.
Sponsorship
Since 2005 the Junior Championship has been sponsored by the Evening Echo. The championship was previously sponsored by Permanent TSB.Trophy
The winning team is presented with the Donal O'Sullivan Cup. Donal O'Sullivan played club football with Lees, before winning back-to-back Munster medals in 1956 and 1957 with the Cork senior team. He later served in a number of administrative roles, including vice-chairman and chairman of the Cork County Board and chairman of the Munster Council.Qualification
The Cork Junior Football Championship features sixteen teams in the final tournament. Approximately 80 teams contest the eight divisional championships with the eight champions and eight runners-up automatically qualifying for the county series.| Division | Championship |
| Avondhu GAA | North Cork Junior A Football Championship |
| Beara GAA | Beara Junior Football Championship |
| Carbery GAA | West Cork Junior A Football Championship |
| Carrigdhoun GAA | South East Junior A Football Championship |
| Duhallow GAA | Duhallow Junior A Football Championship |
| Imokilly GAA | East Cork Junior A Football Championship |
| Muskerry GAA | Mid Cork Junior A Football Championship |
| Seandún GAA | City Junior A Football Championship |
Roll of honour
| # | Team | Wins | Winning Years |
| 1 | Nils | 7 | 1902, 1903, 1904, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1915 |
| 2 | Bandon | 5 | 1925, 1929, 1953, 1975, 2015 |
| Fermoy | 5 | 1898, 1899, 1909, 1936, 1974 | |
| 4 | Urhan | 4 | 1927, 1931, 1960, 1992 |
| Dromtarriffe | 4 | 1934, 1938, 1959, 2018 | |
| Kilmurry | 4 | 1924, 1969, 1980, 1986 | |
| Glanmire | 4 | 1923, 1937, 1951, 1958 | |
| 7 | Knocknagree | 3 | 1984, 1991, 2017 |
| Millstreet | 3 | 1941, 1963, 2014 | |
| Glanworth | 3 | 1954, 1971, 2009 | |
| Canovee | 3 | 1950, 1968, 2007 | |
| Youghal | 3 | 1905, 1906, 1999 | |
| Dohenys | 3 | 1935, 1966, 1993 | |
| Ballincollig | 3 | 1933, 1940, 1981 | |
| Midleton | 3 | 1896, 1917, 1939 | |
| 16 | Mitchelstown | 2 | 1961, 2013 |
| Rockchapel | 2 | 1987, 2012 | |
| Erin's Own | 2 | 1994, 2005 | |
| Kiskeam | 2 | 1964, 2002 | |
| Newmarket | 2 | 1970, 1998 | |
| Kilshannig | 3 | 1985, 1996, 2019 | |
| Newcestown | 2 | 1967, 1990 | |
| Naomh Abán | 2 | 1973, 1988 | |
| Bantry Blues | 2 | 1928, 1972 | |
| Castlemagner | 2 | 1947, 1952 | |
| Collins | 2 | 1945, 1948 | |
| Kinsale | 2 | 1900, 1932 | |
| Cobh | 2 | 1901, 1908 | |
| William O'Brien's | 2 | 1895, 1897 | |
| 30 | Gabriel Rangers | 1 | 2016 |
| Kanturk | 1 | 2011 | |
| Cloyne | 1 | 2010 | |
| Éire Óg | 1 | 2008 | |
| Adrigole | 1 | 2006 | |
| Aghabullogue | 1 | 2004 | |
| Carbery Rangers | 1 | 2003 | |
| Ilen Rovers | 1 | 2001 | |
| Killavullen | 1 | 2000 | |
| Ballinora | 1 | 1997 | |
| Glenville | 1 | 1995 | |
| Aghada | 1 | 1989 | |
| Donoughmore | 1 | 1983 | |
| Passage | 1 | 1982 | |
| Grange | 1 | 1979 | |
| Kildorrery | 1 | 1978 | |
| Castletownbere | 1 | 1977 | |
| Castlehaven | 1 | 1976 | |
| Na Piarsaigh | 1 | 1965 | |
| Douglas | 1 | 1962 | |
| Nemo Rangers | 1 | 1957 | |
| St. Michael's | 1 | 1956 | |
| Delaney Rovers | 1 | 1955 | |
| St. Patrick's | 1 | 1949 | |
| St. Vincent's | 1 | 1946 | |
| 21st Battalion | 1 | 1944 | |
| Bere Island | 1 | 1943 | |
| Combined Services | 1 | 1942 | |
