Camogie captains use Leinster final victory speeches to ask for change at Special Congress
Two camogie captains have used their victory speeches to ask delegates to get behind the players' wishes for a choice of playing gear at next week's Camogie Association Special Congress on
skorts
.
The Leinster camogie finals went ahead in Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday despite senior and intermediate players from Kilkenny, Wexford, Laois and Carlow continuing their intercounty protest over skorts by wearing shorts for their warm-ups.
All four teams changed back into the still mandatory skorts before their respective throw-ins. But the senior players from Kilkenny and Wexford also noticeably changed their gear again immediately after the match, with both sides returning out for the presentation wearing shorts, in what was the last potential flashpoint before next Thursday's Special Congress, which will vote on giving players the option of wearing shorts or skorts in future.
Carlow's winning intermediate captain Niamh Canavan finished her acceptance speech by saying: 'Last but not least to the GPA. It's been a difficult and, at times, disappointing couple of weeks to be a camogie player but you've always stuck by us and hopefully the powers that be will do the same in a couple of days and sense will prevail at the Special Congress.'
READ MORE
Katie Power, who captained Kilkenny to their seventh provincial senior title in a row, said she is similarly positive about next Thursday's vote.
'It's been a tough few weeks for camogie as everyone knows so it's great to get the game played in the best circumstances and hopefully, after Special Congress, camogie will be seen in a better light going forward into the future.'
The players had forewarned the organisers of their protest through a statement from the Gaelic Players Association, which also said that players were withdrawing the right to any photos or videos of them being taken while they were wearing skorts, which ruled out any live streaming of the games.
Kilkenny beat Wexford 0-20 to 1-6 in the senior decider despite a great second-half comeback by the Slaneysiders.
It took Wexford a full 23 minutes before Joanne Dillon got their first score from a free and they trailed the Cats 0-11 to 0-2 at half-time as Laura Murphy and Aoife Prendergast dominated upfront.
But an early second-half Dillon goal and a big defensive rally cut the deficit back to three in the third quarter. That forced Kilkenny to make a raft of substitutions at the three-quarter mark and they then fired over 0-7 without reply to seal their seventh consecutive title with Laura Murphy topscoring on 0-8, with four frees and a 45.
Carlow, led by their brilliant free-taker Eleanor Treacy, captain Niamh Canavan and Leah Ryan, beat Laois 2-9 to 1-8 in the intermediate final, despite losing influential centre back Michelle Nolan to injury just before half-time when they led 1-4 to 0-4.
Laois trailed them all the way until Kaylee O'Keeffe and Kirsten Keenan combined for a brilliant goal with 10 minutes left and then a long-range free from Aimee Collier gave them their first lead (1-8 to 1-7) with just six minutes remaining.
But then Carlow's metronomic long-range free-taker Treacy, who finished on 1-6, scored 1-2 on the trot to seal their victory, all of them from placed balls including a fortuitous goal that looped in over a crowded goalmouth.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
43 minutes ago
- RTÉ News
Glasgow have their homework done ahead of Leinster rematch
It's eight weeks to the day since Glasgow Warriors were thumped 52-0 by Leinster at Aviva Stadium in the quarter-final of the Investec Champions Cup, and yet there's a sense that the Scottish side are returning to Dublin this weekend with those scars fully healed. In the immediate aftermath of that hammering in April, Glasgow boss Franco Smith kept an even keel. "For me, we've been winning quite a bit and pushing the players' boundaries and limits every week but today they found out what is still needed to be competitive in international rugby or the top end of club rugby," he said, after his side were "bullied" by their hosts. Smith wasn't the first coach to say his side would take their learnings from a big defeat to Leinster, but the evidence suggests those were not empty words. When they returned to Dublin three weeks ago in the final round of the URC's regular season, they put up a much sterner fight in a 13-5 defeat, and while the game was ultimately a dead-rubber, they frustrated a Leinster side whose confidence looked dented following their Champions Cup exit against the Northampton Saints. As they prepare to meet this Saturday, all of the pressure is on Leinster, who are desperate to end a four-year wait for silverware. Glasgow arrive into town off the back of a 36-18 win against the Stormers last time out, arguably their best performance of the season. "Leinster are the standard setters in this competition," Smith (above) said, after naming his side for Saturday's semi-final. "They finished top of the standings for a reason, and have consistently out-performed teams across the course of this season while showing their strength in depth. "It is a challenge that we know we will need to be at our best to meet, and the players are focused on the task at hand. "Training this week has been sharp and competitive, with every player working hard for each other to put this squad in the best possible position for tomorrow afternoon." If Glasgow are to retain the title they won last season, they will once again have to do it the hard way. Just as it was last season, Ireland and South Africa would be their semi-final and final destinations, should they go all the way. But Smith isn't thinking any further than the Aviva. "It's a semi-final. The mindset and approach and attitude in a final game is obviously the main ingredient," he said. "We've got to be on top of our game. They've got a world-class team. They've proven it in the Test match arena, they've proven it in this competition. "It's a class outfit. It's going to be a tough challenge. "The only way we're going to get better and keep on growing and progressing is if we challenge ourselves to be the best version of ourselves." While Leinster are without Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Garry Ringrose, Tadhg Furlong and now Hugo Keenan, Glasgow are also dealing with a hefty injury list this weekend. Two of their British and Irish Lions squad members, Zander Fagerson and Huw Jones (above), are out injured, while Scotland internationals Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey are also sidelined. Sione Tuipulotu, who returned from a long term injury in Round 18 against Leinster, looked back to his best in the quarter-final win against the Stormers, and the Scotland captain shifts across to outside centre this week, Tom Jordan pivoting from out-half to first centre, and Adam Hastings coming in at out-half. "We've had a couple of outings in Dublin already this year, so we know what we're coming up against on Saturday," Jordan said. "We fully expect Leinster to bring their best and we know how strong they are across the field. "We know we need to get our mindset right and just have each other's back for 80 minutes – we're loving our footy at the minute and we want to leave it all out there for each other on Saturday. "All the players know deep down what we have to do. "We've got to relish these matches and we know what it takes in this competition. Everyone's excited to get out to Dublin, and we're ready to get stuck in this weekend."
