O'Donovan Rossa ladies football side have much to look forward to in 2025

West Cork club O’Donovan Rossa’s season may have ended at the AIB LGFA All-Ireland semi-finals stage but the Cork and Munster intermediate champions have much to look forward to in 2025.

The tear-stained faces of the O’Donovan Rossa players said it all as they made the long trudge back to the changing rooms in Annaghdown last Sunday.

Once there, the sanctuary of that room allowed the squad and mentors a few welcome and private moments to begin the process of dealing with the fact their season was over.

A 1-12 to 1-9 AIB All-Ireland LGFA intermediate semi-final loss to the host club and Connacht champions ended Rossa’s dreams of making it to Croke Park.

So near, yet so far, but there were no complaints with the outcome emanating from the West Cork club. By their own admission, the better team won and led by six heading into injury-time when a late Allie Tobin goal offered the faintest glimmer of hope.

It wasn’t to be. Annaghdown emerged victorious and progressed to the All-Ireland intermediate final on Saturday, December 14th.

Hopefully, the long bus journey home offered O’Donovan Rossa’s players ample time to reflect and realise how far they have come. 

The sting of disappointment at not reaching Croke Park will, again hopefully, have been replaced by a welcome opportunity to properly celebrate their 2024 county and provincial triumphs.

In less than two years, Rossa’s have accumulated five major LGFA titles. Yet, their greatest achievement cannot be quantified by an accumulation of trophies. 

The way this panel of female footballers galvanised Skibbereen town, its GAA club and surrounding areas to generate massive followings to all of their matches is this O’Donovan Rossa’s team’s legacy.

Even more importantly, the journey continues as 2025 marks Rossa’s first foray into the Cork LGFA senior ranks. 

Now, a fresh challenge awaits a club that’s dominated junior and intermediate grades at both county and provincial level for the past 24 months. How Rossa’s fare at the top tier of Cork LGFA club football will be one of the most interesting stories of next year’s campaign.

O’Donovan Rossa join fellow West Cork LGFA clubs Clonakilty and Kinsale as well as old rivals Castlehaven. 

Add to that list, newly crowned senior county champions Aghada, rejuvenated St Val’s, Glanmire and perennial challengers Éire Óg. 

Don’t forget a Mourneabbey club that will be eager to remind the rest of the county and country that they have not gone away.

Whoever they draw in the opening stages, O’Donovan Rossa know there will be no easy games having already faced senior opposition in the county leagues. 

Bottom line, acclimatising to life at senior level requires an increased effort on their previous trophy-laden seasons.

The good news, assuming everyone returns to the fold, is that O’Donovan Rossa possess the raw material to more than hold their own next year. A sizeable squad backed by a junior A team and with plenty of minor talent coming through offers hope.

Ella Hayes has been one of Rossa’s biggest positives of 2024. 

The young goalkeeper has made the number one jersey her own and proved a safe pair of hands throughout the year. Being part of a successful Munster campaign will also have benefitted Hayes heading into the senior grade.

Much of Rossa’s county and provincial intermediate ‘double’ was down to the Skibbereen club’s defence. 

The most improved area of Rossa’s setup over the past twelve months was regularly anchored by a full-back line comprising of Michelle Donnellan, Aoife Whooley and Allie Tobin.

That trio had an equally adept half-back line playing in front of them. Throughout the past year, O’Donovan Rossa’s Fiona Leonard, Sarah Hurley, Emer McCarthy and Lisa Harte occupied various roles in their team’s half-back division. 

All four helped solidify Rossa’s defence and was also the launchpad for numerous attacks.

Cork senior Laura O’Mahony and Triona Murphy’s tireless work rate around the centre of the pitch was a constant positive.

Up front, the Skibbereen club didn’t lack for attacking talent with Jessica Beechinor, Kate O’Donovan, Éabha O’Donovan, Fionnuala O’Driscoll and Mallaidh O’Neill regularly on the scoreboard.

So, O’Donovan Rossa possess the personnel to build on a successful two-year period and make their mark at senior in 2025.