Reardens Ladies Football All-Star team is led by county champions Éire Óg

The 2025 Reardens Bar Cork LGFA Team of the Year is dominated by first-time senior A county champions Éire Óg.

The event will take place on Sunday, January 4 in Reardens Bar at 8pm.

Unsurprisingly, tears flowed as soon as this year’s county decider’s replay ended with Éire Óg victorious over previous champions Aghada. 

This reaction was to be expected as the core of the winning panel experienced defeat in all four previous county deciders.

The champions’ Reardens Bar Team of the Year representatives are joined by four of the championship’s runners-up, Aghada. Mourneabbey (two), and St. Val’s (two) are represented as well as senior B county winners, Glanmire.

Éire Óg’s Ruby Halligan played a key role in her side’s county success. 

The goalkeeper conceded a meagre six goals en-route to the title and made vital stops in both the county final and replay.

Halligan’s teammate, Méabh Cahalane, was an effective presence in Éire Óg’s back division throughout a lengthy campaign. 

Considering her dual county and Munster Camogie winning commitments with St Finbarr’s, Cahalane’s influence en route to Éire Óg’s success, was immense.

St Val’s run to this season’s county semi-finals owed much to the defensive efforts of Aileen Corkery. 

Beaten by eventual champions Éire Óg in the last four, Corkery was one of her club’s most consistent players.

The Team of the Year’s full-back slot goes to Aghada’s Sally McAllister. 

Always dependable on the edge of the square, McAllister was regularly tasked with marking her opposition’s top forwards and rarely put a foot wrong.

The same is true of McAllister’s Aghada team-mate, Rachel Leahy. One of the county final and replay’s outstanding performers, Leahy’s ability to get up and down the pitch helped put the seal on a terrific individual campaign.

Former Cork senior Róisín Phelan was another Aghada stalwart to consistently deliver quality displays throughout the season. Phelan’s second consecutive Team of the Year accolade underlines her importance to Aghada’s setup.

OUTSTANDING

In midfield or defence, Shauna Cronin enjoyed a marvellous year for Éire Óg. That was topped off by outstanding displays in the two-game marathon county final and replay victory. 

The Cork senior panellist looks set for another stellar season.

Mourneabbey’s Ciara O’Sullivan rolled back the years and proved one of her club’s most consistent scorers throughout a productive league campaign and county semi-finals appearance. 

The former inter-county stalwart remains an integral part of her club’s senior team.

Sadbh McGoldrick’s dominance of the middle third played a huge role in Éire Óg becoming county champions. 

McGoldrick’s versatility and selfless efforts were as impressive as her distribution.

Aghada’s top scorer, Kaitlin Smith, was instrumental in helping deliver her club’s inaugural Division 1 county league title success. 

Dominant at centre-forward throughout the championship, Smith created as many scores as she converted.

Cork senior Emma Cleary underlined her value to Éire Óg with two points in the county final and three in the replay. 

One of the county’s hardest-working players, Cleary’s guile and creativity helped her club finally get over the line to become county champions.

Niamh McAllen ended the year as Glanmire’s top scorer from open play in the county league. 

A regular scorer in their senior B county championship success, McAllen’s 1-3 against Kilmurry/Ibrickane helped Glanmire also lift the Munster senior B trophy.

BRIGHT

Laura Walsh emerged as one of the county’s brightest prospects over the past 12 months. The rising star chipped in with important scores throughout Mourneabbey’s senior campaign as well as excelling in Cork’s All-Ireland LGFA minor title success.

Along with her older sister Méabh, Orlaith Cahalane played a starring role in Éire Óg’s first senior championship triumph. 

The inter-county forward was a nightmare for defenders all year.

One of St Val’s most consistent scorers throughout 2025, Ciara McCarthy’s effort in front of goal helped her club reach the last four of the county championship. 

McCarthy’s 1-5 in the semi-final loss to champions Éire Óg underlined her class.

2025 Reardens Bar Cork LGFA Team of the Year: 

Ruby Halligan (Éire Óg); 

Aileen Corkery (St Val’s), Sally McAllister (Aghada), Méabh Cahalane (Éire Óg); 

Rachel Leahy (Aghada), Róisín Phelan (Aghada), Shauna Cronin (Éire Óg); 

Ciara O’Sullivan (Mourneabbey), Sadbh McGoldrick (Éire Óg); 

Kaitlin Smith (Aghada), Emma Cleary (Éire Óg), Niamh McAllen (Glanmire); 

Laura Walsh (Mourneabbey), Orlaith Cahalane (Éire Óg), Ciara McCarthy (St Val’s).