Conor Ó Cuirrín hopes Waterford footballers can spring a surprise
Conor Ó Cuirrín of Waterford during the McGrath Cup group B match between Waterford and Clare at Páirc Naomh Brid in Lemybrien, Waterford. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile.
By John Harrington
Sunday’s Tailteann Cup Round 2B clash with Sligo is Waterford’s last chance to avoid a 2026 whitewashing.
The Deise footballers have so far lost ever game they’ve played this year across four competitions – the McGrath Cup, Allianz Football League, Munster Championship, and Tailteann Cup.
A number of losses were by fine margins, but that has done little to soften the blow for Waterford defender, Conor Ó Cuirrín.
“It's been a very challenging year,” admitted Ó Cuirrín at the launch of Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta 2026 in Croke Park on Thursday.
“Just a lot of tough games. We started the league okay, we played Leitrim in the first game, beat us by a few points, but we were very competitive.
“And then Longford, the second game, really thought we were going to win that game. We were two points up with a couple of minutes to go, and Longford got a goal then at the end.
“That game, I feel, just took the wind out of us that day, and we haven't really got it together since then. Sometimes when you get into that run of losing games, it's very hard to get out of it. We have Sligo now on Sunday and hopefully we can put a bit of an improvement on the year now. It would be nice to get a win, because we've had a lot of unlucky results this year.
“Sligo are a good team, but they're not unbeatable. I watched their game against Tipp and they're a good side, a lot of good players, but we'd be confident going into Sunday. We have a few lads back from injury. You never know what will happen on the day.
“Tipperary and Sligo had a close game, we had a close game with Tipp in the Munster Championship, so we'd be hoping it'll be a good competitive game now."
In attendance at the National Launch of Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta 2026 at Croke Park in Dublin are Caolán Mac an Bhaird, Bhulf Tón, left, and Conor Ó Cuirrín, An Rinn. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.
Whatever panel the Waterford footballers have in any given year are always a committed bunch, the problem is that the panel tends to change significantly year on year.
With a constant churn of players it’s proven difficult to build something sustainable over a period of time.
“Turnover in our panel has been massive,” says Ó Cuirrín. “We've had a lot of lads come in with us for a year, and they've been very good for us, and then the following year they might get in with the hurlers and then you're losing those players then who might have been a starter or even one of your best players, and they've gone in with the hurling.
“You're losing four or five players each year and it's very hard to keep a team together then. It's very hard to build anything as a team if you're constantly changing the team.”
It can’t be easy to make the huge commitment required to be a county footballer when you experience defeat after defeat, but Ó Cuirrín is motivated by the belief that there could be better days ahead.
“There's been a lot of success in the underage,” he says. “The minors have had three championship wins, the U20s had two championship wins.
“It's great to see, and it's inspiring the senior lads. We need to push on for them, because they're pushing on at underage.
“A lot of those lads are football lads, and you'd be hoping they'll join in with us now in the next couple of years and you'd see an improvement.
“There's plenty of talented footballers in the county because our senior championship is savagely competitive.
“I know Rathgormack have been a good bit ahead of teams in the last couple of years, but every game it's competitive. We were in relegation last year, but we only lost by two points to Ballinacourty who got to the county final.
“It's a savagely competitive competition, and there is brilliant footballers in the county, it's just getting them to play for the county is the thing.”
In attendance at the National Launch of Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta 2026 at Croke Park in Dublin, are, back row, from left, Tomás Ó Síocháin, Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta, Áine Uí Choinn, Cathaoirleach Choiste Náisiúnta Gaeilge CLG, Niamh Ní Churnáin, Grúpcheannasaí Gaeilge RTÉ, Dónal Ó Laoire, Cathaoirleach Chomórtas Peile na Gaeltachta, Caolán Mac an Bhaird, Bhulf Tón, Fiach Ó Loingsigh, Cumann Caide Chorca Dhuibhne, Feargal Ó Grifín, Lios Póil, Conor Ó Cuirrín, An Rinn, Eoin Mac Giolla Chearra, Gaeil Fhánada, Darragh Mac Bhearsúla, Naomh Pádraig An Fhairche, Fiachra Mac Giolla Chóill, Gaoth Dobhair, Cathal Seoighe, Rúnaí Choiste Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, Maeve Quinn, Coiste Náisiúnta Chomórtas Peile na Gaeltachta, Shane Walsh, TG4, Cáit Ní Choirbhín, Bainisteoir Fhondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha, Michelle Ní Chróinín, Ceannasaí Cumarsáide agus Margaíochta Údarás na Gaeltachta and front row, from left, Vivienne Ní Niaidh, Carna Caiseal, Cian Ó Faoláin, An Seanphobal, Megan Nic Dhonnacha, Naomh Anna Leitir Móir, Louise Ní Dhochartaigh, Naomh Columba, Rian Mac Seáin, Cill Chartha, Kate Lawlor, Na Gaeil Óga, Niall Stenson, Na Gaeil Óga, Ciara Ní Dhochartaigh, Cill Chartha. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
If his inter-county season ends this weekend with Waterford, Ó Cuirrín will quickly switch his focus to representing his club An Rinn in the 2026 Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta.
It takes place in the Donegal Gaeltacht over the final weekend of the month, and it’s a competition that means a lot to him and all of his clubmates.
“I'd say I've played in it every year since I was able to play,” he say.s “I started playing senior when in 2016 and the only two years I missed were for the Leaving Cert and Covid.
“It's a savage weekend. You couldn't get a better weekend for team bonding. And then it's very competitive games as well. A lot of the teams in this competition are winning county titles in their counties.
“I always find is that this weekend brings our team together just before you're getting ready for the championship. And then just being from a Gaeltacht area, we always have great passion to win it out.
“We're really passionate about the competition and speaking the language as well.”
