Latest news with #LeinsterSeniorCamogie
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Mairead O'Brien warns Kilkenny that Waterford ‘running faster than ever' after skorts row ahead of All-Ireland clash
MAIRÉAD O'BRIEN has warned Kilkenny that Waterford are ready to hit the ground running — and they have been running faster than ever before. Today, Michael Boland's Suirsiders get their Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship Group 2 campaign underway against the Cats, who already have a win under their belt after thumping Derry last weekend. 2 Dual star Mairead O'Brien warned Kilkenny that Waterford are working harder than ever Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile 2 Kilkenny players return to the changing room before the Leinster Senior Camogie final against Wexford Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile The action throws in at UPMC Nowlan Park at 12.30pm and O'Brien cannot wait to don her shorts and try to take down the Cats. The game's postponement — after the players insisted they would be lining out in shorts — was a regrettable plotline but ultimately led to the alteration of the rule on playing kit by a 98 per cent majority at a Special Congress, allowing players to choose shorts or skorts. And O'Brien, 22, said: 'Yeah, we were delighted. We got the news at training and we were just about to do our running bloc. I swear we've never run so fast all year. Read More on Camogie 'It is a massive step. There was an issue with comfort levels but the players were listened to and the results were pretty significant. And any step forward for keeping younger girls involved is great. It was frustrating to have the Munster final postponed 16 hours before when all the preparations had been made to optimise our performance. We had been training well and had a good win over Tipperary to get there. 'I suppose as a group we're just driving it forward and just focusing on the Championship now. And I think the management team we have currently is phenomenal. 'The commitment they've shown is as much as the girls'. We're all just kind of working together and pushing forward as a group and trying to get the best out of each other.' The postponing of the Munster final and the fact they had a bye for the first week of the Championship means Waterford are perhaps more rested up than they would like to be. Most read in GAA Hurling But given she hit the Cats for a brace of goals on the way to defeat in the league in March, Tommy Shefflin and Co will definitely be forewarned about O'Brien's threat — and even if they were not, Caoimhe Keher Murtagh would inform them. Cats star Keher Murtagh was a colleague of O'Brien as UL won the Ashbourne Cup for a second season on the trot, and they were both in the third level Team of the Year. Young Kerry LGFA fan steals the show with sign during All-Ireland final win over Galway But whereas Keher Murtagh's Rower-Inistioge are a storied, traditional The camogie club was only established in 2011 to field an Under-12 team but O'Brien has been at the core of everything that has been good about them since, highlighted by her tally of 1-4 as they defeated Tipperary outfit Fethard by 2-5 to 0-10 in the Munster junior club final last November. She explained: 'The first adult team was put out in 2017, we won the junior in 2019 and then obviously last year we had a good run of luck. 'As a group, our main aim was to get back to the county final and try and win it. We probably bottled a lot of disappointment from the year previous. But to be fair, we used it to our advantage and went back training that bit earlier and worked really hard through the year. 'Once we got out of the county, we were definitely in bonus territory, and unknown territory. 'The lads involved were great when it came to the big days. They never kind of picked up on the occasion too much. Their main point is just to go out and enjoy it and work really hard. And that's what happened.' 'UNBELIEVABLE' The smile breaks out just thinking about Modeligo's odyssey and what it meant in the small country parish. She added: 'It was just unbelievable. We had a few good celebrations. We just enjoyed it. When we were enjoying it, we were just playing well. The whole community was behind us. 'And in the Munster final, they were definitely a 16th player. We were struggling for scores in the second half and had phenomenal support that got us over the line.' With that club success behind her, and experience of playing in one All-Ireland final already at a young age when the Déise went down to Cork in 2023, O'Brien is at the top of her game at the moment, alongside celebrated camogie county stars such as Beth Carton, Niamh Rockett, Lorraine Bray and Brianna O'Regan. But football has also been part of her story — a former dual operator, O'Brien stepped away from the big-ball squad this year as she was completing her final year in physiotherapy at UL. Everything right now is zoned in on the next couple of months with Waterford camogie — and today's date with the Cats ensures that it is no soft launch. She said: 'They beat us in the league but we would be looking to improve our performance from then. We got off to a good start but in the second half we didn't maintain it. 'I don't think we've ever actually beaten them in Championship so hopefully we will put that right this time.'
