‘These players are heroes to little girls' – Galway fans celebrate victory over Cork in All-Ireland final, but fans call for greater support for camogie

Irish Independent

2 days ago

The Tribeswomen sealed glory with a point in injury time after a late Cork goal spurred a comeback that threatened to send the game to a replay.
As Galway celebrated in front of a crowd of 28,795 after a Carrie Dolan free to win the game, some fans said they were disappointed more supporters had not turned out at the final.
Carmel Finn, from Cappataggle, Co Galway, said: 'It's been very exciting. It's a great day for Galway. It's a day for ­family and everyone had a fantastic time, but we still don't have anywhere near the number for the men's games and that's unfortunate.'
Ms Finn attended the game with her sister, Regina Fahy, and other family members.
She was glad the skorts issue, which had dominated so much of the coverage around the game this year, had been 'sorted out'.
'The players should always have had a choice to wear what they wanted,' she said.
'But it's good they now can and the issue is resolved, but we'd love to see more people come out.'
Before the game started, Pink Pony Club by Chappell Roan played out across Croke Park as the crowd buzzed with anticipation for the sliotar to be thrown in to start the match in humid conditions.
Families sat together, at times on tenterhooks, as they willed their teams to victory in a nail-biting match.
Gerry Kitt (68), originally from Mountbellew, Co Galway, travelled to the game with his son, Cormac, a 12-year-old GAA player who was born in New York.
It's like something from the Victorian times, isn't it
'We always come to the finals,' Mr Kitt said. 'We were here for the men's finals and now the camogie. It's great to be here.
'The sport is about how well they play, and these are very dedicated, very athletic players, representing their county to the best of their ability.'
Dressed in the Galway colours, ­Cormac was very much a pint-sized feminist when it came to the skorts issue. He had travelled with his father from Yonkers and he was there to enjoy Irish culture and support his team.
'It should never have been an issue whether the players wore skorts or shorts,' Cormac said.
'It's about how they play and they play every bit as well as the men. Up Galway.'
Cork woman Gillian O'Brien, from Carrigaline, told of how proud she was to attend the final with her grandchildren and to support Cork.
'This is about family, and the players are heroes to little girls,' Ms O'Brien said.
'But the skorts-shorts debate was crazy. The fact we were even having this ­conversation in 2025, that it had to be voted on. It's like something from the Victorian times, isn't it?
'It was always the players who should make a choice on what they wear. They have to play the game. And try to win. It should never have been about their clothes.'
With her granddaughters, 18-month-old Clara and three-year-old Bonnie, soaking up the atmosphere, Mrs O'Brien smiled at the children, but her expression became earnest as she addressed her next point.
Could clubs give some tickets away free, perhaps?
'There was so much debate about ­skorts, but when it came to the Cork camogie team getting to the final, there just wasn't enough support there,' she said. 'I was disappointed when some local businesses took down some of the flags after the Cork men's hurling final, even though the women's team still hadn't played.
'There's still a way to go. It was like the flags were up and they said, 'Oh, well,' when it came to supporting the women's team.
'The players set an example to young girls and we need to get behind them as a country.'
Elaine Sisk, from Cork city, was in fiery form when it came to the game and the kit issue.
'The game has come a long way in the last 10 years, but we need to look at what more can be done now to promote camogie,' she said.
'Could clubs give some tickets away free, perhaps?
'I'd like to see a lot more people here, because it [the turnout] is nothing compared to the men's games.'