Cork hurling captain and his Limerick partner celebrate birth of their first child

HE’S NOT even a week old but already big questions are being asked of Seán O’Donoghue and Aoife Daly’s new bundle of joy – will he be shouting for Cork or Limerick in the future?

Cork senior hurling captain Seán O’Donoghue and his partner Aoife Daly, from Kilmallock, welcomed their first child last week – a baby boy.

It’s a hectic household as the Inniscarra man prepares to lead the Rebels out in Croke Park on Sunday when they hope to claim the Liam MacCarthy Cup for the first time since 2005, when they take on Clare.

A low-key couple, Sean and Aoife, have been dating for a number of years. 

Sean, 28, is a former student of UCC. In an interview with the Irish Examiner earlier this year, he spoke of what the championship win over Limerick in Pairc Ui Chaoimh in May meant to the younger Cork players.

“To see young lads coming on, I remember invading pitches when I was younger and meeting the players we saw on TV. It’s huge for them. The one against Limerick, those memories will last a lifetime for some of them.”

READ MORE: Baby joy for Limerick’s Cian Lynch and partner Dayna who welcome twins

Meanwhile, tickets for this Sunday’s All-Ireland final are like gold dust. Such is the demand in Cork that a Rebels’ Fanzone will see the hurling showpiece being broadcast on big screens at  SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for those unable to get their hands on a ticket for Croker.