Cork camogie boss Ger Manley reveals doubts after player exodus

Gemma O'Connor and Dónal O'Grady have become important parts of the Cork camogie backroom team trying to take down reigning champions Galway in Sunday's All-Ireland final

Ger Manley: “At the start of the year they were all going away and I was saying 'what have I let myself in for?'" Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

There were times when Ger Manley wondered if taking the Cork senior camogie manager job for a third consecutive year was the right choice. His decision was based on the hope that the experienced players would stay on and bid to reach another final after suffering a narrow defeat to Galway 12 months ago.

Instead, a significant exodus of personnel meant he was faced with a revamp.

“At the start of the year they were all going away and I was saying 'what have I let myself in for?' There were lots of doubts when we had a few bad performances in the league,” he recalls.

“But to give the players and to give the management their credit, we stuck at it. There’s huge talent in Cork and there are probably players out there that deserve to be on the panel.

“We are as honest as we can be picking squads and we look at people in form and if they can do a job. There is a lot of temperament you need for inter-county, and fitness levels as well.

“We always said July was our target, we didn’t really worry about the league - well, we did the last game as we were nearly relegated and I would be the first Cork manager to do so in camogie and that was a bit worrying alright. But our aim was the championship and we knew there was no jeopardy.” 

An opening-round road trip to Athenry ended in victory over champions Galway. It ignited their season. Subsequent wins over Tipperary and Waterford in a newly structured championship meant they advanced straight to the semi-final.

“We got very tough games. Three matches where there was very little between the teams, and it stood to us. I can see where the Camogie Association is coming from because last year there were games we won by 15 or 20 points. Does it do you any good? Probably not in the long term.” 

Manley welcomes the new system. 

“It’s changed camogie for the better. It’s making the game more exciting.

“If you look at the league and championship, it was very good between all the teams. Galway were the only team that gave Tipp a bit of a hiding but Tipp were down a few players and they knew they didn’t have to win.

“That is the only disadvantage I would see because if you are beaten you have another day. If I was told we would be in an All-Ireland quarter-final you’d start training in June, and have six weeks to get it right.” 

In any sport, rules and referees are always in the spotlight, especially with so much at stake, and most often in tight matches. Last August, Cork came out on the wrong side of a thrilling one-point final. Emotions ran high.

“I suppose after the match, I was probably a bit upset over a few things. Disappointed for Hannah (Looney’s red card). I have known Hannah for a long time, but look, a red card is a red card, you can’t change the ref's mind and we didn’t either at the time.

“Did it make a difference to the match? Without a shadow of a doubt. But did Galway deserve to win? They probably did.” 

Some days those 50/50 decisions go with you, and other days they go against you. Is that just the way things are?

“Totally. The goal Katrina Mackey got in 2024 went against us in 2025. Small things win matches, they do make a difference.

“The rules are changing. You put the hurley around the head, it is a free, over-carrying, frontal charge, but give the refs their credit I think there is a huge improvement this year. Some of them interpret the rules differently, but they are all trying to be consistent.” 

In a winner-take-all environment, no stone is left unturned in an effort to reach the ultimate goal.

Gemma O’Connor, one of Cork’s most decorated players, has stepped up to coaching, while her St Finbarr’s clubmate Dónal O’Grady does analysis.

“We have coaches Seán Crowley and James Nyhan, and Gemma is doing a lot more coaching. Dónal O’Grady and Len Browne provide analysis.

“Gemma has been through it all as a player. Would I like to play her? Of course I would, she’s still as fit as ever. Like [Ashling] Thompson, they have a presence on the pitch.” 

As both a winning player and manager, O’Grady brings a proven track record.

“He was with us near the end of last year, he has a huge role. He sits down, goes through the small things. He’s phenomenal. He was involved with the Ashbourne team with Jerry Wallace.

“We all know his background, clever, clever. He sees things you don’t see. He’ll talk it out with you and he’ll have an argument, and he’ll go 'why did you do that?'

“The girls love that. It isn’t he’s telling them they’re doing something wrong, it’s that they can do something better. Technically, he’s top class.” 

The question now is whether Manley’s combination of maturity and youth can step up to the plate.

“There’s been nothing between us and Galway. Go through them, they are a great team. Who isn’t a good player with them? They are great to watch and physical.

“But I wouldn’t swap any of them for any of the Cork girls. And that is the important thing.”