Cork and Waterford camogie players 'bitterly disappointed' as Munster final postponed

Sunday World

10-05-2025

The final had been deferred due to a controversy around the requirement for players to wear skorts
Anna said the controversy was an 'opportunity' for change
Cork and Waterford camogie players expressed their 'bitter disappointment' that the Munster Senior Final was postponed today, saying it was a 'massive step backwards'.
The final had been deferred due to a controversy around the requirement for players to wear skorts.
It had been postponed after a semi-final match was nearly called off last week when both teams initially came onto the pitch wearing shorts instead of the mandated skirts or skorts.
'As a united group of players, we want to express our bitter disappointment that today's Munster Senior Camogie Final has been postponed,' they said in a statement.
'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.'
They argued that '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,' they added. '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.'
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News in 90 seconds - 10th May 2025
According to the players, 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,' they stated. 'To us, that feels like a massive step backwards.'
The controversy kicked off over the recent bank holiday weekend during the Leinster Championship when Dublin and Kilkenny players took to the pitch in shorts instead of the typical skort.
They were subsequently ordered to change or the match would be called off, sparking a furious row about the players' right to be comfortable.
Anna said the controversy was an 'opportunity' for change
Currently under Camogie Association rules, skorts must be worn to play games and shorts are not allowed.
However, controversy has broken out over the wearing of skorts, with camogie players saying they are uncomfortable.
Recent research published by the Gaelic Players Association showed 70pc of inter-county players deem skorts uncomfortable, and 83pc seeking the right to choose between wearing skorts and shorts.
Fine Gael Senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn told The Anton Savage Show on Newstalk that it is 'a little bit archaic and nonsensical' that players have had to go so far as to stage protests in the first place.
'I'm a little bit worried about the vote in two weeks' time at special congress,' she said.
'Two motions were defeated at regular congress in 2024, and since then, the GPA (Gaelic Players Association) have been lobbying and trying to engage with the Camogie Association to revisit the rule.
'I think they felt like they weren't getting anywhere and that's why they sent in their survey of their players three or four days before the Kilkenny-Dublin match.
'When they didn't hear back from that particular communication, I think they just felt like all that was left to do was to protest.'
Former Cork camogie player, Anna Geary, waded into the skort row during the week when she said it was an 'opportunity to make a change'.
In an interview with Sarah McInerney on RTE, Anna, who captained Cork to All Ireland victory in 2014, called for the GAA to listen to the players.
Referring to the GPA report on women's attire she said that skorts had been an issue since her own playing days.
''I've been playing Camogie, a long time, over three decades, and when I was younger, the skort was still an issue,' she said.
'It was something that a lot of people myself included weren't necessarily comfortable in.
'To me, it's an obvious thing to listen to the players and say well those that want to wear shorts wear shorts, it's not going to in any way inhibit camogie as a spectacle.
'If anything it'll probably be able to enhance it because they'll be able to perform better.'
Olympian Derval O'Rourke said the best way to show support for the camogie girls is to go and watch them play.
"We're all very quick to get outraged and of course, they should have the choice to wear whatever they want,' she told The Daily Star. 'It's ridiculous and frustrating. But for all of us who have got engaged with this - now, go to a match. I'm including myself in that.
"We've all cared enough to talk about it. Now actually show up. The takeaway for all of us who have gotten engaged with it is, get off the couch and go to a match.
'The big thing in women's sport is people consuming it. So show up when this is resolved, when it dies down.'