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Irish Post
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Post
Cork and Waterford camogie squads unite in condemnation of Munster Final postponement over skorts row
THE CAMOGIE squads of Cork and Waterford have released a joint statement condemning the postponement of the Munster Senior Camogie Final amid an ongoing dispute over skorts. The players had indicated on Wednesday that they intended to wear shorts in Saturday's decider, which are not permitted under current camogie rules. This prompted the Camogie Association to call a special congress for May 22, where a motion would be considered, which, if passed, would allow players to wear either skorts or shorts. However, the evening before the Munster decider, which was set for the Tipperary County Camogie Grounds at 1pm on Saturday, Munster Camogie said the game had been deferred. "As the committee in charge of the Munster Championship, we have reviewed the situation regarding tomorrow's Munster Final," read a statement from Munster Council Chairperson Christine Ryan. "As the current camogie rules of play are still in place and the players have indicated they would not be prepared to play the game in shorts, the decision has been made to defer the game in the best interests of all players and officials involved. "The details of the rescheduled fixture will be released in due course." 'We feel completely let down' In response, the Waterford and Cork panels said the late call showed 'scant regard' for the players' welfare. "As a united group of players, we want to express our bitter disappointment that today's Munster Senior Camogie final has been postponed," read a joint 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. "Anyone with any understanding of what it takes to compete in elite sport knows that this could never be in the best interests of the players. "We feel completely let down. Both panels had meticulously planned to peak for today. Training schedules and workload 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." 'Outrageous disregard for players' Following Saturday's postponement, Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack said she was 'absolutely disgusted' by the decision. "These women have trained for months, made sacrifices and looked forward to this moment only to have the final pulled from under them the night before over what they choose to wear. It's disgraceful," she said. "The Munster Camogie Association's decision shows an outrageous disregard for the players involved. "Let them wear shorts. It's not a complicated ask — it's about comfort, equality and being listened to. "We genuinely believed the Camogie Association was finally beginning to listen, especially with the vote now scheduled for May 22. But clearly, nothing has changed. "Instead of compromise, they've chosen to punish these women. "Why could these players not be allowed to play in shorts while awaiting the outcome of that vote? "The decision to call off the match sends a terrible message — that speaking up will be met with cancellation, not conversation. '"he players deserve better. They've earned the right to be heard, and to play." Also on Saturday, Dublin and Offaly players took to the pitch in shorts for their Leinster Camogie Minor A Shield Final at St Peregrine's in Blanchardstown. However, the game was not allowed to go ahead until after the players returned to the changing room to change into skorts. It mirrored scenes from the same ground a week ago when Kilkenny and Dublin were told their Leinster Senior Camogie semi-final would not go ahead after they originally lined out in shorts. See More: Camogie, Munster Camogie, Skorts Row
Extra.ie
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
Munster camogie final postponed to avoid skorts stand-off
The Munster Camogie Council last night dramatically deferred the provincial final which had been scheduled to take place this afternoon amid the ongoing skorts controversy. A statement from Council chair Christine Ryan said: 'As the Committee in charge of the Munster Championship, we have reviewed the situation regarding tomorrow's Munster Final. 'As the current Camogie rules of play are still in place and the players have indicated they would not be prepared to play the game in skorts, the decision has been made to defer the game in the best interests of all players and officials involved. Aisling Maher. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile 'The details of the rescheduled fixture will be released in due course.' The eleventh-hour call to defer the final means the Munster Council avoids a stand-off with the Cork and Waterford teams who planned to line out in shorts, insisting that they would rather see the referee call the match off than wear skorts. The Camogie Association has called a Special Congress for May 22 in order to 'consider motion(s) to provide all players with the choice to wear skorts or shorts'. Yesterday, the GPA, whose co-chair is Dublin camogie captain Aisling Maher, had sought support from Minister for Sport Patrick O'Donovan to ensure the Munster Final and other weekend fixtures went ahead. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile 'We have asked the Minister to use his influence to call for an immediate, interim relaxation of the rule, allowing for choice until Camogie Special Congress has the opportunity to change the rule,' said a GPA statement. However, Minister O'Donovan insisted that it was the Camogie Association's responsibility to resolve the issue. 'It's an internal matter for the Camogie Association. I welcome the fact that they called a congress but, at the end of the day, the Camogie Association are an independent entity with their own governance.' However, he did offer his support for players to have a choice on their playing attire. 'The most important thing is that women that are playing our national game are able to play it in a form of clothing that's most comfortable for them and whether that's a skort or a short, that that be up to themselves as individuals.' Last weekend, Dublin and Kilkenny lined out for their Leinster senior championship semi-final in shorts, but were told by the referee they would have to change before he would proceed with the match. Both teams did so but the stand taken prompted a massive storm of controversy, generating headlines nationally and around the world. There have been a number of instances this week of club sides lining out for matches in shorts, in contravention of the current rules. The Dublin camogie board instructed referees to allow games to proceed, with chair Karl O'Brien telling RTÉ they wanted 'common sense' to prevail. However, in Meath, a league tie between Killyon and Blackhall Gaels was abandoned after the visiting team refused the referee's request to wear skorts.
