MOURNEABBEY MIDFIELDER MÁIRE O’Callaghan has been named Cork senior ladies football captain for 2022.
26-year-old O’Callaghan takes the reins from goalkeeper Martina O’Brien, who captained the Rebels last season, and also follows in the footsteps of clubmates Doireann and Ciara O’Sullivan who filled the role in recent years.
All-Star defender Melissa Duggan has been named vice-captain.
“Cork county board along with senior manager Shane Ronayne are delighted to announce that Máire O’Callaghan, Mourneabbey, will captain the Cork senior team for 2022,” a statement from the county reads.
“Melissa Duggan, Doheny’s, will be vice captain.
“We wish both Máire, Melissa and the senior panel the very best of luck for the year.”
Both certain to be popular choices amongst the group, O’Callaghan has established herself as a key player for the Rebels over the past few years.
Also deployed as a defender at times, she has played a central part in Mourneabbey’s glittering run to two All-Ireland senior club titles, seven Munster crowns and seven county championships since 2014.
Cork Senior Captain and management announcement 2022! Congratulations and best wishes to Máire, Melissa, Shane and all the management pic.twitter.com/0KaLnPzalj
The Clyda outfit fell short in their bid for three national honours in-a-row against Kilkerrin-Clonberne of Galway on Saturday.
Cork LGFA have also confirmed Ronayne’s backroom team, with Denis Enright and Barry Cullinane in as coaches and selectors, and Paul Howard (strength and conditioning coach), Ger Lomard (goalkeeping coach) and Sheila Denney (female liason officer) also among the wider group.
Former Munster rugby player Johnny Holland is on board as nutritionist.
Cork open their Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 campaign with a clash againts Meath on 12 February, in their first competitive meeting since last year’s dramatic All-Ireland semi-final defeat.
The face league holders Dublin in Croke Park the following week.
Erika O’Shea said earlier this week that new boss Ronayne is “focusing on [getting back to] the All-Ireland final,” as they eye a first Brendan Martin Cup lift since 2016.
In other Cork ladies football news, the county is set to have a Senior B football panel for 2022, as reported by local journalist Ger McCarthy:
Interesting development. @CorkLGFA pressing ahead with a Senior B football panel for 2022.
Manager @PeterOLeary15 (@InchRovers)
Coaches/Selectors:
Karyn Graham (@MourneabbeyLFC)
Ken Whelan (@NemoRangersGAA)
Tomas Mac An tSaor
Colin McTaggert (@NemoRangersGAA)#corklgfa #lgfa pic.twitter.com/h5XRSiqRwy— Ger McCarthy (@germccarthy74) January 31, 2022
Meanwhile in Kerry, Anna Galvin has been named captain once again with Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh the vice-captain.
Southern Gaels star Galvin first took the captaincy in 2020, and was hailed a “natural leader” by management in an interview with The42 after the selection was made.
Congratulations to Southern Gaels player Anna Galvin on her appointment as captain of the Kerry Ladies team for the 2022 season. @southerngaelsky
Louise Ní Mhuircheartaigh of Corca Dhuibhne will be Vice Captain 💚💛🏐 pic.twitter.com/APlaOPnGdh— KerryLGFA (@kerryladiesfoot) February 2, 2022