Waterford and Cork players label decision to cancel Munster final 'a massive step backwards'
THE WATERFORD AND Cork camogie teams have released a joint-statement expressing their 'bitter disappointment' with the decision to postpone today's Munster final.
Last night, Munster Camogie cancelled the game in light of the planned protest by both teams against the wearing of skorts.
The decision was highly criticised and the two panels have now voiced their frustration, labelling the move 'a massive step backwards.'
A statement released through the GPA read: 'As a united group of players, we want to express our bitter disappointment that today's Munster Senior Camogie Final has been postponed.
Advertisement
Statement from the Waterford and Cork Senior Camogie Panels#LetPlayersChoose pic.twitter.com/hVl35fnI7v — GPA (@gaelicplayers) May 10, 2025
'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.'
Meanwhile, the Offaly and Dublin minor teams took to the field in shorts for today's Leinster shield final.
Last week, a GPA study found 70% of inter-county camogie players find skorts uncomfortable and 83% of players at least want the option of wearing shorts instead.
On Thursday the Camogie Association announced a 'special congress' will be held later this month to consider motions addressing the ongoing skorts issue.
The Special Congress will be held in Croke Park on 22 May.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Cian Lynch reveals he had no idea penalties were coming before Munster final heartbreak against Cork
LIMERICK skipper Cian Lynch only learned that the Munster SHC final would be settled on penalties when the teams were still deadlocked after extra-time. Twelve months after they became the first team ever to win six Mick Mackey Cups on the spin, the Treaty's part in the making of 2 Cian Lynch reveals he had no idea the Munster SHC final was heading to penalties 2 Limerick captain Lynch and Limerick were gutted after the defeat to Cork on Saturday Their provincial title was relinquished on Saturday following a defeat to Lynch said: 'It's something we're not used to. On the winning side of it, you're delighted with it. It's great credit to Cork. "They got the victory in penalties and the game could have gone either way. "Look, it's something to obviously review. Penalties… like, hurling is so instinctive. It's an art form, it's an expression. READ MORE ON GAA "Why do people play it? It's because it's a 15-man game. It's a chance to have a man on the shoulder to support. "But when it comes to penalties, other than the five guys and the goalie, I suppose you're helpless standing on the sideline watching. It's tough for guys, but it is what it is." Cork ran out 3-2 winners in the shootout at the TUS Gaelic Grounds. But Lynch expected more extra-time to be played after Darragh Fitzgibbon landed a '65 to bring Cork back to level terms with what turned out to be the last puck of open play. Most read in GAA Hurling He said: "I suppose in my own head initially, you think there's going to be an extra five minutes each half because that's the way it was before, wasn't it? "But I suppose when it's said it's penalties, you just accept that and that's obviously the way it is." GAA fans 'loved seeing and hearing' the late Micheal O Muircheartaigh as he features in RTE documentary Hell for Leather Lynch admits that even at the end of extra-time, he would have preferred to settle the final via a replay in Cork instead. The two-time Hurler of the Year, who made way for Diarmaid Byrnes just before the shootout, insisted: "Of course you would. You love playing the sport. "There are pros and cons to either. I suppose it's not for me to make a point or make a comment on what's the right thing to do, but you'd love to have another crack at it. "Any team would. But for us, it's just about accepting that that's in the past now." Lynch explained that he 'wouldn't be someone that's known to stand over a free or a penalty' when quizzed about his own absence from Limerick's quintet of penalty takers. Although the teams could not be separated following more than 90 minutes of hurling, he also rejected the suggestion that it was ultimately a game Speaking as Limerick's representative at the All-Ireland SHC launch at Offaly's Faithful Fields, Lynch said: "It's still a defeat. Obviously you look at the time played and so on. "Neither team won and it went to penalties and that's just the way it was. 'You obviously are disappointed. You see an opposition collecting a trophy and celebrating with their fans and stuff. "That's tough to take. You just have to dust yourself off, regroup, process that feeling and try to drive on again." While they could now be on course for an Lynch added: "That's something that's way beyond our thought process. I think next Saturday week is our main focus." Meanwhile, despite being part of the St Thomas' side who defeated Ballygunner in a shootout in an All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final, Fintan Burke is not an advocate for determining a winner via penalties. The Galway defender, who had his attempt saved by Stephen O'Keeffe in the December 2023 clash, said: "Obviously delighted we won, but at the same time I'd be of the opinion of a replay. That's just personal. "I don't think penalties are a fair reflection of where a team is at – as in, you could have five great penalty takers and maybe the other team only has three. "It's not really reflecting on hurling throughout the team."
