Winning never gets old for Cork or O’Reilly

AT 27-years-of age, Deirdre O’Reilly falls into the veteran’s category on the Cork ladies’ football squad — but she’s not quite ready to hightail it from the inter-county scene just yet.

With five All-Ireland medals, eight Munster titles, a stack of league baubles and an All Star (in 2005), you’d forgive her if she said she that after 12 years, she had had enough after Sunday’s All-Ireland final against Monaghan.

“It doesn’t feel like I’ve been playing for that number of years to be honest,” she smiles. “It has flown by and I suppose when you’re enjoying it and when you’re winning it helps. You just want to win as much as you can while you’re there”

The Liscarroll club woman, who also plays camogie for neighbouring club Milford, knew she was heading for the twilight years when she noticed a spike in the number of the younger members of the panel approaching her for advice on longevity at the top level.

“Sometimes they would ask for your advice on things but they just respect you a little more as well, the same way as you respect them because you’ve been in that place yourself. They’re fighting, fighting to take your place all the time so you have to stay sharp.”

It has been a hectic year for O’Reilly who this week celebrates being one year in business — a year ago she opened Agility Fitness Studio in Kanturk.

“It’s going really well. I know this week now I’ll be taking it a bit handier. I just decided to have a go off it last year because I had the time when we were knocked out of championship. It was a big call, I said if it works it works and if it doesn’t, then what harm but thankfully its flying.”

To Sunday’s clash with Monaghan at Croke Park and a side O’Reilly is only too familiar with having played them on numerous occasions over the years.

“Well they’re a very tough side,” she said. “They play a lot like ourselves so it will be a good open game.”