Sarsfields star forward Ciara Burke is the living embodiment of the motto adopted by the Laois ladies’ Gaelic football team.
The refreshed panel and management team adopted ‘unity, commitment and resilience’ last winter in the wake of relegation from the senior championship.
Ciara was among those who were inspired by the fresh start to return from Australia to Laois football in 2025. She had featured for Laois in league and championship and was looking forward to the All-Ireland series when disaster struck.
“I tore my ACL in training just after the Leinster final, but look, it could be a lot worse. It was just one of those freak things that happen, an exercise we had done already five or six times that night,” she said.
The scars of battle were on display at the All-Ireland fans night in the LOETB Centre of Excellence, as she is on crutches following her latest surgery. It is the third ACL tear of her career. It’s clear that the pain of injury is outweighed by the agony of missing an All-Ireland final.
“It’s what you gear for all year. Whether you make it or not is another thing. To watch the girls now is a privilege and a cruelty at the same time,” she said.
However, she hasn’t sulked over what’s happened and is committed to Laois
“While I won’t be playing, I’ll still have a role to play. I’ll want to rev up the girls and then bring a bit of calm when I’m on the sideline,” she said.
READ ALSO: Laois boss wants fans on ‘bandwagon’ for All-Ireland Final tussle with Tyrone
Ciara was in Australia for five and a half years.
“I loved my time there and there was no point in coming home at that stage. Then I made the decision to come home and play a bit of football before it became too late and here we are. This is my first year back in with the county in a good few years. I missed the final in ’22 also, so my aim was to get back into the position the team was in a few years ago,” she said.
Because of injury, Ciara is in the unique position of knowing the form in the Laois camp as the final looms. While some of the tight games were not for “the faint-hearted” she believes the wins showed Laois players have mettle.
“It shows the resilience the women have built up. We didn’t have a good league campaign overall and everyone knew that. It’s a very new squad. If you look at the squad that won the All-Ireland two or three years ago there’s very few of them here now. Look, it’s all about learning.
“We wanted to peak at the right time. There’s no point in winning the league and not getting to where we want to be (in the championship). You’d rather have no silverware than have two league medals in the pocket but miss out on this,” she said.
She said the Laois team have found another gear.
“There is such a drive in them over the past few weeks, I think they are realising, God we can do this. The league was poor, Leinster was poor, but it all seems to have clicked that little bit more. It’s great for the girls and only for them, this injury was very hard to take and I was never going to step away from that kind of a team,” she said.
So who is impressing her in training?
“Clodagh Dunne is pushing massive. She is so solid, so driven, she has that tigerish streak that she’ll put her head where others wouldn’t. She really drives on. She’ll make that big block or put in that tackle that really revs up the team.
“Jane Moore is in flying form. Fiona Dooley goes forever. Our forwards have really clicked. They almost know where to give the ball without even looking,” she says.
Ciara is also impressed by the younger players.
“Ciara Crowley is fantastic. She will give until her legs give no more. She’s one of our youngest players, in at wing-back, a big position. It’s her first year with Laois and she has just taken it in her stride.
“So too Ciara Malone. There could be six people chasing her down as she races up the sideline and it wouldn’t faze her.
“But look, it’s the whole 15 and more. We’ll need the whole panel against Tyrone,” she says.
So what of the Ulster outfit who are back in Croke Park after losing to Leitrim at the same stage in 2024.
“There’s going to be times during the game when Tyrone will get a purple patch and we’ll need to show a bit of resilience and hold them off. We know their number 11, Sorcha Gormley, is quite strong. I used to live with Niamh O’Neill in Melbourne, she’ll kill me if I don’t give her a mention. She’s strong, she’s accurate, she’s fit – I think she’ll be one to watch. Cara McCrossan as well. She’s back from AFL in Australia. She’s their full-forward. They have a lot of power in the forwards and they will take a lot of watching. But I think we have it in us but it won’t be an easy task,” she said.
“There is a hardiness about the Ulster women. I don’t know where they get it, what they’re bred on up there. They’re tough to play against. They’re hard to tackle. There is such a love for the GAA up there and they bring that on to the pitch with them,” she said.
Playing is quite different from spectating, and Ciara finds it difficult to sit still. So what will she be like in Croke Park?
“I’d be nervy enough. It’s hard to keep your mouth shut at times. I don’t think too many would like to be sitting beside me. I’d be better on the sideline walking up and down getting rid of that nervous energy rather than just sitting there,” she said.
READ NEXT: Laois Ladies meet their fans in Portlaoise IN PICTURES