| Clonakilty | 1 | 1930 | |
| Geraldines | 1 | 1926 | |
| Knockavilla | 1 | 1916 | |
| Juverna | 1 | 1911 | |
| Lees | 1 | 1910 | |
| Macroom | 1 | 1907 |
List of finals
| 2019 | Kilshannig | 0-22 | St. James | 0-11 |
| 2018 | Dromtarriffe | 2-09 | Kilmacabea | 2-08 |
| 2017 | Knocknagree | 2-19 | Erin's Own | 2-10 |
| 2016 | Gabriel Rangers | 2-13 | Shamrocks | 2-07 |
| 2015 | Bandon | 3-11 | Iveleary | 2-09 |
| 2014 | Millstreet | 1-09 | St. Finbarr's | 1-08 |
| 2013 | Mitchelstown | 0-12 | St. Colum's | 2-04 |
| 2012 | Rockchapel | 1-07 | Kilmurry | 0-07 |
| 2011 | Kanturk | 1-20 | Mitchelstown | 0-04 |
| 2010 | Cloyne | 0-10 | White's Cross | 0-09 |
| 2009 | Glanworth | 0-08 | Ballygarvan | 0-05 |
| 2008 | Éire Óg | 1-08 | Ballygarvan | 1-05 |
| 2007 | Canovee | 1-08 | Kildorrery | 0-09 |
| 2006 | Adrigole | 0-05 | Grenagh | 0-03 |
| 2005 | Erin's Own | 1-12 | O'Donovan Rossa | 1-11 |
| 2004 | Aghabullogue | 1-09 | Adrigole | 1-07 |
| 2003 | Carbery Rangers | 0-10 | Kilnamartyr | 0-05 |
| 2002 | Kiskeam | 0-19 | Adrigole | 0-09 |
| 2001 | Ilen Rovers | 0-14 | Kinsale | 1-01 |
| 2000 | Killavullen | 1-12 | Kiskeam | 2-05 |
| 1999 | Youghal | 3-08 | Ilen Rovers | 1-13 |
| 1998 | Newmarket | 0-09 | Killavullen | 0-08 |
| 1997 | Ballinora | 0-12 | Kiskeam | 2-05 |
| 1996 | Kilshannig | 1-07 | Youghal | 0-05 |
| 1995 | Glenville | 0-08 | Tadhg MacCarthaigh | 0-05 |
| 1994 | Erin's Own | 0-15 | Kiskeam | 2-07 |
| 1993 | Dohenys | 1-10 | Carrigtwohill | 0-06 |
| 1992 | Urhan | 1-10, 0-12, 1-06 | Midleton | 2-07, 1-09, 0-03 |
| 1991 | Knocknagree | 2-07 | Deel Rovers | 1-08 |
| 1990 | Newcestown | 0-12 | Castlemartyr | 0-05 |
| 1989 | Aghada | 0-09, 0-08 | Knocknagree | 0-09, 0-04 |
| 1988 | Naomh Abán | 1-08 | Clyda Rovers | 2-04 |
| 1987 | Rockchapel | 2-05 | Carbery Rangers | 1-04 |
| 1986 | Kilmurry | 0-06 | Valley Rovers | 0-05 |
| 1985 | Kilshannig | 1-07, 2-06 | Valley Rovers | 0-10, 2-04 |
| 1984 | Knocknagree | 0-13 | Mallow | 1-09 |
| 1983 | Donoughmore | 1-03 | St. Nicholas | 0-05 |
| 1982 | Passage | 1-04 | Knocknagree | 0-06 |
| 1981 | Ballincollig | 2-11 | Aghada | 2-07 |
| 1980 | Kilmurry | 1-04 | Clyda Rovers | 0-01 |
| 1979 | Grange | 0-14 | Knocknagree | 2-04 |
| 1978 | Kildorrery | 3-06 | Brian Dillons | 1-08 |
| 1977 | Castletownbere | 3-05 | Rockchapel | 0-08 |
| 1976 | Castlehaven | 3-07 | Castletownbere | 0-06 |
| 1975 | Bandon | 1-11 | Carrignavar | 1-01 |
| 1974 | Fermoy | 1-07 | Castletownbere | 0-08 |
| 1973 | Naomh Abán | 2-15 | Mitchelstown | 0-05 |
| 1972 | Bantry Blues | 1-12 | Adrigole | 2-06 |
| 1971 | Glanworth | 1-08 | Adrigole | 0-08 |
| 1970 | Newmarket | 1-09 | Adrigole | 2-04 |
| 1969 | Kilmurry * | Midleton | ||
| 1968 | Canovee | 3-06 | Adrigole | 1-11 |
| 1967 | Newcestown | 2-12 | Midleton | 1-02 |
| 1966 | Dohenys | 1-04, 3-08 | Grange | 1-04, 1-06 |
| 1965 | Na Piarsaigh | 1-03 | Dohenys | 0-04 |
| 1964 | Kiskeam | 1-10 | Crosshaven | 1-01 |
| 1963 | Millstreet | 3-09 | St. Nicholas | 2-07 |
| 1962 | Douglas | 2-10 | Midleton | 1-03 |
| 1961 | Mitchelstown | 2-08 | O'Donovan Rossa | 2-04 |
| 1960 | Urhan | 1-07 | Mitchelstown | 0-04 |
| 1959 | Dromtarriffe | 5-01 | Dohenys | 3-01 |
| 1958 | Glanmire | 2-07 | Mitchelstown | 2-05 |
| 1957 | Nemo Rangers | 1-05 | Mitchelstown | 0-05 |