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Everyone has an opinion' – James Ryan fed up with outside noise ahead of URC semi-final against Glasgow
LEINSTER lock James Ryan insists the Blues are blocking out the noise ahead of Saturday's URC semi-final against Glasgow. The 2 James Ryan is not fussed about outside noise ahead of Leinster's clash vs Glasgow 2 Leinster face Glasgow tomorrow in a crucial semi-final clash in Dublin The Ireland lock was speaking as Leinster faced media and fan backlash after another year of European heartbreak after being heavily fancied to win the premier club rugby competion. But Ryan insist the don't care about the nay sayers as their primer focus in now firmly on the Speaking to the media ahead of Saturday's clash, Ryan was in no mood to speak about the past. read more on rugby He stated: "We're try to ignore it, you know what I mean. Everyone has an opinion now, and that's just the way it is" "For us, it comes back to ourselves. What matters most is what we think as players and coaches as how the games have gone. "We've some of the best coaches in the world at this club. Ultimately we are our own harshest critics..I think. "We've put our hands up - the performance wasn't good enough - especially against Northampton. But we have to move on now, we're into knockout rugby. Most read in Rugby Union "Now it's just about getting excited about this week, playing at home in a semi-final. "If you told us in July that we'd have had a home semi, we'd have bitten your hand off. So, the guys are excited to get going again." 'Big weekend' - Peter O'Mahony embarking on hectic gardening project as he aims to add '300 plants' Meanwhile, Lions duo Josh van der Flier and Hugo Keenan are absent for Leinster tomorrow. But boss Leo Cullen insisted that both are okay for the Lions, and could resume training next week IF Leinster can secure a final date at Croke Park. Josh Van der Flier limped out of While full-back Hugo Keenan has a slight calf issue that flared up during the week. And that meant
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
Minnie Hauk secures an 11th Oaks success for Aidan O'Brien at Epsom
Aidan O'Brien teed up perfectly for the Betfred Epsom Derby with Oaks glory for Minnie Hauk on Friday, a success that also completed a Group One double for jockey Ryan Moore. After Moore on Jan Brueghel upset Calandagan in the Coronation Cup, Minnie Hauk delivered O'Brien a remarkable 11th Oaks success when beating her stable companion Whirl. The Irish trainer made history in 2012 when completing the Oaks, Coronation Cup, Derby hat-trick and will try to pull off the same feat on Saturday. He is represented by his trio of Delacroix, The Lion In Winter and Lambourn in the colts' classic. It was O'Brien's 46th English Classic and the Ballydoyle team outpointed their Godolphin rivals, whose hot favourite Desert Flower looked all at sea on the Epsom contours before staying on to finish third. READ MORE Minnie Hauk made 'abnormal' progress from her previous Chester success according to her trainer and at one point looked likely to win with authority. However, after hanging down the camber, her comparative inexperience allowed Whirl to rally. Wayne Lordan had been keen to make the running on his mount and she showed admirable resolution to make her stable companion fight hard for a neck success. 'She's a very classy filly. She was just ready to run at Chester, she barely made it, but she made abnormal improvement from Chester, which we thought she might – it was all class rather than stamina or fitness, she just has a lot of class,' O'Brien said. 'Whirl ran a great race, she stays, she's by Wootton Bassett and it is very unusual what they are doing, they are speed horses but a lot are staying as well. She was fighting back again at the line, that's incredible really,' he added. EPSOM, ENGLAND - JUNE 06: Ryan Moore riding Jan Brueghel (R) win The Betfred Coronation Cup during Ladies Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse on June 06, 2025 in Epsom, England. (Photo by) Jan Brueghel progressed to Classic success in last year's St Leger and although he lost his unbeaten record over an inadequate trip on his seasonal reappearance it set him up ideally for more top-flight success here to earn O'Brien a 10th success in the race. The French star Calandagan got a perfect tow into the final furlong but couldn't overhaul his Irish rival, who rallied to win by half-a-length on the easy ground conditions. 'He was unbeaten last year and he was the biggest penalty kick ever in the Melbourne Cup, but didn't get to run [after failing a pre-race veterinary test in Australia],' O'Brien said. 'At Group One level he is a mile-and-a-half-plus horse and he's a very tough horse who would still be unbeaten if I hadn't run him at the Curragh,' he added. The international weekend Classic action finishes minutes into Sunday morning in upstate New York as the final leg of the US Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, takes place in Saratoga. With Belmont Park still being redeveloped, its most famous race has been moved again, and the result is a drop in trip to 10 furlongs to suit Saratoga's layout. The race off just after midnight on Saturday (12.04am Irish-time) sees the first three from the Kentucky Derby – Sovereignty, Journalism and Baeza – renew rivalry. In the interim since Churchill Downs, Journalism has won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, the second leg of the Triple Crown, a race bypassed by Sovereignty to wait for the Belmont.
