Neil Lordan on Ballinora's football success last year: The stuff of dreams, it meant so much

Ballinora wouldn’t have been one of the fancied sides in the McCarthy Insurance Group IAFC last year, but when all was said and done, they were the last team standing.

It turned out to be a memorable campaign for the Muskerry side as they claimed glory in November after beating Ilen Rovers in the final after an epic replay.

It was Ballinora’s first county crown since winning the Junior A football in 1997 and it was their first time winning the IAFC.

Neil Lordan played a huge role in getting his side over the line. The defender, who made his debut for the Cork senior footballers last season is going travelling this year, is only too delighted to look back on Ballinora’s historic success.

“No one would have put us as one of the contenders at the start of the year other than the Ballinora players and management,” he says.

“I suppose the manner that we won the county was just unreal. We got through the group by the scrape of our teeth, but things opened up after that for us. We beat Gabriel Rangers and Kilmurry before beating Ilen Rovers in the final.

“We did it the hard way, but what an honour and what a journey. It was just unbelievable stuff, the stuff of dreams. I’m so glad we were able to get it done for the management and players alike because Ballinora football had been through a lot of bad years.

“We were playing the hurling county semi-final the weekend after the football win, which we didn’t mind at all. But it’s kind of only now that you can take a step back and look at the year and it’s hard to believe that we won the championship.” 

Ballinora’s trajectory has been there for all to see. In 2023, they beat Glenville in the relegation play-off, the following year, they missed out on the knockout stages on scoring difference and in 2025, they went all the way to glory.

“Last year was my sixth season on the team, the only year we got out of the group was in my first year in 2020,” Lordan said.

“We lost the quarter-final to Rockchapel that year. In 2023, we were in the relegation play-off.

“But it’s credit to the management. The same management has been involved with us since the start of the 2023 campaign and they stuck with us. I’m really happy for them that they were able to get a taste of success.” 

It just shows that the restructuring of the championships has worked. The final of the McCarthy Insurance Group IAFC showed that. Both Ballinora and Ilen Rovers were two very even teams.

It was no surprise really that it went to a replay and then extra-time. Kevin Werner was the hero when he scored a last-gasp goal to win the county for Ballinora by two points.

In the drawn game, Lordan had to kick a two-point free to make sure there would be another day out.

“I think if we went out and played Ilen Rovers again tomorrow there would only be a point or two between us again.

“The first day we missed a lot of chances and we were lucky to level it at the end. But then in the second game, we were in complete control and then Ilen Rovers took over. 

"We probably thought that we were dead and buried and then Kevin Werner out of nowhere decided to go for goal instead of a point and here we are.

“It meant so much to so many people. It’s the same as most small communities in Ireland. The GAA is the heartbeat of the community. Even when we went into the local primary school with the trophy to see what it meant to the kids was class.

“Even after the county final, shaking people’s hands. There were people shedding tears. I had never seen scenes like it.

“It was just great for so many people who put so much work into the club.” 

Ballinora will face Muskerry rivals Naomh Abán, Fermoy and Nemo Rangers’ second team in their 2026 McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC group.

“The teams probably will be glad to have us in the group to be honest because we’re just up and we’re young.

“But listen, we’re looking forward to it and we’re just going to have a right cut off it. Facing Naomh Abán will be an interesting one for many reasons. We’ve all seen in the paper as to who they’re after bringing in.

“But even if they didn’t put together a great management team, they have quality players.

“They will take serious beating.”