‘There was a bit of edge to our game, some nerves’

GIVEN the level of young talent coming down the tracks, Cork Ladies Football manager Ephie Fitzgerald is keen to add talent to his panel after getting his 2020 reign off to a winning start.

“We were happy with the application the girls put in but what we learned is that we need to be more patient. Westmeath sets a defensive structure, very difficult to break down, after creating many chances, we didn’t take make of them,”he said.

Fitzgerald and his management are following through on their undertaking to try out new faces in this season’s league and they were positive vibes against Westmeath.

“The defence worked hard, Westmeath were very fit, a strong physical side. Hopefully we can improve before facing Tipperary, our focus is getting new players to improve the panel, over the past number of years, we were light in terms of numbers,” he said.

“Maybe, we were over anxious at times, looking for the perfect pass, taking the ball into the tackle when we were four to five points ahead. It’s an area that we can improve on, its a learning curve given we’re back just over three weeks, maybe we weren’t sharp in front of goal.”

The plan is to give some of the younger girls some time before they face stronger sides such as

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Galway, Mayo and Dublin. Fitzgerald is looking forward to the return of familiar faces Rosín Phelan, Bríd O’Sullivan, Shauna Kelley, Niamh Cotter, Ciara McCarthy and Eimear Meaney.

“Caoimhne O’Callaghan started her first league match and did quite well as did Lorna O’Mahony and it sees players are fighting for places. Its up to us to manage to ensure the proper approach is applied, the girls are at different levels in terms of fitness because of injuries, experience and other commitments,” he said.

Fitzgerald reckoned the hype surrounding Cork playing at Páirc Uí Chaoimh impacted on the team yet praised the opportunity to do so.

“There was a bit of edge to our game, some nerves, to be playing in Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a big deal but welcomed for its an acknowledgement of the work put in over the years. There was weight on the shoulders to perform, we are pleased with the effort, maybe not fit enough just yet to play for 60 minutes at the pace that we want to be,” he said.

Fitzgerald spoke of changes in the back-room team with Paddy O’Shea returning and Michelle Dullea taking up a strength and conditioning role.

“The new faces bring freshness, its all very enjoyable, everybody knows there is lots of work to undertake if we are to reach the standard to be competing at All Ireland level,” he said.

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