Glanmire eager to have strong league season

Glanmire selector Wayne O’Donnell says everyone involved with the team are determined to have a strong league campaign as the new season gets going this weekend.

They face Boherbue away from home on Sunday morning in the McCarthy Insurance Group Division 4 Football League at 11.30am.

Glanmire, who won the IAFC title in 2024, certainly endured a Jekyll and Hyde campaign last year with five wins and four defeats in their league season.

“We had a slow start to our season last year and we were on the backfoot then,” O’Donnell says.

“We were fighting for relegation after a few games and then went on a good run. We are eager to start well this time and we are going after every game. We are looking for performances and results in as many games as possible.

“If you look at the different leagues in Cork over the last few years, all of the teams who got promoted have more often than not been at the business end when championship comes around.

“We are going into our third season in Division 4, so we want to kick on this year to see if we can get promoted. From a team perspective, playing Boherbue on Sunday is actually a good thing for us.

“We have had plenty of history with them over the last few years. I know we beat them in a county final in 2024, but we have played them on a good number of occasions besides that. There has always been only a kick of a ball between us.

“Playing in their patch will be tough. Whatever how much teams have done on the pitch in recent weeks, the history and rivalry will always be there.

“Preparation has been challenging for every team. We haven’t done much on the pitch. We were able to get in a couple of challenge games. It has been more gym and fitness work. There’s nothing you can do at the moment with the weather. It will all come down to who works harder and battles harder."

Glanmire lost to Aghada at the quarter-final stage in the McCarthy Insurance Group PIFC last year. Trying to build on that will be the target now for Mark Hopkins’ charges.

They have Uibh Laoire, Bantry Blues and Rockchapel in their championship group.

“We have a good young team at the moment and a great structure,” O’Donnell said.

“We know that the league is very important for us this year as we need to be fully prepared before going into the championship.

“We have Uibh Laoire in the first round, they are the best team in this championship at the moment. They were very unlucky to lose the final last year against Aghabullogue.

“We know that momentum goes a long way nowadays in the congested calendar.”