Cork AUL 2025/26

**Average Baller** · 02/07/2025, 8:20 AM

If there’s 4 new teams coming to Division 3, is it possible the 3rd and maybe 4th place teams in each division from last season could be moved up a division? Or is it more likely that they’ll split Division 3 into two sections?

**fruice** · 02/07/2025, 8:40 AM

Sections won’t be out until August deadline for teams to submit applications to the AUL is the middle of this month.

We know for sure of 5 new teams the 4 mentioned on the last page and Grattan B.

We are lead to believe one Watergrasshil team is in trouble and Bweeng look to be under pressure if they are looking for a players and a manager.

With that in mind we are down 2 teams from last year Parkview & Richmond( I know they didn’t play but were part of Division 1)

So we could only be looking at one extra team.

If all 5 go into division 3 then they simply will have to promote more teams out of it.

You can’t have a 14 or 15 team division 2 sections is an option but it looks wrong when all the other divisions are small.

They have been know to move teams coming from a different league into the second division so some one like Sullane could end up there.

**meballs** · 02/07/2025, 9:49 AM

Grattan B are heading for division 1 I believe

The league begins in early August this year so sections being made in August makes no sense in my opinion.

Preseason games against teams that might or might not be your first league game probably not a great plan.

Seems people are expecting Sullane to be decent I’ve not seen much about them previously so that will be interesting to see.

Anyone else out there that people think will be strong this season bar Coachford and Village?

**fruice** · 02/07/2025, 11:41 AM

A nice bit of spice between Castleview B and Grattan B so.

Sullane should be handy as will Mallow Town

**forward152** · 02/07/2025, 1:24 PM

Will teams be moved up a division if they haven't won promotion officially? Division 1 only ended with 7 teams.

**Ballwasthere** · 02/07/2025, 2:57 PM

Originally Posted by meballs

Grattan B are heading for division 1 I believe

The league begins in early August this year so sections being made in August makes no sense in my opinion.

Preseason games against teams that might or might not be your first league game probably not a great plan.

Seems people are expecting Sullane to be decent I’ve not seen much about them previously so that will be interesting to see.

Anyone else out there that people think will be strong this season bar Coachford and Village?

Don’t see village being strong this year, midfield is decent but they lost their best defender two best forwards and and a keeper, don’t know what they’ve brought in, but the gap seems to have widened rather than closed, hearing grattan have signed well so far, knocka will be a force they’re very good going forward, haven’t heard much about Donoghmore, Castleview have lost a couple of solid players. Hopefully city wanderers can shake up the cart.
Glenthorn will be stronger this year, heard they signed 2 solid experienced players at premier level so hopefully they put it together and push for a return to premier, can see UCC being stronger this year, very tough season for them last year, a year together now so hopefully the raise their standards, Springfield I’m not sure of, strand will be there abouts, hibs and banter two decent sides good additions to the premier A.
Division one looks to be decent, between Rathcormac, zarcos and Boher for me

Of course this all depends on who’s put in what division

**Retired Folk** · 02/07/2025, 5:33 PM

Is the Grattan B team not the Castleview team.

And now with them going back to Grattan surely Castleview B team in the Aul is Gone. Some carry on Full teams hopping clubs.

**AULBUSTER** · 02/07/2025, 8:25 PM

Originally Posted by Ballwasthere

Don’t see village being strong this year, midfield is decent but they lost their best defender two best forwards and and a keeper, don’t know what they’ve brought in, but the gap seems to have widened rather than closed, hearing grattan have signed well so far, knocka will be a force they’re very good going forward, haven’t heard much about Donoghmore, Castleview have lost a couple of solid players. Hopefully city wanderers can shake up the cart.
Glenthorn will be stronger this year, heard they signed 2 solid experienced players at premier level so hopefully they put it together and push for a return to premier, can see UCC being stronger this year, very tough season for them last year, a year together now so hopefully the raise their standards, Springfield I’m not sure of, strand will be there abouts, hibs and banter two decent sides good additions to the premier A.
Division one looks to be decent, between Rathcormac, zarcos and Boher for me

Of course this all depends on who’s put in what division

You no nothing about village and your saying they won’t be as strong. Who left from last season? Who signed? How do you no they won’t be as strong

**meballs** · 02/07/2025, 8:45 PM

Yes my understanding would also be that the Castleview team would either fold or be made up of players out of the youths (not sure how strong they would be) The club hop situation should never be allowed.