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Kilkenny camogie star reveals contact from ‘famous people, influencers and podcasters' following infamous skorts protest
KILKENNY captain Katie Power says the intensity of the skorts versus shorts debate 'overwhelmed' her. But the three-time All-Ireland winner was delighted about the outcome as players were ultimately granted the choice to wear either. Advertisement 2 Katie Power at the launch the 2025 Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Camogie Championships in Croke Park Credit: INPHO/Tom Maher 2 Chairperson of the Leinster camogie association Martin Quilty presents the cup to Kilkenny captain Katie Power after the Leinster Senior Camogie final Credit: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile Kilkenny wore shorts last weekend when they started their Glen Dimplex All-Ireland campaign with a big win over Derry. Power was at the centre of the She posed with Dublin captain Ashling Maher before throw-in wearing shorts, instead of skorts, along with their regular kit. They had to change back into skorts to play the game but it forced a national debate that ended with a Advertisement Read More on Camogie Speaking at the launch of the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland camogie championship, Power said: 'I won't tell you a lie — I found those weeks tough going. I was overwhelmed with everything that came with it and it was something that maybe I wasn't expecting. 'I 100 per cent didn't expect what happened to happen. We were just making the protest, to voice our opinions. 'I definitely wasn't aware of what was going to come and the two weeks after that were tough, mentally, as in very draining.' Power said her phone was 'blowing up' with people contacting her to either express support or chat about the issue. Advertisement Most read in Sport The four-time All-Star forward, 33, explained: 'It was real famous people, famous influencers, podcasters. I was trying to work and they'd be looking to talk to you and I just didn't have the time for that. But fair play, as in it was people taking a genuine interest. 'It was something I didn't see coming at all and it was great because it did give it a huge exposure and I suppose that's probably what gave it that extra push to bring the Special Congress forward and to get it passed.' GAA legend TJ Reid's wife Niamh and daughter wear shorts in support of camogie stars Camogie Association president Brian Molloy acknowledged it had been a 'challenging couple of weeks' for players. He wants the focus on camogie to translate into larger crowds — and revealed his ambition to pack out Croke Park for the August 10 All-Ireland finals. Advertisement Molloy said: 'I want all those people to keep their attention on camogie over the next number of weeks and months so that on August 10, we can fill the whole of Croke Park. We've never done it before.'
Irish Independent
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
GAA as it happened: Dramatic day of action serves up a big win for Dublin against Galway
There's was bumper day of GAA action across both codes today with Dublin and Galway's All-Ireland group stage clash taking top billing. We'll also had the Leinster camogie final as the skorts controversy rages on. Niall McIntyre brought you all the action from around the country as it happens. Live scores: All-Ireland SFC Kerry 3-18 Roscommon 0-17 (full-time) Galway 2-14 v Dublin 1-18 (full-time) Leinster SHC Galway 6-27 Antrim 1-14 (full-time) Wexford 2-17 v Offaly 1-17 (full-time) Tailteann Cup Offaly 1-18 Waterford 1-13 (full-time) Kildare 3-19 Tipperary 1-11 (full-time) Limerick 1-18 Antrim 1-10 (full-time) Wicklow 0-8 v Laois 0-10 (half-time) Joe McDonagh Cup Down 2-26 Kerry 2-19 (full-time) Carlow 7-23 Westmeath 4-22 (full-time) Christy Ring Cup Derry 2-30 Wicklow 1-13 (full-time) Donegal 0-28 Meath 3-14 (full-time) London 4-20 Tyrone 1-13 (full-time) Nicky Rackard Cup Fermanagh 1-22 Mayo 3-16 (full-time) Roscommon 4-17 Louth 0-20 (full-time) Armagh 0-23 Sligo 3-13 (full-time) Leinster MHC semi-final Kilkenny 4-19 Dublin 3-10 (full-time) Leinster Senior Camogie final Kilkenny 0-20 v Wexford 1-6 (full-time) 16 minutes ago Watch Tom Lahiff's winning score here. GAA+ on Twitter / X The winning score! 👊🔥Dublin come away from Salthill with the points!Football clips brought to you by AIB GAA #TheToughest GAA+ (@GAAPlusOfficial) May 17, 2025 42 minutes ago 'That's the Mike Breen that I've been waiting for' – Kerry boss Jack O'Connor hails star man after Roscommon win 'That's the Mike Breen that I've been waiting for' – Kerry boss Jack O'Connor hails star man after Roscommon win Breaking ball, tackles, turnovers, points, assists, Mike Breen did a little bit of everything for his side in Fitzgerald Stadium on a sweltering Saturday afternoon. 43 minutes ago 'Daniel Flynn gets Kildare's Tailteann Cup campaign off to flyer in Tipperary routing' Daniel Flynn gets Kildare's Tailteann Cup campaign off to flyer in Tipperary routing Two goals from Daniel Flynn and an Alex Beirne penalty maintained Kildare's winning start to the Tailteann Cup with a 14-point victory away to Tipperary. 