O'Donovan Rossa look for U21 boost but know Senior A grade is a serious step up
O'Donovan Rossa's Kevin Davis tries to get away from Kanturk's Ryan Walsh, during their Senior AFC clash in Kilmichael. Picture: David Keane.
Senior A football club O’Donovan Rossa are focusing on their underage structure to build a sustainable future.
2025 marks the West Cork club’s fifth year at the senior A grade. Since its inception, O’Donovan Rossa has reached two county semi-finals (2020 and 2022) but failed to emerge from the group stages on three other occasions.
New manager Gene Hourihane and Head Coach Shane Crowley are eager to integrate some of the club’s promising young talent into this year’s Senior A football county championship squad.
Under Hourihane’s guidance, the Skibbereen club reached the 2024 Cork U21 B county semi-finals but fell short against St Nicks. Now, as Hourihane takes on the senior football managerial role, he is optimistic about younger players making an impact at the senior level.
“We’re working to bring the U21 players in gradually,” Hourihane explained. “A few of them, like Niall Daly and Frank Hurley, are already involved. Frank is also part of the Cork minors and U20 squads. Isaac Harte and Jack O’Brien have come up from the U21 panel as well.
“Our U21s are unique because this year, we’re only losing three players from the panel, and the average age of the group is 18.
“That’s exciting for the club. If we can develop the rest of these players over the next two years, we could see great results.
The success of O’Donovan Rossa’s underage system is pivotal for its long-term ambitions. Hourihane is full of praise for the efforts of the club’s coaches and mentors.
“We have a brilliant underage system right now,” he said.
“All of our underage coaches are working hard under the guidance of Chairman Liam Hurley, who is driving the club forward. We have some excellent teams coming up.
“At senior level, our immediate goal is to maintain our status in Senior A while gradually integrating underage players and building the team back up to where we believe it belongs.”
The long-term blueprint is in place, but the immediate challenge is this year’s Senior A championship. O’Donovan Rossa faces a tough group stage, competing against Bishopstown, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, and West Cork rivals Dohenys.
Last season, a win one-point victory over Fermoy was achieved thanks to a terrific team display and Kevin Davis’ haul of 1-6. A heavy 3-16 to 0-8 loss to Kanturk left Rossa needing a victory against Dohenys in a decisive group match. However, Dohenys prevailed 2-16 to 1-10, ending Rossa’s campaign at the group stage.
“Senior A is the toughest grade, and we’ve learned that over the past few years,” Hourihane admitted.
“This year, we’re up against Bishopstown, Béal Átha’n Ghaorthaidh, and Dohenys. Bishopstown is a fantastic club with a very strong team. Ballingeary is tough to beat, and we face Dohenys almost every year at underage and senior levels, so we know each other very well.”
Although the Senior A championship is still months away, Hourihane and Crowley are laying the groundwork for a productive season through hard work in the winter and New Year.
How well Rossa’s new management team integrate their youngsters with an experienced senior panel will dictate the Carbery club’s fortunes over the coming year.
“Our current focus is to get our heads down and work hard to bring ourselves back up,” Hourihane concluded.
“The quality in this grade is exceptional, and nobody can take anyone else for granted.
“That’s exactly what we aim to achieve with the current group of U21s.”
Frank Hurley, Niall Daly, Isaac Harte and Jack O’Brien are just some of the U21s one of West Cork’s most famous clubs, O’Donovan Rossa, is building its immediate and long-term future on.
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