Cork and Waterford camogie teams say decision to postpone Munster final shows ‘scant regard' for players
The row about camogie skorts has led to a final being postponed. Photo: Sportsfile
The Munster senior camogie final between the two teams was postponed after both panels said that they would wear shorts instead of the mandatory skorts, in line with the rules of the Camogie Association.
A meeting of the committee in charge of the Munster camogie championship took place yesterday with the decision made to delay the final until a later date.
In a joint statement today, the Cork and Waterford senior camogie panels said: 'As a united group of players, we want to express our bitter disappointment that today's Munster Senior Camogie Final has been postponed.
'It shows scant regard for the preparation of players both physically and mentally to be ready for a provincial showpiece, to make this decision just 16 hours before the scheduled throw-in.
'Anyone with an understanding of what it takes to compete in elite sport knows that this could never be in the best interests of players.
'We feel completely let down. Both panels had meticulously planned to peak for today. Training schedules and workload will now have to be readjusted, while not even knowing when the game will take place.
'There was an opportunity to take a step forward from the recent controversy. Instead, a provincial final has been postponed because we took control of what we would wear.
'To us, that feels like a massive step backwards.'
Before the recent Leinster championship semi-final, the Dublin and Kilkenny teams were told the game would be abandoned unless they changed from shorts to skorts.
Earlier this week, Sports Minister Charlie McConalogue appeared to support protesting camogie players, calling in the Dáil for a solution to the skorts row that everyone can be 'comfortable' with.
Mr McConalogue was replying to comments from Fine Gael TD Joe Neville, who spoke of a recent 83pc survey that found players wanted an end to the requirement that they wear skorts while playing matches.
Mr Neville said there should be a derogation to rule 10.5 (c) so that players could wear shorts instead, saying that recently the rules had to be enforced by a referee "put in a very difficult position'.
Mr McConalogue said he was 'very much aware' of the issue, saying it was important that players engage now with the Camogie Association.
"It's important they now come together to find a resolution to this which is comfortable for everyone," Mr McConalogue said.
'Making sure everybody's comfortable in terms of participating in sport is absolutely essential.
'I believe it's important that there's an agreed way forward which everybody can be comfortable with, and with players very much at the centre.'
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