THE CORK LADIES footballers have been boosted by the return of All-Star defender Róisín Phelan ahead of their 2020 season opener and highly-anticipated double-header at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Cork LGFA have announced a 30-strong panel for their Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 opener against Westmeath on Saturday evening [throw-in 4pm] and Phelan’s name at full-back is one which catches the eye.
The 2018 All-Star was absent last year due to work commitments in Dublin.
Before her inter-county break, Phelan had established herself as one of the best defenders in the country, winning five All-Ireland medals and five Division 1 league honours since first coming into the Cork set-up in the summer of 2012.
In 2017, the 24-year-old was named Player of the Match in her club, Aghada’s All-Ireland junior club final win, but she transferred to Dublin club outfit St Brigid’s for the 2019 season when her work as a dentist moved her to the capital.
Her return comes as a huge boost to Ephie Fitzgerald, who now has the option of positioning dual star Hannah Looney further out the field.
Looney has been named in midfield for Saturday’s clash, where she partners Mourneabbey star Máire O’Callaghan as the Leesiders open their league title defence.
Here is our Panel for the opening @LadiesFootball @lidl_ireland Round 1 game taking place this Saturday 25th in @PaircUiCha0imh Vs Westmeath 4pm Throw in time .@westcorkladies @mid_cork @eastcorklgf @NorthCorkLF.We are proudly sponsored by @SuperValuIRL @theGAAstore pic.twitter.com/Mac7as0tOF
— Cork LGFA (@CorkLGFA) January 22, 2020
In another welcome boost, back-to-back All-Ireland winning club captain Bríd O’Sullivan (Mourneabbey) also returns to the county set-up having been absent for a number of seasons. She starts on the 40.
Meanwhile, Kinsale rising star Caoimhe O’Callaghan is in line for a senior league debut from corner back, while long-time regulars like goalkeeper Martina O’Brien and 2019 All-Star winning duo Melissa Duggan and Orla Finn all start.
Key forwards Eimear Scally and Saoirse Noonan are both named on the bench, with Niamh Cotter and Libby Coppinger also among the 15 substitutes.
Captain Doireann O’Sullivan isn’t included in the 30-strong panel but having missed a lot of league action over the past few years, it’s expected she — and her sister, Ciara — are being rested.
Fitzgerald is at the helm once again after a managerial U-turn during the winter.
Last year, the Rebels landed the Division 1 league title and reached the All-Ireland semi-final. Edged out in the last four by Dublin, Cork are now eyeing a first All-Ireland title since 2016.
While Fitzgerald steered Cork to their 11th All-Ireland title in 12 years — also six-in-a-row — in his first season in charge, the county have not reached the Holy Grail since.
The 2020 journey begins on Saturday, while Ronan McCarthy’s men’s side welcome Offaly to Páirc Uí Chaoimh in their own Division 3 opener afterwards at 6pm.
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Leicester are really missing Rooney
While he is an intelligent footballer he just doesn’t have the pace up front and slows the game down way to much in midfield. This has been coming for two years but no one else has had the balls to do it.
Comment of the decade! United will play with pace today.
Leicester were hoping for Rooney to start. Utd have a good chance of a draw today !
If Jose had the b@lls to do it he’d have done it earlier don’t think he had a choice
Not at all Alan, although Rooney has been bad there are 10 other players in the team. Now Mourinho can’t be accused of given Rooney a chance.
His form hasn’t just dipped in the last 3 or 4 games les,it was obvious last season he was finished with a lot of United supporters saying that,but it’s only now that there’s more of them becoming more vocal about it that Jose has been forced to drop him
I agree Alan and would actually go further and say it’s been obvious for a couple of seasons now. I think Rooney’s days are numbered at United and that’s the point, he’s been given plenty of opportunities and failed, he has no excuses.
United on fire. Pogba playing a blinder. Mad!
United are on fire,I’d say United will have an add up on done deal tonight trying to sell Rooney
@Alan b: One carefull old lady owner……
Totally. Pogba running the show. To be fair to Rooney, he celebrated Pogba’s goal like he meant it.
Looks like thats the end of Rooney for awhile. Leicester going from champions to whipping boys fairly quick.
I think one other thing, apart from Rooney being a future ‘David Fairclough’, has been confirmed for certain today. Leicester are the new Blackburn, a one season wonder.
Brought back down to earth is their last two league away games alright. Gona be tough season but hopefully they can get back to winning ways against Porto.
They doing ok really right now Dave… Very good performance….
Rooney is looking up homes in the States or China as we speak…..
Yeah but he will follow the links into something else……
A far more balance side with the pace of Rashford and Lingard complementing Zlatan. Great to see Smalling (best outfield player last year) and Bailly paired together in the backs. Not to mention Herrera who is a very good player and is criminally underrated, he changed the game when he came on against Man City with Rashford.
Not far off their best 11,Mourinho has made a statement,the players need to do likewise today
How slow are the42′s goal alerts!
Yea it still says 1-0 ffs
Yeah, it was better when we only had teletext.
The scary thing is that It should be 7 or 8 nil at this stage.
Thank God Rojo not playing, absolute Jonah, but Blind not much better, no pace, could get caught today.
United played some of their best football under LVG when Shaw got injured a few years back and Blind filled in at LB, solid at the back and knows when to get forward. Good assist there and all.
Blind has been immense
Don’t rate him at centre but has played very well today.
Wow 3 nil and not hard time…..that doesn’t happen Utd too often. Would’ve been 0-0 last season.
Dave, it would have been Leicester 1-3 Man United at half-time last season and 4-3 at full time
2 seasons ago
Job done,Mourinho closer to figuring out his best 11,swap Mhikitaryan for Lingaard,he’s more creative and can influence a game more
Leicester in melt down.
Liverpool fans here in meltdown
It will be great to see some of my favourite United trolls back. I’ve missed you guys.
Emily or whatever your name is its gimps like you that have driven people away , it used to be banter in here now it’s pathetic childish rubbish that has ruined the app
Manchester United hammering Leicester and all you can think about is Liverpool bazinga, fair sad
Yeah, he has been missing for a few weeks and his first word is Liverpool.
Baz, the hypocrisy is astonishing. Why can’t you see it?
Thats not banter…. Banter is being around to take it when your also losing……
It was a tongue in cheek joke mick , up bravo you must be the new Paul Johnson.
I don’t comment here generally now because the app has been ruined
Yes, as you just demonstrated.
Emily davison calling other people trolls now thats funny
The best 45 minutes for Man Utd in a long time…. Untouchable at times, but wow, Leicester…. Hangover?? They will struggle big time. Too stretched.
Bye bye rooney.
But should be 6 or 7
Jesus it’s like men against boys
We want our title back.
This reminds me of Brazil versus Germany. Leicester’s marking is all over the shop, getting goals for players who have been struggling for form is a bonus
Bailly definitely it’s best signing,Rashford first touch very poor, he’s trying to hard, should be subbed.
United have no excuse today. To be fair to Rooney he’s not the only player who hasn’t been great this season. Rooney will have a right to be annoyed if they don’t perform without him.
Rooney must be climbing the walls, won’t get back into the team any time soon. That goal could be worst thing to happen to Wayne’s career.