The AUL are incredibly lenient to teams folding or reforming and coming back up divisions it really doesn’t deter teams from taking a sabbatical or moving about.

Last years division 1 standard was particularly poor. Banteer are a nice bunch but ageing and I don’t think either them or Hibs are capable of doing anything too major in Prem A.
Los Zarcos again are only average although a good club.

Rathcormac in particular & maybe Boher could well be up to Division one based on how they played last season

Donoughmore could be on the improve in my opinion and could surprise people and win a trophy or put up a good showing in the league (Top 3)

**Ballwasthere** · 02/07/2025, 11:29 PM

Because they lost 3 of their best players buster, you know the fellas you think going back to their original team is a scandal, and judging by all the young fellas being paraded on Facebook where the only thing Leonard or whoever’s doing the page can say about them is top young fella with a good attitude he knows nothing about them either and they are in rebuild, I watched most of their home games last year, they were only a couple players short of having a good rattle off things this year, but they were 3 big losses, 4 if you count the keeper who I felt was the best of their 3, judging by some of your comments on here you’re the one who knows nothing

**Ballwasthere** · 02/07/2025, 11:32 PM

Originally Posted by meballs

Yes my understanding would also be that the Castleview team would either fold or be made up of players out of the youths (not sure how strong they would be) The club hop situation should never be allowed.

The AUL are incredibly lenient to teams folding or reforming and coming back up divisions it really doesn’t deter teams from taking a sabbatical or moving about.

Last years division 1 standard was particularly poor. Banteer are a nice bunch but ageing and I don’t think either them or Hibs are capable of doing anything too major in Prem A.
Los Zarcos again are only average although a good club.

Rathcormac in particular & maybe Boher could well be up to Division one based on how they played last season

Donoughmore could be on the improve in my opinion and could surprise people and win a trophy or put up a good showing in the league (Top 3)

Feel hibs and Banteer are stronger sides than Corkbeg and Waterloo who went down in my opinion, the premier is over before is started if that coachford side stay together, the premier A will be a poor standard compared to previous years, Zarcos have improved every year, I’d be optimistic

**meballs** · 03/07/2025, 6:05 AM

Fair point on Los Zarcos they have improved yearly. I certainly am not knocking them in any way. They may improve again. There are very few teams from div 1 to div 3 that have anything to suggest they can progress up as far as premier A and stay there in my opinion at the moment.

**Average Baller** · 03/07/2025, 7:16 AM

Originally Posted by meballs

Fair point on Los Zarcos they have improved yearly. I certainly am not knocking them in any way. They may improve again. There are very few teams from div 1 to div 3 that have anything to suggest they can progress up as far as premier A and stay there in my opinion at the moment.

Biggest issue with the likes of Los Zarcos and Banteer is the GAA. They’re from GAA villages where soccer is only an afterthought. They’re only picking from a full squad from around October to February when you’re depending on weather to hold up to get games played. Don’t think you’ll ever see them consistently compete the top table for this reason, as we’re seeing with Watergrasshill now.

**meballs** · 03/07/2025, 9:30 AM

City teams have similar and player loyalty is an issue with a lot of players moving around clubs every year or two along with much more sport options in terms of GAA, gyms, rugby, mma etc
The rural teams are probably improving at a better rate than city teams currently in my opinion.
The rise of the shipping league (they like it being called that I think) which is generally city based has certainly had a negative impact on the strength in depth of city teams in the AUL. Fellas that were once your fringe players or subs etc are all gone to play for Jay Bazz or Andy Sulls Hair or Joe Bazz’s Toystore or whoever has set up that season.