Rory Maguire: 'This isn’t a chore. It is where we want to be

ENJOYABLE RUN: Castlehaven's Rory Maguire. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

None of this is new. A crammed year, county running right into club, crossovers and conflicts. This is all Rory Maguire has ever known.

The Castlehaven and Cork footballer finished up the intercounty championship in the All-Ireland quarter-final in Derry at the start of July. By the end of the month, it was back to the Ahamilla Complex to take on Carbery Rangers in the opening Cork PSFC clash.

“I didn’t have much of a break,” he explains, speaking ahead of the Munster senior final against Dingle this Sunday. “Maybe a couple of weeks after we lost to Derry, but beyond that… Look the way the club season works you have three or two weeks between games, so it is easy enough to stay fresh.

“You can dial back training after a game and ramp it up again. So, there wasn’t a break, but every two weeks is ideal really. That is what you want.” 

Maguire did not make it as a Cork minor and did not play a game with the U20s. As his club form picked up it ignited his county ambitions. 

One fed the other. He has played 28 games for Cork since. Of 16 matches in 2023, Maguire played in 15.

“My first season of the new competition in Cork was 2020. I only came off the bench in the old system in 2019. I’ve known no different basically. The club season was before county that year, we beat the Barrs in the semi-finals and then the country went into lockdown. So, we played Nemo in 2021 and lost. It has been nonstop since then.

“I’ve been playing year-round since 2021. I’ve had max a two or three-week break. We lost to the Barrs in the semi-final and that season started late because the hurlers made the All-Ireland final. I had a week before I got involved with Cork. Between CIT and MTU, I’d two campaigns in Sigerson too.

“It is good here, we can easily say to management if we need a training off and they are understanding, they listen and don’t question it. They are good that way.” 

This time last year Maguire was deep in preseason, preparing for a McGrath Cup opener that would see the Rebels hammer Kerry. Adam Doyle oversaw the group’s strength and conditioning work. Maguire is keen to make sure he doesn’t lose any ground, but he can’t opt in exactly like he did last winter. 

The Gaelic Grounds on Sunday is the overwhelming priority.

“You couldn’t do the same,” he says. “It is like in-season gym training, it’s all tailored and not as tough as what the boys are doing.” 

Will he take some time off in the New Year? No. It is either back at it with Cork or, with any luck, planning for an All-Ireland club semi-final on January 6. That is the way it is. That is the way he wants it to be. 

The schedule has suited him so far. Maguire closed out 2023 with Cork as an All-Star nominee and then helped his club to the Andy Scannell Cup. In his mind it is simple. A break means defeat. 

The last time he was in Croke Park, it included a goal and a quick blow of kisses for the crowd. 60 seconds later Derry responded with their own green flag and in the end, it was a crushing loss.

Maguire would love to be back there again in a few weeks. They can prolong this run with a victory against the West Kerry outfit this weekend.

“We are playing new opponents. Another new challenge. We play all the same teams in the Cork championship more or less, any team you play now is a county champion coming off a few wins. In the last two games, we played a side coming in right off the back of a county final win. Dingle beat a good Clonmel Commercials side recently.

“This time of the year can be a small bit slower and that can depend on the ground. At the same time, we scored 1-16 against Rathgormack. You can put up scores if you move the ball fast. Look, I’m just happy to be playing games now. It really does shorten the winter.

“There is massive excitement to be playing. You want to play big games. This isn’t a chore. It is where we want to be. Our first Munster championship run in ten years. The possibility of playing in Croke Park is a massive reward. A break? I’d love to be training over the Christmas.”