Cork forward Cathail O'Mahony set for Australia move

Cork footballer Cathail O'Mahony is set to depart for Australia in January after informing manager John Cleary of his decision, The Echo understands. 

The move will rule the Mitchelstown man out of Cork's plans for the 2027 season as the Rebels prepare for their first Division 1 campaign since 2016. 

O'Mahony is relocating to join his girlfriend and becomes the latest Cork player to take the increasingly familiar route Down Under.

While O'Mahony's inter-county career has been hampered by injuries, the forward remains one of the most naturally gifted footballers to emerge from the county over the last decade.

O'Mahony first rose to national prominence during Cork's All-Ireland U20 triumph in 2019. His performances earned him a place on the EirGrid U20 Football Team of the Year.

At the time, he appeared destined to become a mainstay of the county's senior attack for years to come.

However, injuries repeatedly interrupted his progress and prevented him from building sustained momentum at senior level.

Despite those frustrations, O'Mahony remained a highly-regarded figure within the Cork camp. His pace, athleticism and eye for goal made him a valuable option whenever available and fit for selection.

Meanwhile, Neil Lordan appears unlikely to return to the Cork fold for the 2027 season.

The Ballinora defender is expected to extend his stay overseas. 

Lordan spoke openly to The Echo late last year about the difficulty of stepping away from inter-county football following a breakthrough debut season in 2025.

Since then, however, his circumstances have evolved and the expectation is that he will remain abroad for another year.

The prospect of another season without Lordan will come as a disappointment to Cork supporters given the speed at which he adapted to senior football. 

Called into the team amid an injury crisis in 2025, he grasped his chance impressively and quickly established himself as a dependable performer.

Elsewhere, Andrew Cashman has stepped down as Mallow manager. Cashman oversaw one of the club's most successful recent periods, guiding Mallow to the Premier SFC semi-finals in 2024, their first appearance at that stage of the championship in 20 years.

A defining moment of that campaign came in the group stage when Mallow shocked St Finbarr's, a victory that highlighted the progress made under Cashman's stewardship and laid the foundations for their run to the last four.