Hannah Looney chasing success on two fronts again with Cork this summer
Cork's Hannah Looney helped to launch SuperValu’s new limited-edition Pride themed Bag for Life.
Available this month in SuperValu stores across the country, the bold and bright rainbow tote is designed to be carried with pride and will be available to purchase for €3. Profits from the sale of the bags will go to Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland, the national LGBTQ+ youth organisation.
By Paul Keane
These are busy times for Cork dual star Hannah Looney.
With clashing All-Ireland championship fixtures on Saturday, she has opted for football and will contribute to Cork's bid to beat Mayo in Castlebar.
The winner will lock down second position in their All-Ireland SFC group and a quarter-final place. For the loser, rock bottom in the table and a relegation battle.
"Do-or-die," acknowledged Looney.
The 28-year-old's camogie counterparts, meanwhile, have a home tie at SuperValu Pairc Ui Chaoimh against Clare the same day.
The stakes aren't quite as high for the three-in-a-row chasing All-Ireland holders who have already beaten Limerick and Tipperary in the group.
Looney is hoping for plenty more games on both fronts this season while the back end of the year will involve supporting her partner, Meath ladies football captain Aoibhin Cleary, in her new role with AFLW side Richmond.
Looney hopes to get out to Australia herself for a few weeks but no more than that. At that stage of the year, her club Aghada will need her.
"When Aoibhin's opportunity first came up and we knew she'd be heading off, the first thing I thought of was, 'God, Aghada' because for years we were struggling and our journey started in Junior D to get up to senior," said Looney, who was speaking at the launch of SuperValu's limited edition Pride themed bag for life.
"Then all of a sudden it's nearly like a professional setup and it's such a joy to be part of. If this was a couple of years ago in Aghada, when we were struggling, I probably would have said, 'Look, I'm going to take a break and head straight over'. But now I wouldn't dare dream of leaving it at the moment."
Looney has taken a close interest in Cleary's early steps in the oval ball game and how things work.
"It's just been so interesting to kind of learn about things and see into that professional setup," said the six-time All-Ireland camogie medallist. "Us as amateur players, we probably train just as hard and just as intense as the professional setups that they have. But obviously then you have a lot of support in the professional setup.
"It seems like you wouldn't have to worry about a thing. So yeah, I'm really looking forward to seeing Aoibhin in action and seeing how she gets on. It's definitely been on my mind for a couple of years. I suppose there is an itch there to go out and see what it's all about.
"But you know, what really kind of pulls me back is just the journey we're on in Cork camogie at the moment. It was always a childhood dream to win an All-Ireland and if that can keep going, it would be hard to step away from that."
Hannah Looney in action for Cork. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Both Looney and Cleary are still involved in this season's football championship, with rival teams that could yet meet. The immediate focus for Cork is getting over Mayo on Saturday to stay involved in the race for a first title since 2016, when Looney was also involved.
"It is a do-or-die game for us," said versatile midfielder Looney of the Mayo fixture. "I suppose that's kind of the nature of the LGFA Championship this year, which makes it so exciting and so appealing. Looking at it for me, personally, I don't think there's any obvious front runner.
"Obviously we got beaten by Kerry last weekend and they're All-Ireland champions for a reason. And they kind of showed it. But you can't overlook the likes of Galway, Dublin are always going to be there, Waterford are having an outstanding year. Then you've got Armagh and hopefully ourselves as well in the mix."
In the camogie championship, Cork are the team everyone is chasing.
"It's interesting to be involved in Cork camogie and Cork football," said Looney, a dual player along with Aoife Healy and Libby Coppinger. "Because you look at the Cork camogie setup where it's so established, it's a well-oiled machine. We're really on track to achieve our goals.
"I'm not saying it's easy by no means. But it's been building for a good few years to get to where we're at. Whereas Cork football, we're kind of in that building stage.
"And it's interesting just to compare the two camps. At the same time, I wouldn't be involved in the (football) setup if I didn't believe we could win an All-Ireland as well.
"There's loads of potential there, loads of talent. And I'm just hoping we can put it to good use against Mayo on Saturday and take it from there."
* The limited edition Pride themed bag for life is on sale this month in SuperValu stores nationwide. Bags cost EUR3 with all profits going to Belong To, the national LGBTQ+ youth organisation.