Sam Doherty was a leading light in Cork soccer both for her club Clonakilty and the Youth League

There was a huge sense of sadness around Cork football circles, especially at Clonakilty AFC and the Cork Youth League, with the sad news of the very likeable Sam Doherty passing away recently.

Sam had been secretary of Clonakilty AFC for a number of years when she answered an advertisement from the Cork Youth Leagues when they were looking for new members of the management committee, and she became the first female member.

The Cork Youth League chairman Sean O’Sullivan explains how it came about that the late Sam joined the committee.

“When we met with Sam at first we just knew she was the right person that was was needed to help the League move forward,” Sean said.

“We had female involvement previously in the League as delegates and club members, but Sam was the first female to join the management committee.

“While Sam resided in Clonakilty, however, she was always at the meetings when they were scheduled.

"As the introduction of new technology and digital methodologies were gaining popularity in the FAI and within the local leagues, it was here where Sam came to the fore. 

"She was up to speed with all the latest advances and attended all the workshops on the way forward. 

"She needed to be for her home club for their registrations and working with the FAI Connect App, which was being rolled out to all leagues.

"Her computer skills and knowledge of the systems were an invaluable asset to the league, while many were struggling to move and adapt to the new ways, Sam was the go-to person for many of us.

"She helped as the Cork Youth League transitioned from match cards and paper referee reports to the new digital system.

“Sam was part of the group who were invited to City Hall to celebrate 20 years of the Cork Youth League by Cllr Dan Boyle. 

"An historic evening as the new CEO of the FAI David Corell joined with the founding members of the Cork Youth Leagues in the Lord Mayor's Office to celebrate our 20-year birthday.

“Sam loved the FAI inter-league competitions. 

"It was a chance to travel out of Cork to fixtures and she was with us in Charleville in 2025 when we won back the MFA Cup. 

"The FAI final was played in Fairview Park in Limerick and Sam was there to see the CYL pick up the FAI inter-league cup. 

"This past year it was a reduced Munster competition, but Sam was with us in Fermoy, with Alex and Luke when we overcame Limerick District League in the MFA Final.

“Shortly after this final Sam was taken ill and spent time in hospital. 

"She kept in touch as to how we were progressing. The team were successful and were crowned FAI Youth Inter League Champions in St Colman's Park and were presented with the winner's trophy by the president of the FAI Paul Cooke."

A winner's medal from that success was kept in a safe place for to be presented to Sam at a later date. 

That later date arrived on April 26 when Clonakilty U19 team played Carrigaline in Ballea Park to clinch the U19 League 1A title. 

It was a great family occasion as Sam’s two sons, Alex and Luke, contributed to the victory. 

Prior to the presentation of the league trophy, chairman of the League Sean O'Sullivan presented Sam with an FAI inter-league winner's medal.

“We were lucky in the Cork Youth Leagues that Sam took time to be with us.

"We extend our deepest sympathies to her fiancée Gary, sons Alex and Luke, her mother Vera, brother Leighton, and his partner Catherine, uncles Tom and Howard, aunts Eve, Julie and Katherine, niece Chloe and extended family and friends,” O’Sullivan added.

Clonakilty AFC also paid a beautiful and glowing tribute to the late Sam on their Facebook page, which showed how much she was loved and admired by everyone at their club.

"It is with deep sadness that Clonakilty AFC announce the death of its much-loved secretary, Sam Doherty.

"It is impossible to put into words what Sam has meant to this club and the impact that she has had on the hundreds of boys and girls who have been part of the club over the last decade. 

"From helping out at the training sessions for her own boys Alex and Luke, Sam very quickly became an integral part of the club. 

"Sam joined the committee in 2019 as the club's child welfare officer and later became the club's secretary. 

"But those titles do not reflect the immense workload that Sam took on, which included everything from attending league meetings, ordering new footballs and jerseys to applying for grants, Sam did it all.

"Sam was also integral in getting girl’s football up and running at the club, running sessions for U7s so that they too would have a chance to play.

"The extent of Sam's role within the club was only really revealed some months ago when she was forced to step back from her duties on the committee due to ill health.

"The club in 2026 looks entirely different than it did when Sam first joined. There are 500+ children playing, dozens of coaches and a bright future.

"Everyone at the club is thinking of Gary O'Regan, Alex, Luke and Sam's extended family and friends and we want to express our sincerest condolences to them," Clonakilty AFC committee.