Cork LGFA minor players putting in the hard work ahead of the Munster Championship

The Cork LGFA minors hope all their hard work completed over the winter and New Year periods pays off once the 2025 Munster Championship gets underway.

Manager Kieran O’Shea and his backroom team used the winter months to prepare the Cork minors for the season ahead. 

Now into the New Year, managing training-load and ensuring sufficient rest is undertaken are the two most important items on O’Shea’s agenda.

For 2025, Cork’s minor coaching line-up includes Roisin Long, Martin Crummey and Paddy Lucey (Selector/Coach), Karen Casey (FLO), Ciara Murphy and Clodagh O’Connor (Strength and Conditioning), Canice Kennedy (Sports Performance Coach), Ger Lombard (Goalkeeping Coach), Katie Nagle (Physio), Jonathon Lenihan (Stats and Video Analyst), Jonny Holland and Aoife O’Sullivan (Nutritionists).

“We completed a few training sessions before Christmas but, because a lot of the girls had long seasons last year, we decided to take a two-week break to help recharge the batteries,” Kieran O’Shea commented.

“We just felt that they needed a break and to come back fresh in the New Year. They have completed a good few training sessions now. The girls are undergoing a Strength and Conditioning programme too. 

"They also had a talk with Jonny Holland, one of our nutritionists, recently as well.

“Everything is going well and they are a good group. We have a few challenge games lined up in January and February and they will help us with our build-up to our first Munster Championship game.” 

The Rebels begin their provincial campaign at home to Waterford on Saturday, March 1st. Cork visit Limerick on the 22nd of that month before travelling to Tipperary seven days later. 

A second home championship game sees Clare visiting leeside on Saturday, April 5th. Cork conclude the round-robin section of their Munster LGFA championship away to Kerry on Saturday, April 19th before, hopefully, contesting a provincial final on Saturday, March 3rd.

Last year, a talented Cork minor panel’s hopes of All-Ireland glory were ended by Kerry in the Munster ‘A’ decider held in Mallow. 

Two Kerry goals saw the Rebels down 2-7 to 0-5 at the interval. Comfortably maintaining their lead, a third and decisive goal cemented Kerry’s victory, 3-10 to 0-13.

It may be a worn cliché but Kieran O’Shea knows, from his previous Cork U16 inter-county management role, that there are no easy games at minor inter-county level. 2025 will be no different.

“No, there are no easy games at this level,” the Cork LGFA minor manager agreed.

“All the Munster counties are improving. There is a huge amount of work being done inside and outside the province. 

"You can see that everyone is getting better. We are not going to take anything for granted.

“That first game against Waterford on March 1st is our only focus. All we are looking for is the girls to work as hard as they can and, hopefully, we will put in a performance.” 

Whether or not Cork pick up any silverware this year, preparing the minor panel for the step up to senior inter-county will be of equal importance to Kieran O’Shea and his management team.

“When you look at a county like Dublin who have won All-Ireland’s at senior but not at minor in recent years, they are still managing to bring a lot of players through,” O’Shea stated.

“I suppose the end game is developing these players and getting them ready for senior. Getting them used to the training demands, increased strength and conditioning and different playing styles so they can integrate into senior is what this (minor) is all about.

“For us, we have to make sure the girls have a positive experience at minor level and that they enjoy it. 

"Playing minor is a huge commitment and many of the girls will be sitting their Leaving Certificate this year. 

"So, they are at an age where there is an awful lot of stuff going on in their lives.

“We can see that the players on our minor panel have worked on their game and improved since last year. 

"So, again, we must make sure they have a good experience and that is the inspiration for them to move on to the senior A and B teams in the next couple of years.”