NINE West Cork players will be part of the Cork panel that begins the defence of its Munster and All-Ireland U18A football titles away to Waterford this Saturday in Dungarvan (2pm).

2025 was a landmark year for the Cork minors. Under the tutelage of Kieran O’Shea and his dedicated backroom team, the Rebels won a provincial title before beating Dublin in the All-Ireland U18A final.

Ilen Rovers’ Kate Carey amassed 2-3 of her side’s total as Cork ran out 3-11 to 3-2 winners. Other West Cork players involved in that All-Ireland triumph included captain Allie Tobin, Éabha O’Donovan (both O’Donovan Rossa) along with Kinsale trio Caoimhe Horgan, Catherine Murphy and Maisie O’Callaghan.

This year, a fresh batch of West Cork minors will look to emulate last year’s counterparts in search of Munster and All-Ireland titles.

Kinsale quartet Hannah Deasy, Caoimhe O’Donnell, Áine Kearney and Anna Kelleher will represent their county at minor level. Ellen Connolly (Castlehaven), Katie Murphy (Rosscarbery Ladies), Evelyn McCarthy (Bandon), Róisín Duggan (Clonakilty) and Caoimhe Foley (Courcey Rovers) have also been selected.

That brings West Cork LGFA’s representation on Cork's minor panel to nine, almost a third of the 30-strong panel. It’s an impressive total considering over 130 players attended Cork minor trials and further evidence of the quality coaching being carried out in West Cork.

Other notable Cork minor inter-county players to watch out for this year include Mourneabbey’s Laura Walsh and Naomh Abán’s Róisín Ní Liatháin.

Kieran O’Shea is back for another year at the helm as Cork LGFA minor manager. The Ballygarvan man has retained the services of last season’s management team including Martin Crummey (head coach), Roisin Long and Paddy Lucey (selectors/coaches), Karen Casey (FLO), Ciara Murphy (strength and conditioning), Canice Kennedy (sports performance coach), Eric Barrett (goalkeeping coach), Katie Nagle and Sandra Furey (physios), Jonathon Lenihan (stats and video analyst), Jonny Holland and Aoife O’Sullivan (nutritionists).

‘We had 130 girls in for Cork minor trials,’ O’Shea told The Southern Star.

‘The trials started in early December and the squad was finalised just before the Christmas break.

‘Training has been going well but the poor weather has meant we have struggled to train or play on a grass pitch so far this year. We train on Wednesdays on the Midleton GAA 4G astro pitch and have played a good few challenge games over the last few weeks.’

Cork begin the defence of their Munster U18A crown away to Waterford on Saturday. The Rebels are back on the road Sunday, February 22nd, travelling to Clare in round two. Cork’s first home fixture should be a cracker when Kerry visit Leeside on Saturday, February 28th.

There will be a five-week break following the completion of the opening three rounds of the provincial championship. Cork’s last two Munster round-robin encounters are away to Tipperary on April 18th, and at home to Limerick on April 25th.