PwC GPA Player of the Month for April in ladies’ football, Síofra O’Shea of Kerry, with her award outside the PwC offices in Cork. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
By Cian O'Connell
Síofra O'Shea knew that 2025 would be different. Player and managerial departures meant new challenges and opportunities would be embraced.
That is exactly what has transpired. Declan Quill and Darragh Long forged a meaningful connection with an accomplished group of players.
O'Shea, though, acknowledges Mark Bourke's impact in recent months. The planning and preparation hasn't gone unnoticed. "It is well documented how we lost a number of players from the panel from last year, 12 or 13 players stepped away for various reasons, some through retirement, some going off travelling and different things," O'Shea explains.
"With that and the change of management, who we had, I had that management since I joined the senior team. That was obviously going to be a big change. I think we've adapted well to Mark Bourke and his management team."
So, these are encouraging times for Kerry, who face Waterford in the Munster Ladies Football Final on Sunday. "They've came in with great energy, tried to build on the style of play that we're used to, making certain tweaks here and there," she adds.
"They've definitely put their stamp on things too. New management brings a fresh perspective on things.
"Players, maybe who'd been hanging in on the panel and not getting much game time, everyone gets a blank slate, and a competitiveness in the panel increased with everyone trying to impress the new management team.
Siofra O'Shea, Kerry, and Niamh Coleman, Armagh, in National Football League Division One Final action last month. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
"That definitely set us up for a good start. We lost our opening game to Armagh, but then we learned from each game, and went on a good winning run which led us to the league final.
"Putting in probably our best performance of the year in the league final was definitely satisfying."
In sport, maintaining high standards is never easy. "Consistency is what every team is probably searching for," O'Shea says.
"Over the last number of years, we've built that with Darragh Long and Declan Quill. They implemented high standards, they tried to keep them.
"When they left, they wanted to make sure the standards were going to be kept the same. I think Mark Bourke has come in, the standards he has are crazy, the preparation he puts in, the hours of work, analysis, and preparation for any team and any game."
The level of detail has impressed O'Shea. "It doesn't matter what game it is, if it is Tipp when we've already qualified for a Munster final, the analysis he's putting in is unbelievable," O'Shea remarks.
"I think we've learned a lot from him, that has definitely helped to keep the standards up high."
