Aghada aspirations of retaining county lifted by winning league
Cork ladies football champions Aghada claimed this year's cork Credit Unions Division 1 County League title in preparation for the defence of their title.
County champions Aghada have boosted their Cork LGFA championship aspirations by adding a first Cork Credit Unions Division 1 county league trophy.
Eric Smith’s side overcame Glanmire 1-6 to 0-5 in this year’s Division 1 league decider thanks to Abigail Ring (1-2), Lauren Linehan (0-2), Róisín Phelan and Rachel Leahy (0-1 each) scores.
That victory capped off an unbeaten campaign that included wins over last year’s county finalists Éire Óg, O’Donovan Rossa, Mourneabbey, St Val’s and Kinsale.
Less than a year after becoming county senior champions for the first time, claiming an inaugural county league trophy shows that the Aghada LGFA panel has lost none of its hunger.
That is a trait that pleases senior manager Eric Smith as he and his backroom team prepare for the upcoming defence of their senior crown.
"The players hunger was never questioned, to be honest,’ Aghada’s senior manager commented.
"This group, I said it when we spoke straight after last year’s senior county final win, there was more to come from us. I still think that is the case.
"They’re a very ambitious group and keen to push on. They made that clear from the start really.
"We’ve been back training since early December and in the gym for the last eight or nine months. Attendance has been very high at training. So, there is no question about the girls’ ambition to keep pushing on."
Claiming a Division 1 county league title has not been a priority in recent times but Aghada’s second major trophy in 12 months shows the reigning county champions mean business in 2025.
"In recent years it was more about retaining our Division 1 status and being ready for the senior championship later in the summer," Smith admitted.
"That’s because, typically, we wouldn’t have had a lot of players available through college and inter-county commitments.
"This year was a little different in that there were a few more girls available to us. Some of the younger players became available when the Cork U16s got knocked out.
"One or two of our Cork seniors became available towards the latter end of the league which made us a little bit stronger. That proved to be beneficial.
"We were competitive in all our league games and, obviously, got the results we wanted as well.
"So, we found ourselves in a position where we were in the county league semi-final against Kinsale without ever really planning to be in it.
Aghada will begin the defence of their senior title in the group stage away to St Val’s before embarking on a three-game battle with West Cork LGFA representatives.
Home ties with newly-promoted O’Donovan Rossa and Castlehaven will sandwich a trip to Clonakilty.
No easy games as the cliché goes and four tough tests of the champions’ credentials. That’s nothing new for Eric Smith who guided Aghada to their first senior success last year.
"I think the whole Cork LGFA senior championship, things have crunched up in a way, in that there’s four or five teams capable of winning it now," Smith added.
"To be drawn against three West Cork teams is tough but at least we have got two of those teams at home.
"So, we are happy with that aspect of it. All those games are going to be competitive, no doubt about it.
"We have been down to Clonakilty over the last couple of years and you never get an easy game down there.
"We’ve got O’Donovan Rossa at home having recently played them in the county league.
"Same goes for Castlehaven and St Val’s.
"So, we expect to be put to the pin of our collar in all those games."
A battle-hardened panel that can call upon the talents of Cork senior captain Sarah Leahy, Rachel Leahy (back from long-term injury), Róisín Phelan, Briannagh McGrath (transferred from Waterford) and Abigail Ring is capable of making another Cork LGFA senior county title run.
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