Lauren Homan discusses re-signing for Cork City, balancing camogie and soccer, and her ambitions for the 2026 Women’s League of Ireland season under Barry Ryan.
Lauren Homan first joined Cork City’s First Team in 2016 but left the game of soccer t0 focus on camogie where last year she captained Cork to An Ireland Intermediate Camogie Championship title in 2025 but has committed to soccer again and returns to the Women’s League of Ireland for 2026.
Lauren Homan’s Early Career Before Joining Cork City
Homan stated ” I began my soccer career at Lakewood AFC and as a young girl, I always admired Lionel Messi at Barcelona like many others as a young child also that, he had such a successful career”. Homan admits that she did not come through the Cork City FC academy ,battling the commitment to the two games of camogie and soccer that she loved playing equally. When asked when did she join the Rebel Army, Homan replied ” I was at the very young age of 16 when then manager Frank Kelleher signed me to the Senior team in 2016″.
Balancing Camogie and Soccer
Homan was asked about the challenges of the commitment to two different sports and commented “I suppose when I was 17 I had to make a decision which wasn’t easy but I went with what I was enjoying more at the time and that was camogie”. Homan went on to have a very successful career for Cork GAA winning two Senior Camogie titles in 2017 and 2018 with the side. While Homan was a skilled Camogie Player, She returned to Cork City in 2025 after her stint of striking the sliotar over the bar and returned to the bigger ball, Homan quoted “After a 7 to 8 year break from kicking a soccer ball at a high level, I was eager to get back playing and thankfully Frank was back in charge and gave me that opportunity and I’ve been enjoying it again ever since”.
Lauren Homan Reflects on Playing for Cork City
When Homan was asked “What her highlight of her career at Cork City FC would be so far, Homan was quick to respond, “Since re-joining city my highlight would be getting my first goal back against Waterford, and getting to play in Turners Cross again it’s the best place to be especially on those winning days”. Munster FA Turners Cross will once again serve both Men’s and Women’s sides as Cork City’s home-ground for 2026. Homan made 24 appearances for the club last season and scored that goal against Waterford in a 4-2 Victory for Cork City.
Lauren Homan’s Ambitions for Cork City in the 2026 Women’s League of Ireland Season
Homan has re-signed for Cork City FC under new manager Barry Ryan who joined the club at the end of last season, Homan is ready for the 2026 season and determined her side can build on last season where the side finished bottom of the table. Homan stated “My ambitions as a player is to get back to my full potential and that will help contribute to the team overall, then hopefully we can start climbing back up that table and get points on the board.” This season brings a fresh start for Homan as a player and for City as a team who will strive to prove that the team has the potential to climb gradually up the table.” Homan was quick to mention the talent City has brought in for the 2026 season and commented, “There’s a lot of new faces and players that I could name but one that has really stood out is Sophie Liston”. Liston signed for City in the recent Pre-Season.
Differences Between Camogie and Soccer at Elite Level
To end the interview, Homan was asked to comment on the differences in the intensity of training as a camogie and a soccer player at a high level and Homan responded with her experience saying, “You’re playing at the highest level of your sport so both set ups are equally as intense in different ways. It’s hard to compare the both as there so different!”. Homan also mentioned that the 2025 Women’s League of Ireland Champions Athlone will be the toughest opponents for Cork City this season but she also agrees that every team that she and her team-mates will come up against will be tough on the day.
Lauren Homan’s side will face Shamrock Rovers in the first round of fixtures in the Women’s LOI on Saturday, the 14th of March in Munster FA Turners Cross Stadium.