JOE Carroll believes Emma Cleary’s high standards make her the ideal choice as Cork ladies football captain for 2026.

The experienced Éire Óg footballer (25) was a key reason her club won the county senior title for the first time in 2025, and the good news keeps coming as Cleary takes the captain’s armband this season.

‘Our captain is Emma Cleary, and our two vice-captains are Shauna Kelly and Melissa Duggan,’ Cork boss Joe Carroll confirmed to The Southern Star.

‘Emma had a very good county championship with Éire Óg, and they finished it off brilliantly to win the county. She has been very impressive for us, brings hard work and commitment, leads by example, and sets the standard by her dedication.’

Experienced players like Dohenys’ Melissa Duggan and Cleary will need to lead by example this year, as Cork return to Division 1 of the National League, kicking off against Kildare at MTU Cork this Sunday at 2pm.

In the off-season, Libby Coppinger has decided to focus solely on camogie at county level, 2025 captain Sarah Leahy and Shauna Cronin have opted out of the panel, and Hannah Looney and Aoife Healy have both signed AFLW deals. There is some good news, however, as Healy, joining Fremantle, will be available for the league.

‘Aoife Healy is available to us and will be with us until she leaves – she’s not going until after her exams,’ Carroll confirmed. ‘Hannah is not with us at the moment and is leaving a bit earlier.’

It means Cork will look to youth this year, starting with their Division 1 campaign as the Rebels aim to make an impact following promotion from Division 2.

‘We know it will be far more competitive than last season in Division 2, where we were expected to win most games,’ Carroll says. ‘We are looking forward to the first game against Kildare. And no matter who you play in your first game – Kildare, Galway, Dublin or Kerry – every team wants to get off to a winning start. Kildare will be no different. They did well in Division 1 and, in the championship, have an experienced manager, so they will be well prepared.

‘It’s nice to have the first game at home, as is our second game against Galway, so the fixtures have fallen kindly for us.’

Shauna Kelly is unlikely to be involved in Cork’s opening two league games, having returned to training later than most.

‘The squad is quite young overall, with many players in their early 20s,’ Carroll adds. ‘We will be depending on the experienced players – like Melissa, Emma Cleary, Sarah Murphy, Katie Quirke – the players who have been involved for a good few years and know what’s needed.’