Cork Premier Junior Hurling Championship

In March 2019, Cork County Board delegates voted on the restructuring of the entire Cork hurling championship system following an extensive review process.^[2][3] The plan hoped to reduce the number of teams in the top four tiers to 48, a move which required a restructuring of the intermediate and junior grades. The result was the creation of the Cork Lower Intermediate Hurling Championship, a two-year temporary championship which would result in several teams being regraded to Junior and the championship being eventually discontinued.^[4] In February 2022, the County Board took a further vote on the future of the club junior and intermediate championships.^[5] Delegates voted in favour of Option B which saw the Lower Intermediate Championship being rebranded as the Premier Junior Championship.^[6]

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.

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.

At the end of the championship, the winning team was automatically promoted to the Cork Intermediate A Championship for the following season. The two worst-ranked teams from the group stage took part in a playoff, with the losing team being relegated to the Cork Junior A Championship.

The 12 teams due to compete in the 2026 Cork Premier Junior Hurling Championship include:

Team	Location	Division	Colours	Position in 2025	In Championship since	Championship titles (JAHC)	Last championship title (JAHC)
Argideen Rangers	Timoleague	Carbery	Maroon and white	Quarter-finals	2022	1	1996
Ballygarvan	Ballygarvan	Carrigdhoun	Red and white	Semi-finals	2022	1	2004
Barryroe	Barryroe	Carbery	Blue and navy	Relegation playoff winners	2022	1	2007
Cloughduv	Cloughduv	Muskerry	Green and yellow	Semi-finals	2025	3	2018
Glen Rovers	Blackpool	Seandún	Green, yellow and black	Runners-up	2022	2	1950
Mayfield	Mayfield	Seandún	Red and white	Relegated from Cork IAHC	2026	2	2016
Milford	Milford	Avondhu	Blue and white	Group stage	2022	1	1981
Nemo Rangers	Trabeg	Seandún	Black and green	Group stage	2024	2	2023
St. Catherine's	Ballynoe	Imokilly	Purple and yellow	Quarter-finals	2022	2	2017
St. Finbarr's	Togher	Seandún	Blue and yellow	Group stage	2022	3	1956
Tracton	Tracton	Carrigdhoun	Green and red	Group stage	2025	3	2024
Cork JAHC winners (Ballinora / Kilshannig)	TBD (Ballinora / Glantane)	TBD (Avondhu / Muskerry)	TBD	Cork JAHC winners	2026	1	2025

Co-Op Superstores were unveiled as the title sponsor for all of Cork GAA's hurling championships in July 2020.^[7]

The Cork Premier Junior Championship winners qualify for the subsequent Munster Junior Club Hurling Championship.^[8]

The Jimmy O'Mahony Cup is the current prize for winning the championship. It was commissioned to honour Jimmy O'Mahony who served as secretary of the Newcestown club from 1967 until his death in September 2020.^[9]

In accordance with GAA rules, the County Board awards a set of gold medals to the championship winners. The medals depict a stylised version of the Cork GAA crest.