Ephie Fitzgerald pledged to Cork cause

Sunday, February 7. The first page turned in the next chapter of Cork ladies football.

The reigning league and All-Ireland champions have travelled to Brosna for the second round of the national league. Eamonn Ryan is present in a Cork dressing room, overseeing a Cork team as they prepare for their second league game of the spring. But he’s not in Brosna. No. He’s in Ballyshannon with the men.

Ephie Fitzgerald commands the Cork dressing room in Brosna. He recognises Briege Corkery, and one or two more. That’s it, though. The majority are strangers to him. And he a stranger to this family.