Sarah Leahy determined to bring glory days back to Cork

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Published: Tue 10 Jun 2025, 9:23 AM

Last updated: Tue 10 Jun 2025, 9:41 AM

Michael Bolton

Cork captain Sarah Leahy says she is determined to bring the glory days back to Cork ahead of the All-Ireland Ladies Championship.

Having won 11 All-Ireland titles, Cork's last success came in 2016 as part of a team that won six in a row, with their most recent final appearance in 2020.

Cork dominated the sport by winning 11 out of 12 titles from 2005 to 2016. However, with no final appearances since 2020 and the team playing Division Two football this season, times have clearly changed.

Having grown up watching Cork challenge for and win All-Ireland titles, Leahy says she now wants to create her own memories in the Cork jersey—memories the next generation can be proud of.

"We all grew up with the role models we have in Cork winning the All-Ireland, so I think the dream for us is to get back there again.

"Any team that you meet now is going to be a big challenge and very competitive.

"We have history playing both Kerry and Mayo. We are going to focus on ourselves—we know they are going to be difficult games."

This season, Cork earned promotion from Division Two at the first attempt but fell short in the final against Galway at Croke Park.

In the Munster Championship, defeats to Kerry and Waterford—either side of a win over Tipperary—meant they missed out on a place in the provincial final.

However, this Cork side has shown it can bounce back from setbacks, having reached the All-Ireland semi-final last season despite being relegated earlier in the year.

Another clash against rivals Kerry now awaits, along with Mayo, in Group Two.

For Leahy, the league final defeat could be a valuable learning moment for the younger players in the squad.

"We are very ambitious, and we have had those additional weeks to train and iron out a few issues. Ideally, we will be successful this year.

"Especially for younger and new players on the panel, I think it was an invaluable experience in Croke Park. I think that will be really beneficial for us going forward, especially in the All-Ireland."