Laura O'Mahony and O'Donovan Rossa have no fear of stepping up to senior

Cork LGFA senior Laura O’Mahony believes that O’Donovan Rossa has fully earned its place in the senior football championship ahead of an exciting 2025 season.

Last year ended in heartbreak for the West Cork club. In Annaghdown, county Galway, Rossa’s fell just short in their All-Ireland Intermediate semi-final, losing 1-12 to 1-9 to the hosts. While Annaghdown celebrated with their jubilant fans, a large traveling support from Skibbereen made sure to applaud O’Donovan Rossa off the pitch, showing their appreciation for the team’s efforts.

That loss was particularly tough for a club that had already claimed five major trophies over the previous two years. Having secured county, Munster and All-Ireland junior A titles in 2023, O’Donovan Rossa transitioned seamlessly to the intermediate ranks.

The Skibbereen side lost just once in the round-robin stage before clinching the Cork LGFA IFC title by defeating Naomh Abán in the final. 

Their provincial run saw them capture the Munster intermediate championship with a 0-10 to 0-7 victory over Limerick’s St Ailbe’s in Mallow.

DREAM

Alas, the dream of a second consecutive All-Ireland final ended in Galway when Annaghdown proved too strong in the semi-final.

Now, with promotion to the Cork LGFA senior ranks, O’Donovan Rossa is ready to face the new challenges 2025 will bring.

Why not? The West Cork club has proven its capabilities at both junior and intermediate levels, both within and beyond the county. 

Moreover, they have already gained valuable experience by facing senior teams during the county league in recent seasons.

Cork senior and O’Donovan Rossa captain Laura O’Mahony is confident that her team is ready to compete with the best in the county.

“The O’Donovan Rossa players have already stepped up, so I wouldn’t be worried in the slightest about us going up to senior,” O’Mahony said.

We’ve played some serious senior teams in the county league this year, and there are intermediate teams out there just as good as some senior ones.

“All of the O’Donovan Rossa players are looking forward to the challenge. I’m sure that after a few weeks of recovery and downtime, we’ll refocus and get ready for the new year.” 

County champions Aghada, Éire Óg, St Val’s, Glanmire and Mourneabbey are just some of the elite teams Rossa’s will face in this year’s senior county championship. Adding to the excitement is the prospect of West Cork derbies against Castlehaven, Clonakilty, and Kinsale.

Laura O’Mahony is eager to test herself against the best: “I’m so excited to play in the senior championship and to go up against the girls I train with for Cork,” she admitted.

“I always hear them talking about their senior championship fixtures and how they hate marking each other! We’ve had a bit of that over the last couple of years, but it will be great to join those conversations at Cork training sessions now too.

“It’s definitely going to be a big step up for us. But when you start playing football, it’s all about the enjoyment of representing your club. Of course, you’re playing to win, but the ultimate goal is to reach senior level and compete against the best players in the county.” 

SPECIAL

O’Mahony’s assertions are echoed by the man who helped Rossa to the top grade in the county. James O’Donovan and his players have enjoyed some amazing experiences over the past 24 months. What happens next is anyone’s guess but O’Donovan knows his players are capable of stepping up to the mark.

“This is a special team,” James O’Donovan agreed.

“Our supporters have gotten an awful lot out of this team over the last few years. 

The honesty and the commitment they’ve shown over the years and everything they’ve achieved is special.

“We lost an All-Ireland semi-final and that was hard to take for the players. I know, on reflection, we will have to give it a while, we’ll realise that this has probably been the two best sporting years of their lives.”