Seán O'Donoghue on how becoming a father has changed his perspective on sport 

Cork hurler Seán O’Donoghue is coming into the new season with confidence after a brilliant 2025 season for the Inniscarra star.

O’Donoghue arguably played his best hurling in a Rebel jersey last year and he was rewarded with an All-Star. It was a season where he fully focused on playing after Robert Downey took over the captaincy from him.

O’Donoghue was captain in 2024 when the Leesiders lost the All-Ireland final to Clare.

Cork would lose at the last hurdle again last season after Tipperary prevailed. Despite the disappointment, O’Donoghue looks back on the year with perspective.

“2025 was my most enjoyable year on a personal level. I don’t know why that was the case, I think it’s just down to perspective really. Having my 18-month-old son Robbie at home as well has helped me.

“It really just shows that sport is sport and it makes everything more enjoyable. It made training more enjoyable, it made matches more enjoyable.

“You wouldn’t think about the small things or fear of making mistakes as much because you know Robbie doesn’t care less. Either way you’re going to go back home. I think that kind of just made the whole year more enjoyable as well, just coming from training and matches to see him.” 

Cork are the holders of the Allianz Division 1A Hurling League title going into the new season, which gets underway on Sunday week for the Rebels.

Waterford are the visitors to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the opener.

“You want to win every game. Every player is going to try their hardest in every game. But as for whether the management plans to try new things or whatever, I’ve no idea.

“At the moment, it’s just running, there hasn’t been a lot of ball work done to be fair. We will use the league as a springboard for the championship.

“In Munster, the so-called worst team can beat the so-called best team on any given day. So it’s a lottery in terms of every team is brilliant there. It’s obviously going to be important to show up in every game.

“And that’s going to come from just enjoying it as well. It is hard to get out of Munster, but not every team has the privilege of playing in Munster either.”