Camogie should be about influential and inspirational players, not shorts versus skorts

Irish Examiner

10-05-2025

It is a huge disappointment that Camogie is in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons at the moment.
This weekend should have been about Cork and Waterford meeting in the Munster senior final. It should have been about showcasing the wonderful talent on view and the anticipation that surrounds near-neighbours going to battle.
it should have been about the opportunity it gives supporters to show their appreciation for these super athletes they have come to admire over the years.
Instead, the heated debate surrounding shorts and skorts took centre stage and has attracted a lot of unwanted attention from many quarters.
Sadly, the interest suddenly switched to off-field matters.
Last Saturday the news broke when Dublin and Kilkenny teams wore shorts to their Leinster semi-final and they had to change into skorts before being allowed to play. This story was carried by numerous media outlets that afternoon and it got far more widespread coverage than it would normally get. What was quite perplexing and bemusing was some reports didn't even mention the match result which you would expect to be the real story.
It's such a pity it has come to this.
The Camogie Association was founded in 1904 and it should feel proud of its rich history and the role it has played in developing this magnificent game to its consistently high standard.
Times have moved on though, so players should be allowed the option to choose between shorts or skorts.
But the debate continued to rumble on.
Why did it take until the eleventh hour to defer the fixture? Buses were booked and arrangements had been put in place by teams.
The fact it dragged on all week is both exhausting and dispiriting. Totally preventable too.
The decision should have been made earlier, it only made for further negative press.
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The Camogie Association has called a special congress for May 22 which is a positive move and one they must be commended for, but it must stop shooting itself in the foot.
Being unsure a day before a provincial final if it is going to proceed is not good enough.
Munster final day should be an exhibit of all that is good about Camogie, this one unfortunately got lost in the shuffle.
There will be no chance to see Waterford's Beth Carton, a sharpshooter of the highest standard. Nor the dynamic Lorraine Bray and Niamh Rockett who are always a joy to watch. And then there's Abbie Flynn who got the winning point four minutes into stoppage against Tipperary in a ding-dong semi-final.
This provincial final would have been their first under new Déise manager Michael Boland.
High-flying Cork in the other corner.
So much to like.
Where does one start to adequately describe the league champions and back-to-back All Ireland senior champions who are in the habit of producing big performances.
New captain Méabh Cahalane leads one of the best defensive structures in the country. Ashling Thompson's longevity of service at midfield is second to none.
Ger Manley is spoilt for choice when it comes to naming his forward unit with such remarkable displays from Saoirse McCarthy, Katrina Mackey, Sorcha McCartan and Amy O'Connor.
The incredible Katrina Mackey and her twin sister Pamela joined the senior panel in 2009 and continue to be top performers.
Saturday should have been all about these influential sportswomen and the inspiration they are to younger players.
These women have changed the game for the better.
That's what we should be talking about, not shorts versus skorts.
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