2018 Cork Senior Football Championship
# 2018 Cork Senior Football Championship

The 2018 Cork Senior Football Championship was the 130th staging of the Cork Senior Football Championship since its establishment by the Cork County Board in 1887. The draw for the 2018 opening fixtures took place on 10 December 2017. The championship began on 18 March 2018 and ended on 28 October 2018.

Nemo Rangers entered the championship as the defending champions, however, they were defeated by Castlehaven at the quarter-final stage.

On 28 October 2018, St. Finbarr's won the championship following a 3-14 to 2-14 defeat of Duhallow in the final. This was their 9th championship title overall and their first title since 1985.

## Team changes

### To Championship

Promoted from the Cork Premier Intermediate Football Championship

* Mallow

## Championship details

### Overview

The 2018 championship will see a total of 27 teams compete for the title. These consist of 19 club teams, 6 divisional teams and 2 college teams.

### Format

A new format will be used for the 2018 championship. For the first time since 2015, the divisions and colleges will compete in their own mini championship before entering the championship proper.

**Divisional and college section**

Round 1: Eight teams will contest this round. The four winning teams will advance to Round 2. The four losing teams will be eliminated from the championship.

Round 2: Four teams will contest this round. The two winning teams will advance to Round 3 of the championship proper. The two losing teams will be eliminated from the championship.

**Club section**

Preliminary round: 2 teams will contest this round. The winning team will advance to Round 1. The losing team will advance to Round 3.

Round 1: 18 teams will contest this round. The nine losing teams will advance to Round 2. The nine winning teams will advance to Round 3.

Round 2: The 9 losing teams from Round 1 will contest this round. The four winning teams will advance to Round 3. The four losing teams will be eliminated from the championship. One team will receive a bye to Round 3.

Round 3: The 9 winning teams from Round 1, the 4 winning teams from Round 2, the bye team and the 2 divisional teams will contest this round. The 8 winning teams will advance to the Quarter-finals. The 8 losing teams will be eliminated from the championship.

Quarter-finals: 8 teams will contest this round. The 4 winning teams will advance to the Semi-finals. The 4 losing teams will be eliminated from the championship.

Semi-finals: 4 teams will contest this round. The 2 winning teams will advance to the Semi-finals. The 2 losing teams will be eliminated from the championship.

Final: The final will be contested by the two semi-final winners.

## Championship statistics

### Top scorers

**Top scorers overall**

| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Matches | Average |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Steven Sherlock | St. Finbarr's | 3-37 | 46 | 5 | 9.20 |
| 1 | Mark Collins | Castlehaven | 0-46 | 46 | 7 | 5.14 |
| 2 | Donncha O'Connor | Duhallow | 2-30 | 36 | 8 | 4.50 |
| 3 | Dan Ó Duinnín | CIT | 1-28 | 31 | 4 | 7.75 |
| 4 | Séamus Hickey | Duhallow | 3-21 | 30 | 8 | 3.75 |
| 5 | Fiachra Lynch | Valley Rovers | 1-25 | 28 | 4 | 7.00 |
| 6 | Luke Connolly | Nemo Rangers | 2-18 | 24 | 3 | 8.00 |
| 6 | Seán O'Sullivan | Kiskeam | 2-18 | 24 | 3 | 8.00 |
| 7 | Michael Hurley | Castlehaven | 2-17 | 23 | 7 | 3.28 |
| 8 | Kevin Davis | O'Donovan Rossa | 1-16 | 19 | 2 | 9.50 |
| 8 | Cian O'Riordan | Mallow | 0-19 | 19 | 3 | 6.66 |

**Top scorers in a single game**

| Rank | Player | Club | Tally | Total | Opposition |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Seán O'Sullivan | Kiskeam | 1-11 | 14 | St. Nicholas' |
| 1 | Kevin Davis | O'Donovan Rossa | 1-11 | 14 | Aghada |
| 2 | Fiachra Lynch | Valley Rovers | 1-08 | 11 | Mallow |
| 2 | Luke Connolly | Nemo Rangers | 1-08 | 11 | O'Donovan Rossa |
| 2 | Steven Sherlock | St. Finbarr's | 1-08 | 11 | Duhallow |
| 3 | Luke Connolly | Nemo Rangers | 1-07 | 10 | Clyda Rovers |
| 3 | Steven Sherlock | St. Finbarr's | 0-10 | 10 | Carrigaline |
| 3 | Cian O'Riordan | Mallow | 0-10 | 10 | Kiskeam |
| 3 | Dan Ó Duinnín | CIT | 0-10 | 10 | Castlehaven |
| 3 | Steven Sherlock | St. Finbarr's | 0-10 | 10 | Carbery Rangers |

### Miscellaneous

* St. Finbarr's won the championship for the first time since 1985.
