Ioannis O’Connell takes charge of U14 ladies football team: There's an awful lot of talent in Cork

Ioannis O’Connell will be in charge of a new generation of Cork LGFA U14 footballers for the 2025 campaign.

A brand new season of LGFA inter-county football won’t be long materialising.

The opening rounds of the 2025 Munster LGFA U14 A and B championships are pencilled in for March. Provincial finals will take place in early April following the All-Ireland Blitz series and culminating in quarter-finals, semi-finals and Gold, Silver and Platinum graded sections.

Ioannis O’Connell is no stranger to the LGFA inter-county scene having coached at U14 and minor level in recent times.

Along with his backroom team, he will have finalised a panel before Christmas and then an intense pre-season.

“I was coaching the Cork U14s back in 2022 and 2023 under JJ Deasy’s management and thoroughly enjoyed it,” O’Connell said.

“The year gone by, I was coaching with the Cork minors under Jamie Cronin.

“So based on the experience I’d built up over that period of time, I decided to put my name forward to be the Cork U14 manager for the coming year. I am delighted to have gotten the opportunity.” 

O’Connell is already well known in Cork ladies football circles thanks to his refereeing exploits. The 42-year-old has put together an impressive backroom team and is eager to get going.

“For my sins, I’ve been refereeing for about five years now at this stage,” the new U14A inter-county manager commented.

“The refereeing has helped me see players from all around the county. Every year, I cover a lot of LGFA games between refereeing or from just going to watch. 

There is an awful lot of talented players throughout the county.

“I suppose having been involved with Cork teams for the last number of years, I have seen players develop at their clubs. A number of players I would have coached over the last number of years have progressed on to minor and senior.

"It’s great to see them develop. It can be a bit difficult when you’re refereeing them when they know you so well but they know the boundaries!

EXPERIENCED

"As for the coming year with the Cork U14As, I have Martin Nagle (Erin’s Own) in with me as a coach and selector. Mary Harrington (Ibane Ladies) will also be involved as a coach and selector. Cathal O’Callaghan (Coach/Selector, Mallow), John Callaghan (Coach/Selector, Grenagh), Colin McTaggart (Goalkeeping Coach, Nemo Rangers), Dylan Byrne (Athletic Development Coach, St Finbarr’s) and Miriam O’Connell (FLO, Dripsey) completes an experienced backroom team and everyone is just raring to go."

The U14 grade is hugely important as it represents a player’s first foray into LGFA inter-county football.

Importantly, development is the key element rather than winning at all costs. Utilising A and B panels, Cork U14s are able to give a huge number of players ample game time and an opportunity to show what they can do in both provincial and national inter-county match settings.

Cork won last year’s Munster LGFA U14A Gold title following a 4-11 to 1-6 victory over Tipperary and reached the All-Ireland Gold semi-finals. Under Paddy Lucey, the Cork U14 Bs added the Johnny Hayes (provincial) title for good measure thanks to a 1-14 to 1-9 defeat of Kerry.

“The key thing really about the U14 grade is to introduce players to the inter-county set-up, to the standards and the expectations of being part of an inter-county panel,” Ioannis O’Connell stated.

“Obviously, it is a big step from club football where players would be amongst the most important on their respective teams. At inter-county, they are playing against players of similar abilities and they soon learn why have to work even harder when representing Cork.

DEVELOPMENT

“At U14, it’s about introducing them to the inter-county level and giving them a taste of what’s to come if they have ambitions to progress with Cork as they grow older.

“That’s why I think having a Cork U14 B panel is very important. 

I have a very good relationship with manager John Fitzgerald and have seen his and his management team’s great work over the last few years.

“It is a development panel and I’ll be working in tandem with John to identify players that will work best within that setup."

Ioannis O’Connell will be anxious to continue the county’s impressive record at the U14 grade but, much more importantly, help future Cork senior footballers develop their skills.