Latest news with #LeinsterCouncil
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
GAA take drastic action to fill Leinster hurling final amid RTE pundits arguing it should be taken OUT of Croke Park
THE Leinster Council are gifting 20,000 tickets for its upcoming hurling final to underage GAA teams. While batches of free tickets are often made available to the next generation of Gaelic football and hurling players, that is a particularly sizeable quantity. 2 TJ Reid, Derek Lyng and Co await Galway on Sunday week 2 Joe Canning said on Sunday that he'd 'love' to see it moved to a smaller ground to ensure it has a good atmosphere Credit: @TheSundayGame It would appear to be a proactive measure given doubts over how many fans from Galway and Kilkenny will take on the hefty expense of venturing up to Dublin for the June 8 decider. After Speaking on The Sunday Game Live, the Galway great reasoned: "I'd love to see it out of Croke Park, being honest about it. "I think the whole atmosphere…it's too big for the crowd that shows up for a Leinster final. Imagine a full Tullamore or Portlaoise instead? Read More On GAA "You'd get a full house there alright. Remember we played you guys there a few times? (At which point he beckoned to Jackie Tyrrell who was nodding in agreement beside him). "It would add to the whole thing. At a smaller ground you'll get a better atmosphere - and it's not going all the way up to Dublin. "But having said that it's great to get a day out in Croke Park." The moment was clipped by The Sunday Game's social team and judging off the replies, Canning's suggestion received broad support. Most read in GAA Hurling Conor Counihan threw another potential setting into the mix, tweeting: "Thurles would be ideal. "Smack bang between both counties and so easily accessible. RTE pundit Joe Canning urges GAA to make huge change for Leinster hurling final as fans 'totally agree' "And before anyone says Thurles isn't in Leinster, both sides played in Leinster final replay in Thurles before (in 2018)." Upon yesterday's announcement, Leinster Council chairman Derek Kent explained the details around it with applications required by 12pm on June 4. He outlined: "This is a celebration of our young players and an investment in the future of our games. "We want every child involved in GAA to feel connected to the bigger picture – to see our players in action, feel the energy of championship days, and be inspired their hurling heroes. "By offering 20,000 free tickets to our players, we're not only giving them a great day out, we're showing them they belong to something special." The giveaway is open to groups of 10 kids comprised of the U14 age grade or younger. Each group must be accompanied by a minimum of two adults. The Leinster football equivalent certainly benefited from
Extra.ie
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Leinster gifting 20,000 tickets for hurling final
The Leinster Council have made available 20,000 free tickets for underage teams to the senior hurling final between Kilkenny and Galway on Sunday, June 8. The initiative is part of Leinster GAA's 'ongoing commitment to youth participation and community engagement, providing young players with the opportunity to experience the excitement and atmosphere of Senior Hurling Championship match days.' Eligible groups must consist of a minimum of 10 children (U14 or younger) and be accompanied by at least two supervising adults per group (one adult per 10 children). The Leinster Council have made available 20,000 free tickets for underage teams to the senior hurling final between Kilkenny and Galway. Pic: INPHO/Leah Scholes Applications have to be submitted before noon on Wednesday, June 4. Leinster chairman Derek Kent said: 'This is a celebration of our young players and an investment in the future of our games. 'We want every child involved in GAA to feel connected to the bigger picture – to see our players in action, feel the energy of championship days, and be inspired their Hurling heroes. 'By offering 20,000 free tickets to our players, we're not only giving them a great day out, we're showing them they belong to something special.'
Irish Examiner
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Leinster GAA make 20,000 free hurling final tickets available to underage teams
The Leinster Council have made available 20,000 free tickets for underage teams to the senior hurling final on Sunday, June 8. In a press release issued on Sunday afternoon, the council explained the initiative is part of Leinster GAA's 'ongoing commitment to youth participation and community engagement, providing young players with the opportunity to experience the excitement and atmosphere of Senior Hurling Championship match days.' Eligible groups must consist of a minimum of 10 children (U14 or younger) and be accompanied by at least two supervising adults per group (one adult per 10 chilren). Applications have to be submitted before noon on Wednesday, June 4. Leinster chairman Derek Kent said: 'This is a celebration of our young players and an investment in the future of our games. We want every child involved in GAA to feel connected to the bigger picture – to see our players in action, feel the energy of championship days, and be inspired their Hurling heroes. By offering 20,000 free tickets to our players, we're not only giving them a great day out – we're showing them they belong to something special.' As part of their alternate agreement with the Munster Council, the Leinster final takes place on Sunday afternoon at 4pm this year, while the southern province's decider is scheduled for the evening previous (6pm). Last year's Leinster final between Dublin and Kilkenny attracted a 35,484 crowd on a Saturday evening, but the previous year's decider involving The Cats and Galway held on a Sunday recorded a disappointing 24,483 attendance.
Irish Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kilkenny and Wexford players say they are prepared to bend on skorts issue
The Kilkenny and Wexford camogie teams have said that they are prepared to play Saturday's Leinster final in skorts to ensure that the game goes ahead. However, players from both sides, as well as those from Laois and Carlow who are partaking in the intermediate final, have said that they will present themselves to play the game in shorts at Netwatch Cullen Park, saying that 'we want our choice to be respected'. A joint statement added: 'However, if the current outdated rule is enforced, we will change into skorts, solely to ensure the games are not abandoned. We will play the games under protest. 'As part of this protest, we do not consent to any photography or video to be taken of the matches themselves, should we be forced to wear skorts. 'We call on the Leinster Council to ensure this is enforced and we ask both the media and supporters to respect our position. 'We have made this decision based on the belief and trust that players will be listened to and heard. We expect camogie delegates will vote for choice at Special Congress on May 22nd and that no further protest will be necessary.' The players' statement comes in light of Munster Camogie's decision to postpone last Saturday's Munster final at the 11th hour after players from both sides had vowed to wear shorts.
