'It's a huge honour': Manley ready to lead Ireland into battle with Scotland

Ireland camogie manager Ger Manley

by Brian Barry

Ger Manley has always understood that opportunities to represent your country in Gaelic games are to be cherished.

The Midleton man pulled on the green jersey as a player in the 1990s for hurling-shinty internationals, and jumped at the chance in 2025 to lead the Ireland camogie team. Last year's victory over Scotland in Inverness will be followed by another meeting on Saturday, as male and female shinty sides travel to Cork to take on their Irish counterparts.

"I'm delighted. Look, it's a huge honour," he outlines. "I was delighted last year and even more so this year, as it’s on in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The profile of the camogie game has gone up, and it’s great for the girls to represent your country.

"Same for myself. In camogie or hurling, you only get one opportunity – it’s when you play shinty – to represent your country. It’s a great opportunity for me and my family."

Last year's 5-3 to 2-0 victory in Inverness saw Ireland prevail in the latest instalment of the women's international rules, and Manley says that experience will be of benefit.

"It took us a while to settle into the game," he reflects. "It’s a bit different for the camogie girls in that our game has gone a lot to transitioning the ball from A to B, through the hands. When you can’t handle it, it took our girls a bit of time. At the end, they were quite good at it.

"Inverness gave us an appetite for more, really. We’ve six or seven of the girls who came back this year for us, which is great."

Trials in recent weeks have allowed Manley and his management team to select a panel of 19, with a spread of different counties involved.

"We have a good few from my own county, Cork involved, but there’s a good representation from other counties and divisions," he details.

"Sinéad Wylde (Dublin) is a very good player. Aimie Nolan there from Carlow, exceptionally good. Rebecca Kelly, the two McDonald sisters (Aoife and Gráinne), they could play with any tier one county.

"You’ve the likes of Saoirse McCarthy, Laura Hayes, Ashling Thompson, they’ve been around the block a bit. But there’s some very good players who have come forward for the trials.

"We have a good mixture from senior, intermediate and premier junior grades. But there’s nobody out of their comfort zone.

"You’ve one opportunity a year to represent your country in camogie, and this is it!

"There’s a few other counties that would have been involved, only for their own county championships. But we got huge interest this year, we had 50 or 60 players that put their names forward, which is great for us."

With the small ball on Lee-side in rude health, Manley is hoping for a bumper crowd in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Saturday:

"It is exciting. It’s the Jazz weekend as well. There’ll be a lot of people around the city. Camogie in Cork, hurling in Cork, they’re the top sports really.

"I think these internationals are something we should push on a bit further.

"The interest for us this year has been phenomenal. The interest to come to trials. The fact we’re playing in Páirc Uí Chaoimh – I’d say it’s the best surface in the country. Others might say Croke Park. But this time of the year, the ball will be moving quite a bit. The pitch in the Páirc will be perfect, which will make for a great spectacle for people watching."

Manley's management ticket features Elaine Dowds, fresh from leading Antrim to the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship.

Rebels legend Gemma O'Connor is another on the Ireland sideline. O'Connor returned to the field of play for 2026, helping St Finbarr's to retain their Cork Senior Championship crown.

"She’s flying it. She’s an icon. She has 10 All-Irelands, 11 All-Stars. She played extremely well for the Barrs in the county final. She’s a brilliant player," Manley said.

"She’s very fit – if I’m short one on Saturday, she’ll definitely be going in!"

Manley is looking to cap a memorable 2026, having led Cork to a remarkable All-Ireland triumph, in a season where many doubted the Rebels after a rocky start.

"We had a great year with Cork. The start of the year, we were short a number of players. We had a good turnover from the 2025 All-Ireland final. Panel-wise, there were 12 or 13 gone," he says.

"We just stuck at it. It wasn’t brilliant at times. People didn’t realise this year – we were only a point away from getting to a league final. We weren’t that far off. We were concentrating on the championship. We were aiming for that. Our training plans were all according to that.

"We had a brilliant year, because of all the turnover we had. We had a new half-back line starting from last year - Isobel Sheehan, Ava Fitzgerald and Méabh Murphy.

"There’s a good squad in place going forward, because we won an U23 as well. So the future looks bright."

Ireland and Scotland play at 4pm (Camogie-Shinty) and 6pm (Hurling-Shinty) Saturday in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Tickets are available via gaa.ie/tickets.