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Cork Business League Divisions Confirmed for 2025 Short Season!

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Since its inception in 1952, the Cork Business League has always been a progressive league. We pride ourselves in supporting local Cork businesses while also allowing larger organisations to join the the league, we were one of the first leagues in the country to trial the new 5 substitutes rule (previously 3), and we re-branded in 2019 with new social media platforms and new objectives to meet.

This season we continue our progressive nature by moving to a short season to facilitate the introduction of a Calendar Season in 2026 (Full details here: CBL Announces Transition to Calendar Season). We believe this is a sign of good things to come for the long-term improvement of our league. We have also committed to working with the FAI and all clubs to achieve their Club Mark Award before the deadline of December 2025.

The CBL Management Committee has the power to regulate its own procedures and to take any whatever action it deems necessary in order to promote and / or uphold the integrity of the CBL. Without prejudice, the Management Committee determines, in its absolute discretion, the structure and format of all League and Cup competitions, including how teams (and how many teams) are promoted and relegated each season.

For the 2025 Short season, we have 24 clubs spanning across 3 divisions; the CBL Grandons Toyota Premier Division (comprised of 8 teams), the CBL Dennehy’s Health & Fitness First Division (comprised of 8 teams) and the CBL Second Division (comprised of 8 teams). See below for the list of teams in each Division and further details around Fixtures, Promotion & Relegation.

CBL Grandons Toyota Premier Division 2025:

  1. ARC Rovers
  2. Cork Hospitals
  3. Dennehy’s Health & Fitness Grangevale
  4. Doolan’s Cow
  5. HELIO Inter Cork
  6. Jay Bazz
  7. Longboats
  8. Martin Harvey Solicitors

The CBL Grandons Toyota Premier Division 2025 consists of 8 teams, with everyone playing each other twice; Once at home, and once away.

CBL Dennehy’s Health & Fitness First Division 2025:

  1. Abbey Business
  2. Cork County Council
  3. Data Centre Technologies
  4. Here’s Health
  5. Irish Sepsis Foundation Ballyphehane Celtic
  6. SABOR Braziil Giants
  7. The LAB
  8. The Weigh Inn Dripsey Celtic

The CBL Dennehy’s Health & Fitness First Division 2025 consists of 8 teams, with everyone playing each other twice; Once at home, and once away.

CBL Second Division 2025

  1. Alex Landscaping Ukraine
  2. ePower East Cork Athletic
  3. Fisherman’s Rest Valley Rangers
  4. Marlboro Trust
  5. MSL Engineering
  6. O’Brien Scaffolding
  7. Pfizer
  8. Stryker Macroom

The CBL Second Division 2025 consists of 8 teams, with everyone playing each other twice; Once at home, and once away.

Promotion & Relegation into next season (2026 Calendar Season)

  • 2 teams are to be relegated from the CBL Grandons Toyota Premier Division to the CBL Dennehy’s Health & Fitness First Division at the end of the 2025 season.
  • 2 teams are to be promoted to the CBL Grandons Toyota Premier Division from the CBL Dennehy’s Health & Fitness First Division at the end of the 2025 season.
  • 2 teams are to be relegated from the CBL Dennehy’s Health & Fitness First Division to the CBL Second Division at the end of the 2025 season.
  • 2 teams are to be promoted to the CBL Dennehy’s Health & Fitness First Division from the CBL Second Division at the end of the 2025 season.

In the event that the number of teams entering the Cork Business League for the 2026 season increases or decreases, the number of Divisions may change, as may the numbers of teams promoted/relegated.

The Calendar for the 2025 Short Season is as follows:

  • 22 gameweeks across weekend and midweek fixtures.
  • 3 divisions of 8 teams
  • All teams play each other twice in their respective division
    • once at home (7 league games)
    • once away (7 league games)
    • Total = 14 league games
  • Divisional Cups begin at the Quarter Final stage (Start Date of these is TBC).
  • Requests for free weekends can still be made however a reduced number of these will be granted, or none at all, in comparison to previous seasons.

Calendar:

  1. 1st – 3rd August
  2. Midweek
  3. 8th – 10th August
  4. Midweek
  5. 15th – 17th August
  6. Midweek
  7. 22nd – 24th August
  8. Midweek
  9. 29th – 31st August
  10. 5th – 7th Sept
  11. 12th – 14th Sept
  12. 19th – 21st Sept
  13. 26th – 28th Sept
  14. 3rd – 4th October
  15. 10th – 12th October
  16. 17th – 19th October
  17. 24th – 26th October
  18. 31st October – 2nd November
  19. 7th – 9th November
  20. 14th – 16th November
  21. 21st – 23rd November
  22. 28th – 30th November

Our Opening Delegate Meeting takes place Tuesday 22nd July in Turners Cross Stadium (Details here)

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