48 minutes ago 'Kilkenny crowned Leinster camogie champions as final goes ahead amid skort controversy' Kilkenny crowned Leinster camogie champions as final goes ahead amid skort controversy Kilkenny are the Leinster Senior Camogie champions after a messy performance in Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday afternoon. Today 01:43 PM Dublin do it at the death. Tom Lahiff kicks the winner just as the hooter sounds, after a well-worked move. A super finish to an epic game as Dublin win 1-18 to 2-14. Ciaran Kilkenny is named man-of-the-match. A huge win for the Dubs away from home, with their backs against the wall. Today 01:41 PM Galway draw level. Matthew Tierney fists over to level the game with 1 minute remaining. Today 01:39 PM Today 01:37 PM Wexford defeat Offaly by 3 points on a scoreline of 2-17 to 1-17, Lee Chin's goal in added time proving the difference maker. Today 01:34 PM Wexford go 4 clear. A Conor McDonald white flag is followed by a Lee Chin goal to the delight of the home crowd. Today 01:32 PM A Lee Chin free draws Wexford level again, 1-16 a piece. Today 01:30 PM A lovely ball by Kieran Molloy finds John Maher who levels the game, 2-13 to 1-16. Today 01:29 PM A Dan Ravenhill 65 edges Offaly back ahead by 1. Today 01:28 PM Points from Cathal Dunbar and Rory O'Connor draw Wexford level with Offaly. Today 01:26 PM A goal for Galway! A high ball in from McDaid is flicked on by Matthew Tierney and Rob Finnerty finishes to the net to put Galway within 1. Today 01:23 PM Lorcan O'Dell is having some second half. He slots over his third of the half to put Dublin 3 in front after 53 minutes. Today 01:16 PM Lorcan O'Dell adds another but Rob Finnerty cancels this out down the other end with a free. Dublin still lead by 2. Today 01:14 PM Rob Finnerty strikes a lovely effort over off the left to reduce the deficit to 2 again. Today 01:13 PM Wexford score 3 points in a row to put them level with Offaly, 1-12 a piece. Live Blog Software
Irish Independent
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Kilkenny crowned Leinster camogie champions as final goes ahead amid skort controversy
Kilkenny are the Leinster Senior Camogie champions after a messy performance in Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday afternoon.
Irish Independent
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Kerry's Munster Intermediate camogie final against Cork deferred until after Special Congress
A short statement from the Munster Camogie Council on Sunday evening said: 'After much deliberation the executive of the Munster Camogie Council have decided to defer the Intermediate final between Kerry and Cork due to take place on May 18 until after Special Congress on May 22. We apologise if this decision is inconveniencing any of our members.' The Special Congress has been convened to address the ongoing controversy regarding wearing of skorts by the players, and their wish to have the skorts replaced by shorts, or at least for the players to have the choice of playing in shorts or skorts. The Munster Senior camogie championship final between Cork and Waterford, scheduled to take place this weekend, was called off at short notice by the Munster Council because the Cork and Waterford players had said they would show up for the final all togged out in shorts and they would not back down. By rule, the match referee would have to request the players to change into skorts, and if they refused to do so then the game would have to be abandoned before the throw-in. While there was no official word from the Kerry and Cork teams ahead of the Intermediate final, The Kerryman understands that the players of both teams were expected to line out in next Sunday's final all wearing shorts. Speaking to The Kerryman last week, Kerry player Niamh Leen said herself and her team mates have 'wanted to get rid of the skorts for years'. While the issue of skorts has been raised occasionally over the last few years, the matter came to a head last week when the Dublin and Kilkenny players came out for their Leinster Senior Camogie semi-final all wearing shorts. With the threat of the game being abandoned and both teams forfeiting their place in the championship, the players returned to the dressing-rooms, changed into skorts and played the game. But the fuse had been lit. Cork and Waterford escalated the protest by stressing they wouldn't be for turning in the Munster Senior final, and it is believed Kerry and Cork were going to follow suit in the Intermediate final. Sunday's Ulster Senior camogie final between Antrim and Derry went ahead as scheduled, but only after some Derry players changed out of the shorts they wore before the start of the game. Some, though not all, Derry players emerged for the final wearing shorts. When the referee enforced the rule on skorts, those Derry players in question changed into skorts and the game was played. The two Munster finals have now been deferred until after Special Congress when delegates will be asked to vote on the introduction of a rule to allow players the option to wear skorts or shorts. If passed, it will go into effect almost immediately.
