New Cork ladies football manager Joe Carroll: We're working away to put a panel together

Joe Carroll and the Cork LGFA seniors begin 2025 with a testing Lidl LGFA National League Division 2 campaign that includes four difficult road trips.

The new Cork LGFA manager is readying himself for a hectic first year in charge. Having won All-Ireland’s at minor level and guiding Éire Óg to consecutive county senior final appearances, Caroll has surrounded himself with an impressive backroom team including former Castlehaven Premier SFC winning manager James McCarthy.

First up for the Rebels is a Division 2 National League odyssey that includes road trips to Galway, Tipperary, Monaghan and Donegal. Home fixtures against Westmeath, Clare and Roscommon complete a testing line-up.

Hitting the ground running will be important for Carroll and his players as they look to make an immediate return to the top division. It is a busy time but the new Cork LGFA senior manager is enjoying the process.

“It's been extremely hectic,” Carroll admitted.

“The new Cork management team is settling in well. At the moment, we’re all working away to try and put a panel together and get a bit of fitness work done. 

We will have a good bank of work completed coming into January.

“The fixtures are going to be coming hard and fast when we go to January, February and March so we need to be ready So far, it’s going well even though it’s extremely busy.” 

CRITICAL

Before the matches start, this is a critical time of the year for all inter-county managers including Joe Carroll. Securing pitches and getting organised represents the necessary groundwork that people on the outside don’t see.

“I suppose Irish weather isn’t going to be suitable for training at this (late) time of the year anymore,” the Cork LGFA senior manager added.

“Every inter-country team in the country is going to be the same, whether it be ladies or men. We are trying to get pitches and astros and things like that and we’ve had to contend with college games there for a while as well.

“I wouldn’t say that has been disruptive but it does put a bit of pressure on the girls because they’re doing so much (at this time of the year).

“We’re managing away as best we can. Hopefully, we come out the other end of it in January and we’ll be ready for the first match.” 

Having a Ballincollig base for the Cork inter-county squads' strength and conditioning programs is a vital and necessary addition.

“Having that base to work from is huge,” Carroll commented.

“It would be great if we get a base for a pitch as well. It is the same with every other team in Cork in that it is difficult jumping from one pitch to the other because of the weather.

Our Ballincollig facility is great because even sessions the players are not doing collectively in the gym, they can go there in groups themselves to get it done. 

"Not having to access a gym anywhere else is a big plus, especially at this time of the year.” 

2025 National League Division 2 Fixtures: 

Sunday, January 26 v Westmeath (H);

Sunday, February 2 v Galway (A); 

Sunday, February 9 v Tipperary (A); 

Sunday, February 23 v Monaghan (A);

Sunday, March 2 v Roscommon (H);

Sunday, March 23 v Clare (H); 

Sunday, March 30 v Donegal (A); 

Saturday, April 12 – Division 2 National League final.