NEW managers will patrol the sidelines for Castlehaven, Clonakilty and O’Donovan Rossa when the 2026 Cork Credit Unions Cork LGFA Division 1 county league gets underway.

Cork LGFA have pencilled in next weekend, March 22nd and 23rd, as the starting point for this year’s county leagues.

Little doubt that the headline-grabbing match of the opening round is the Division 1 Group 1 clash of West Cork rivals O’Donovan Rossa and Clonakilty in Skibbereen.

This year’s opening league local derby will also mark the debuts of new O’Donovan Rossa senior manager George Lane and his Clonakilty counterpart Michael Pattwell.

The two sides met in the group stage of last summer’s senior county championship with Rossas emerging 3-9 to 2-9 winners in Ahamilla – Sinead O’Donovan netted twice for Clonakilty but Laura O’Mahony (2) and Éabha O’Donovan goals helped O’Donovan Rossa edge a close encounter.

Following that, Rossas went all the way to a senior B county final only to come up short to Glanmire. Clonakilty also reached the senior B last four before losing to the eventual champions.

Kinsale are the third West Cork LGFA club drawn in Group 1 of the top division. Having reached last year’s league semi-finals, Kinsale lost to O’Donovan Rossa in the senior B last four.

Newly-promoted Carrigaline and 2025 Division 1 runners-up Glanmire are the other clubs drawn in Group 1. The former defeated Bantry Blues 3-8 to 2-9 in last year’s Division 2 league decider and will host Glanmire in the opening round.

Castlehaven will fly the West Cork LGFA flag in Division 1 Group 2 where Finbarr Santry has taken over the senior managerial responsibilities. Last September, a young Haven squad overcame Bride Rovers 6-10 to 1-5 to retain their senior status following a relegation play-off. Before that, a third place Group 2 finish saw Castlehaven narrowly miss out on a Division 1 county league semi-final berth.

The Haven travel to St Val’s on the opening weekend while last year’s Division 1 winners and senior county runners-up, Aghada, are in Ballyvourney for a meeting with Naomh Abán. Mourneabbey make up a strong Division 1 Group 2 line-up.

Bantry Blues begin their Division 2 Group 2 campaign away to Bishopstown. Valley Rovers are also on their travels, taking on Inch Rovers in Group 1 of the same division.