| 1956 | St. Michael's | 5-06 | Dromtarriffe | 0-05 |
| 1955 | Delaneys | 1-08 | Mitchelstown | 1-05 |
| 1954 | Glanworth | 1-06 | Cobh | 1-04 |
| 1953 | Bandon | 1-04 | Glanworth | 1-02 |
| 1952 | Castlemagner | 1-07 | Bandon | 1-05 |
| 1951 | Glanmire | 1-04, 3-02 | Delaneys | 1-04, 1-05 |
| 1950 | Canovee | 0-04, 3-06 | Newmarket | 0-04, 1-04 |
| 1949 | St. Patrick's | 1-06 | Glanworth | 1-01 |
| 1948 | Collins | 5-11 | Canovee | 3-00 |
| 1947 | Castlemagner | 0-06 | Collins | 0-03 |
| 1946 | St. Vincent's | 3-06 | Bere Island | 1-04 |
| 1945 | Collins | 1-05, 3-07 | St. Patrick's | 2-02, 0-02 |
| 1944 | 21st Battalion | 2-06 | Millstreet | 0-03 |
| 1943 | Bere Island | 5-04 | Commercials | 1-03 |
| 1942 | Combined Services | 3-05 | Clann na Gael | 0-04 |
| 1941 | Millstreet | 1-02 | Bere Island | 0-03 |
| 1940 | Ballincollig | 1-06 | Youghal | 1-03 |
| 1939 | Midleton | 2-06 | Carbery Rangers | 1-02 |
| 1938 | Dromtarriffe | 2-04 | Ballincollig | 1-01 |
| 1937 | Sarsfields | 2-02 | St. Anne's | 0-02 |
| 1936 | Fermoy | 3-01 | Cullen | 0-02 |
| 1935 | Dohenys | 1-03 | St. Anne's | 0-03 |
| 1934 | Dromtarriffe | 2-02 | Mitchelstown | 0-00 |
| 1933 | Ballincollig | 3-01 | St. Anne's | 1-01 |
| 1932 | Kinsale | 1-02 | Dromtarriffe | 0-01 |
| 1931 | Urhan | 0-06 | Shamrocks | 0-02 |
| 1930 | Clonakilty | 2-03 | Ballincollig | 0-00 |
| 1929 | Bandon | 1-03 | Iveleary | 0-00 |
| 1928 | Bantry Blues | 2-02 | Mitchelstown | 2-01 |
| 1927 | Urhan | 1-06 | Newmarket | 1-00 |
| 1926 | Geraldines | 2-03 | Kilbrittain | 1-02 |
| 1925 | Bandon | 0-02 | Commons Road | 0-01 |
| 1924 | Kilmurry | 1-02 | Nils | 0-02 |
| 1923 | Glanmire | 1-03 * | St. Nicholas | 1-03 |
| 1922 | No Championship | |||
| 1921 | No championship | |||
| 1920 | No championship | |||
| 1919 | No championship | |||
| 1918 | No final * | |||
| 1917 | Midleton | 5-02 | Knockavilla | 0-00 |
| 1916 | Knockavilla | 1-04 | Shamrocks | 1-00 |
| 1915 | Nils | 2-01 | Bantry Blues | 0-01 |
| 1914 | Nils | Sundays Well | ||
| 1913 | Nils | 4-02 | Bantry | 2-02 |
| 1912 | Nils | 2-02 | Skibbereen | 0-00 |
| 1911 | Juverna | 1-00 | Nils | 0-00 |
| 1910 | Lees | 2-08 | Juverna | 0-02 |
| 1909 | Fermoy | 0-06 | Macroom | 0-04 |
| 1908 | Cobh | Fermoy | ||
| 1907 | Macroom | Nils | ||
| 1906 | Youghal | Macroom | ||
| 1905 | Youghal | Macroom | ||
| 1904 | Nils | Fermoy | ||
| 1903 | Nils | Carrigadrohid | ||
| 1902 | Nils | Millstreet | ||
| 1901 | Cobh | Fermoy | ||
| 1900 | Kinsale | Macroom | ||
| 1899 | Fermoy | Lees | ||
| 1898 | Fermoy | Dohenys | ||
| 1897 | William O'Brien's | Bantry | ||
| 1896 | Midleton | 0-01 * | Ballindangan | 0-01 |
| 1895 | William O'Brien's | 0-04 | Dromtarriffe | 0-01 |
- Midleton beat Bantry Blues in other semi-final but both were disqualified so Kilmurry were awarded the title
- In 1923, Glanmire won title in replay
- 1918 - Youghal and Meelin qualified for final which was not played
- 1896 Midleton won title in replay
Records
Gaps
- * Top ten longest gaps between successive championship titles:
- ** 93 years: Youghal
- ** 52 years: Mitchelstown
- ** 51 years: Millstreet
- ** 45 years: Kilmurray
- ** 44 years: Bantry Blues
- ** 41 years: Ballincollig
- ** 40 years: Bandon
- ** 39 years: Fermoy
- ** 39 years: Canovee
- ** 38 years: Glanworth
Junior B Football Championship