28-05-2025
No short-term appetite to fix dual clashes
The issue regarding dual players being forced to chose between camogie and ladies football teams is unlikely to be fully resolved before any potential integration, according to former Donegal football captain Nadine Doherty.
The deadline for amalgamation of the GAA, Camogie Association and Ladies Gaelic Football Association had been pencilled in for 2027, though the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) has voiced its concerns that there has been little concrete progress.
The Steering Group on Integration, chaired by former president Mary McAleese, today insisted that "complex process" remains on track, with one of the issues that it is hoped can be tackled properly the demands on dual players.
Cork dual players Libby Coppinger, Hannah Looney and Aoife Healy will have to choose between codes on Saturday, 21 June as both the Cork camogie and ladies football teams are in All-Ireland championship action that afternoon.
It is an annual issue for a certain cohort of dual players, though that Saturday is the sole weekend when the two Cork teams are in All-Ireland group stage action on the same weekend.
The Cork footballers take on Mayo in what is likely to be a knockout fixture for the second and final qualifying spot in Group 2 of the All-Ireland SFC, while the camogie team are at home to Clare in Round 4 of the All-Ireland series.
Former Donegal footballer Doherty is sceptical that any meaningful change will occur before any integration.
"I don't think it's viewed as important, by either the Camogie Association or the LGFA," she told listeners on RTÉ's Game On.
"One of the reasons I think that is because of the view it only affects a few.
"I don't think there is any appetite whatsoever to fix this in the short term. That's why I was so glad to read in the statement that there will be a centralised fixtures committee.
"The LGFA and Camogie Association come out every year and say they have tried to avoid this (situation), that they sit down together, but due to pitch availability, television schedules… I'm not going to say excuses, they are valid reasons, but it's just been put on the long finger.
