The East Cork Junior A Football Championship (known for sponsorship reasons as the Michael O'Connor Motor Factors East Cork Junior A Football Championship) is an annual Gaelic football competition organised by the Imokilly Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1927 for junior Gaelic football teams in East Cork.

The series of games begin in March, with the championship culminating with the final in the autumn. The championship includes a group stage and a knockout stage which guarantees at least 3 championship matches.

The East Cork Junior A Championship is an integral part of the wider Cork Junior A Football Championship. The winners of the East Cork championship join their counterparts from the other seven divisions to contest the county championship.

As of 2026, 12 clubs were participating in the East Cork Championship. The title has been won at least once by 17 different clubs. The all-time record-holders are Glanmire, who have won a total of 20 titles.

Carrignavar are the title-holders, defeating Erin's Own by 3–12 to 1–08 in the 2025 championship final.

Format

Group stage The 12 teams are divided into three groups of four. Over the course of the group stage, each team plays once against the others in the group, resulting in each team being guaranteed at least three games. 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: Two lone quarter-finals featuring the four lowest-placed qualifying teams from the group stage. Two teams qualify for the next round.

Semi-finals: The two quarter-final winners and the top two highest-placed qualifying teams from the group stage contest this round. The two winners from these games advance to the final.

Final: The two semi-final winners contest the final. The winning team are declared champions.

Promotion and relegation At the end of the championship, the winning team enters the Cork Junior A Football Championship. The winner of this is automatically promoted to the Cork Premier Junior Football Championship for the following season. The two worst-ranked teams from the group stage take part in a playoff, with the losing team being relegated to the East Cork Junior B Football Championship.

Teams

2026 teams The 12 teams competing in the 2026 East Cork Junior A Football Championship are: Team Location Colours Position in 2025 In championship since Championship Titles Last Championship Title AghadaAghadaGreen and white Quarter-finals?41989 CarrignavarCarrignavarGreen and redChampions?22025 CarrigtwohillCarrigtwohillBlue and yellow Semi-finals?32000 CastlemartyrCastlemartyrRed and white Quarter-finals?72024 CloyneCloyneRed and blackGroup stage?62016 DungourneyDungourneyGreen and goldGroup stage20240— Erin's OwnCaherlagRed and blueRunners-up?62019 Fr. O'Neill'sBallymacodaRed and greenGroup stage?42015 LisgooldLisgooldBlue and yellow Relegation playoff winners?12023 MidletonMidletonBlack and white Group stage?122020 St Catherine'sBallynoePurple and yellowJunior B20260— YoughalYoughalMaroon, white and yellowSemi-finals?71999

List of finals

List of East Cork JAFC finals YearWinnersRunners-up#ClubScoreClubScore2025Carrignavar3–12Erin's Own1–08 2024 Castlemartyr 1–10 Carrigtwohill 0–12 2023 Lisgoold 2–09 Carrignavar 0–10 2022 Cobh 4–11 Castlemartyr 2–09 2021 Bride Rovers 3–09 Cobh 0–10 2020 Midleton Carrigtwohill 2019 Erin's Own Cobh 2018 Midleton Fr. O'Neill's 2017 Erin's Own Glenbower Rovers 2016 Cloyne Castlelyons 2015 Fr. O'Neill's Erin's Own 2014 Glenbower Rovers Carrigtwohill 2013 Glenbower Rovers Lisgoold 2012 Glenbower Rovers Fr. O'Neill's 2011 Glenbower Rovers Lisgoold 2010 Cloyne Erin's Own 2009 Cloyne Glenbower Rovers 2008 Cloyne Carrignavar 2007 Bride Rovers Carrigtwohill 2006 Fr. O'Neill's Bride Rovers 2005 Erin's Own Cobh 2004 Bride Rovers Fr. O'Neill's 2003 Erin's Own Bride Rovers 2002 Erin's Own Bride Rovers 2001 Cloyne Erin's Own 2000 Carrigtwohill Fr. O'Neill's 1999 Youghal Erin's Own 1998 Fr. O'Neill's Cobh 1997 Carrigtwohill Glenbower Rovers 1996 Fr. O'Neill's Youghal 1995 Glenville Aghada 1994 Erin's Own Glenville 1993 Carrigtwohill Erin's Own 1992 Midleton Carrigtwohill 1991 Castlemartyr St Catherine’s 1990 Castlemartyr Erin's Own 1989 Aghada Carrigtwohill 1988 Cobh Youghal 1987 Castlemartyr Aghada 1986 Castlemartyr Cobh 1985 Castlemartyr Glenville 1984 Youghal Glenville 1983 Aghada Glenville 1982 Castlemartyr Glenville 1981 Aghada Youghal 1980 Aghada Cloyne 1979 Glenville Youghal 1978 Glenville Youghal 1977 Glanmire Aghada 1976 Cloyne Youghal 1975 Carrignavar Glenville 1974 Midleton Glenville 1973 Glenville Midleton 1972 Glenville Glanmire 1971 Glanmire Glenville 1970 Glanmire Midleton 1969 Midleton Castlelyons 1968 Glanmire Midleton 1967 Midleton Glenbower Rovers 1966 Glanmire Midleton 1965 Glanmire Glenville 1964 Glanmire Midleton 1963 Glanmire Midleton 1962 Midleton Glanmire 1961 Glenville Youghal 1960 Cobh Glanmire 1959 Youghal Glanmire 1958 Glanmire Cobh 1957 Glanmire Midleton 1956 Cobh Youghal 1955 Cobh Youghal 1954 Cobh Youghal 1953 Cobh Youghal 1952 Youghal Russell Rovers 1951 Glanmire Youghal 1950 Glanmire Midleton 1949 Midleton Glanmire 1948 Glenville Youghal 1947 Cobh Russell Rovers 1946 Glanmire Russell Rovers 1945 Youghal Glenville 1944 Cobh Midleton 1943 19th Battalion 1942 Combined Services Youghal 1941 Youghal Cobh 1940 Youghal Cobh 1939 Midleton Sarsfields 1938 Midleton Carrignavar 1937 Sarsfields Midleton 1936 Sarsfields Midleton 1935 Midleton 1934 Sarsfields Russell Rovers 1933 Sarsfields Castlemartyr 1932 Sarsfields Castlemartyr 1931 Russell Rovers Carrigtwohill 1930 Sarsfields Leeside 1929 Sarsfields Midleton 1928 Midleton Cobh 1927 Cobh

Roll of honour

By club # Club Titles Championship wins 1 Glanmire 20 1929, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1971, 1977 2 Midleton 12 1928, 1935, 1938, 1939, 1949, 1962, 1967, 1969, 1974, 1992, 2018, 2020 3 Cobh 10 1927, 1944, 1947, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1960, 1988, 2022 4 Youghal 7 1940, 1941, 1945, 1952, 1959, 1984, 1999 Glenville 7 1948, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1995 Castlemartyr 7 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 20247 Cloyne 6 1976, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016 Erin's Own 6 1994, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2017, 20199 Aghada 4 1980, 1981, 1983, 1989 Glenbower Rovers 4 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Fr O'Neill's 4 1996, 1998, 2006, 201512 Carrigtwohill 3 1993, 1997, 2000 Bride Rovers 3 2004, 2007, 202114 Carrignavar 2 1975, 202515 Russell Rovers 1 1931 Combined Services 1 1942 19th Battalion 1 1943 Lisgoold12023

See also East Cork Junior A Hurling Championship

References

External links

East Cork GAA website