The 42
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'Why stop a game because they want to wear shorts? It's childish stuff'
THE MANAGERS OF the Dublin and Offaly minor camogie teams have praised their players after they were forced to change into skorts ahead of today's Leinster Shield final. Both teams took to the pitch in shorts, but a Leinster Council representative advised players they needed to respect the playing rules, with boths sets of teams returning to the dressing rooms to change into skorts before the game continued. Offaly manager Declan Murray told The 42 the referee was happy to play the game before the Leinster Council representative intervened. 'The referee had no issue with it and actually congratulated the two captains when they came to meet him,' Murray said. Our girls joining with the @CamogieDublin girls before today's @LeinsterCamogie Minor A Shield Final with both teams in shorts #offalycamogie #camogie #offaly #dilísgobrách 'The Leinster delegate was there but said we'd have to change back into the skorts. She instructed the referee to do that. 'The referee instructed us to go back in. We did our 15-minute protest and then went back in, and we played the match. We were after travelling up and the match had been delayed a couple of times. These girls have Leaving Certs and stuff like that. We just wanted to make our point and stand behind the whole issue.' Dublin manager Ambrose Curry explained how the protest came about. 'It's driven by the players themselves,' Curry told The 42. 'I've always said that I'm not going to stand in front of a group of girls and tell them what to do. They drove it on themselves in collaboration with Offaly players on social media during the week. They all agreed and that's the way it should happen. Dublin and Offaly's Minor camogie teams return to the changing rooms after being informed that their Leinster final could not proceed while both teams were wearing shorts. The Shield A decider at St. Peregrine's GAA Club eventually began after the sides changed into skorts. — GAA (@The42GAA) May 10, 2025 'Our captain and the Offaly captain collaborated and came up with their own compromise with no interference from the management teams. They went and aligned totally independent of us. They're the ones who are going to drive camogie on in the future and whatever decisions are made, they won't be made by me or for me. It's for the girls and they need to make decisions that will shape what happens.' Before changing back into skorts, the two teams stood together for a joint team photo wearing shorts. 'There is bravery (in protesting) and I found it fascinating watching the body language,' Curry said. 'They realised they were involved in something that's in the public eye. There's almost a nervous energy or adrenaline with that. I thought they were brilliant and it was all very calm. 'Even though they are very young, they're thinking all the time about the issue. It was interesting during the week that some of our girls expressed a preference for the skort but – and this is the real thing – every single one of them believe that each person should be able to choose.' 'Why stop a game because they want to wear shorts? It's childish stuff,' Murray added. 'I'm very proud of them. Our captain, Kate Pilkington led the line. All the girls stood behind her. They were actually willing to forfeit the game and walk off. But we said we'd play it because when are you going to get a chance again with the Leaving Cert? We wanted to stand in solidarity with those girls.' Meanwhile, tomorrow's Leinster Junior camogie final between Louth and Wicklow has been postponed until after the Camogie Association's 'special congress' on 22 May which will consider motions addressing the ongoing skorts issue. The game was scheduled to take place at Echelon Park, Aughrim, at noon, but Louth Camogie confirmed via its Instagram page that the fixture had been 'deferred due to the current rules of play' and would be rescheduled after 22 May. Earlier today, the Waterford and Cork senior camogie teams 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. That decision came after last Saturday's Leinster semi-final between Dublin and Kilkenny was almost abandoned when both panels lined out in shorts instead of the mandatory skorts. Offaly boss Murray was highly critical of how the Camogie Association have handled the issue over the last week. Dinosaurs. These girls put in as much time as anybody else. They're very conscious of these garments. Ladies Football [players] wear shorts. Rugby players wear shorts. Why not camogie players? 'It's very disappointing. Even the Leinster delegate wouldn't take the picture of them unless they were back in skorts. I thought it was very childish.' Both Curry and Murray believe their counties will back the motion to give players the choice of wearing skorts or shorts. 'That's my understanding,' said Curry. 'I'm meeting people who have never been to a camogie match but every single person is talking about this issue. So it's great publicity. 'It all depends on the how the delegates for each county engage with grassroots. If it's player driven and grassroots driven, I have no doubt that it would be passed. There is a structure and if you want stuff changed, you have to feed your voice into the wheels of that structure. 'It's up to everyone, including the media, to keep the issue in the public eye and ensure the views are fed to the delegates. And that the delegates respect the wishes of the players.' 'You have people voting on something that they don't take part in themselves,' said Murray. 'The players want to wear shorts. Let them wear shorts. 'I'm sure it could only take a couple of phone calls to let them wear shorts. I can't see why it's such a big deal. It's a garment at the end of the day. If the girls are comfortable, let them play. It's dragging on so long and you're trying to promote the game of camogie. These girls are U18, I'm not going to tell them what to wear.' In April of last year, motions to permit camogie players wearing shorts were defeated. 'Is it county boards doing their own thing and not listening to players? That seems to be what happened,' Murray said. 'You look at the Munster final and that being called off at the last hour, it's not fair on girls. They have jobs and everything. Even today, we were only notified of the game going ahead about four or five days ago. We have young girls working, schools will be finishing shortly. It's not good enough by the Association.' Today's game ended in a 2-14 to 1-5 win for Dublin. 'They are disappointed,' Murray said of the result, 'but they're happy it's over now and they're also happy that they made their point.' With reporting from Sinead Farrell.