Irish Independent
an hour ago
- Irish Independent
Kerry will be short four for game against Meath as Barry Dan O'Sullivan's season still in doubt
The Kerryman understands that the player and management are still waiting on a full diagnosis of the knee injury that forced O'Sullivan off against Cork last Saturday week, but a source said 'it doesn't look great'. There are genuine concerns that the Dingle man has suffered knee ligament damage, which could be bad enough to sideline him for the rest of the inter-county season. With the All-Ireland final just six weeks from next Sunday, any injuries now could become 'season-enders' and O'Sullivan is in danger of falling into that category. O'Sullivan hobbled out of the Group 2 win over Cork after just 20 minutes, and it is understood another scan is required to determine the exact nature of the injury. The 28-year-old, who had been playing very well in midfield, won't make the squad to play Meath in Tullamore, and neither will Geaney, Clifford or Diarmuid O'Connor. Geaney hurt his shoulder against Cork, while Clifford came off after half an hour with what his manager Jack O'Connor said post-match was a hamstring problem. Kerry are already guaranteed a place in the last 12 of the championship, but they need at least a draw against Meath to finish top of their group and qualify directly for the All-Ireland quarter-finals on the weekend of June 28/29. A win for Meath would see them top the group and send Kerry into a preliminary quarter-final, but Kerry won't risk any player that isn't one hundred per cent fit. It will be hoped the extra fortnight will give Geaney and Clifford time to fully recover before the teams heads to Croke Park where they could potentially come up against Dublin, Galway, Donegal, Tyrone or Mayo among others. There will be more concern over Diarmuid O'Connor who has only played one match since the middle of March, when he injured his shoulder against Armagh. The midfielder returned to play against Roscommon on May 17 but didn't make the squad for the Cork game. Jack O'Connor said the player had a groin injury.
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
'You'd love another crack at it' Limerick's Cian Lynch penalties v replay debate
Cian Lynch had no idea that last Saturday's Munster final would go to penalties and admitted that he would have welcomed a replay instead. Limerick relinquished their grip on the Mick Mackey Cup that they had held since 2019 as they lost a shootout 3-2 after they and Cork couldn't be separated after extra time. Albeit two Ulster football finals have been decided in this fashion, the concept of penalties to decide major inter-county games is a relatively new one in the GAA, and it was only after Darragh Fitzgibbon's late, late 65 levelled the game yet again at the end of extra time that Lynch realised that the tie would be decided in his fashion. It was the first time that it had happened in a top tier Championship game in hurling. The Limerick captain said: 'I suppose in my own head initially, you think there's going to be an extra five minutes each half. Because that's the way it was before, wasn't it? 'But I suppose when it's said it's penalties, you just accept that and that's obviously the way it is.' Still, if the prospect of a replay rather than penalties was put to Lynch at the end of the 90-plus minutes, he would have gladly taken it. 'Yeah, of course you would. Sure you love playing the sport. I suppose the pros and cons to either. 'I suppose it's not for me to make a point or make a comment on what's the right thing to do but you'd love to have another crack at it. Any team would. 'But for us, it's just about accepting that that's in the past now. We unfortunately didn't win and Cork did.' Lynch was gone off the field before the full-time and so he wasn't eligible to take part in the shootout - not that it's something he would have put his hand up for anyway. 'If you were asked to take one, I'm sure 100% you'd do anything you can to help the team, but I wouldn't be someone that's known to stand over a free or a penalty, to be honest with you. 'The five guys, obviously our guys, the five Limerick lads, the same as Cork obviously and Nickie, to step up, that takes some courage. After playing 70 to 90 minutes of hurling, to have it based on standing over a penalty, that is tough. That is some responsibility. 'But great credit to the guys, great credit to Nickie [Quaid] and so on. Just the way it is.' Limerick now go on to play either Dublin or Kildare in the All-Ireland quarter-final the weekend after next, and Lynch said they won't be looking for an out in the fact that they didn't lose the Munster final in regulation or extra time. 'No, it's still a defeat,' he insisted. 'Obviously, you look at the time played and so on, neither team won and it went to penalties and that's just the way it was. 'You obviously are disappointed. You see an opposition collecting a trophy and celebrating with their fans and stuff. That's tough to take. 'You just have to dust yourself off, regroup, process that feeling and try to drive on again.'
