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14 // Ladies Gaelic Football Association CORK'S YOUNG GUNS PEIL Summer | Issue No 2 | Volume 14 n 2016, Ciara O'Sullivan made the familiar journey for a Cork captain, up the steps of the Hogan Stand to lift the Brendan Martin cup. It was their 11 th such win in 12 seasons. Fast forward to 2017, when the Rebels have crashed out at the semi-final stages of the All-Ireland series, having battled through the backdoor, failing to register a win in the Munster championship. Absent from the dejected dressing room were veterans Briege Corkery, Rena Buckey, Deirdre O'Reilly, Vera Foley and Rhona Ní Bhuachalla, all of which were instrumental in landing another All-Ireland title the previous season. For some, it was their 11 th . For 2017 at least, with the loss of so many prolific figures, many wondered were the glory days of Cork football over? After all, most good things must come to an end, so what next for a Cork side that redeemed themselves in winning back the Time for the Young by Lisa Crowley I Munster cup against Kerry in June? The success of Cork at underage level over the last decade suggests the future is bright. The Rebels have contested the last four minor All-Ireland finals, landing three titles. A number of the three-in-a-row winning side were also involved in the U16 All- Ireland successes of 2013 and 2014. With the retirement of so many key players for Cork over the last couple of years, the reliance on these youngsters to make the step-up to the senior grade is more apparent than ever. This year's league campaign was testament to that, with 11 players making their senior debuts and since the leaving cert ended, eight of last year's minor All- Ireland winners have linked up with the panel including Irish international soccer star Saoirse Noonan, Kinsale ace Sadhbh O'Leary and last year's All-Ireland winning Captain, Ciara Hughes. But for all the talk of Cork being a team in transition, they still have the likes of the O'Sullivan sisters, Martina O'Brien, Eimear Scally, Orla Finn, Roisin Phelan- players who know what it takes to grind out a win on big days. In fact, out of the current panel of players, 19 are holders of at least one senior All-Ireland medal, nine of whom started in the All-Ireland final of 2016, these players include: Martina O'Brien, to Pave their Own Path " ...not competing in a final was a massive blow for the group. It was the first time they really felt the absence of the likes of Corkery, Buckley, and O'Reilly."