BreakingNews.ie
09-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Cork v Waterford Munster final deferred amid skort controversy
Tomorrow's Munster senior camogie final between Cork and Waterford has been cancelled amid the skorts controversy. The Munster Council have made the decision to postpone the game, after both teams confirmed they would wear shorts instead of skorts for the fixture. Advertisement In a statement, chairperson Christine Ryan said that with the current rules over skorts still in place, a postponement is "in the best interests of all players and officials involved". Earlier, the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) had called on Sports Minister Patrick O'Donovan to ensure tomorrow's final went ahead. The statement read: "As the Committee in charge of the Munster Championship, we have reviewed the situation regarding tomorrow's Munster Final. 'As the current Camogie rules of play are still in place and the players have indicated they would not be prepared to play the game in skorts, the decision has been made to defer the game in the best interests of all players and officials involved. 'The details of the rescheduled fixture will be released in due course.' On Thursday, the Camogie Association announced a special congress in Croke Park for May 22nd in a bid to resolve the issue. A recent survey shows 83 per cent of inter-county players would prefer to wear shorts instead of skorts or be given a choice. A protest by Dublin and Kilkenny players last weekend resulted in the game almost being called off.
Irish Daily Mirror
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dramatic twist in Camogie skorts controversy as Munster Final is called off
The camogie skorts controversy has taken a dramatic twist with tomorrow's Munster Final sensationally called off. Both Cork and Waterford had indicated this week they would not be prepared to play the game in skorts and tonight Munster Camogie took the decision to postpone the game. A statement from the Chairperson of Munster Camogie Council, Christine Ryan, said: 'As the Committee in charge of the Munster Championship, we have reviewed the situation regarding tomorrow's Munster Final. 'As the current Camogie rules of play are still in place and the players have indicated they would not be prepared to play the game in skorts, the decision has been made to defer the game in the best interests of all players and officials involved. 'The details of the rescheduled fixture will be released in due course.' The skorts row broke out last Saturday when Dublin and Kilkenny players took the field for their Leinster Final meeting wearing shorts. The referee threatened to abandon the game unless both sets of players changed into skorts. The fallout has seen political involvement and this week the Camogie Association announced that it will hold a special congress to examine the rules later this month. Earlier today Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Patrick O'Donovan said he would not like to see this weekend's game cancelled. However, he said the Camogie Association is an 'independent organisation " with its own rules and constitution. It followed calls on him from the Gaelic Players' Association (GPA) to intervene and call for an "immediate, interim relaxation of the rule' dictating that women cannot wear shorts while playing camogie. Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
RTÉ News
09-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Munster Camogie defers Cork v Waterford over skortsgate
The Munster senior camogie final between Cork and Waterford has been deferred, with Munster Camogie taking the action after both panels confirmed that they would wear shorts in the tie, in contravention of existing rules. The match had been scheduled to take place at the Tipperary County Camogie Grounds, The Ragg, at 1pm on Saturday. A statement issued on behalf of Munster Council chairperson Christine Ryan read: "As the committee in charge of the Munster Championship, we have reviewed the situation regarding tomorrow's Munster final. "As the current camogie rules of play are still in place and the players have indicated they would not be prepared to play the game in skorts, the decision has been made to defer the game in the best interests of all players and officials involved.
