Cork camogie players receive full support

Irish Independent

12-05-2025

The message of support for the Cork camogie players was provided by Cork County Councillors at Monday's full council meeting.
The Camogie Association has scheduled a ¬special congress for Thursday, May 22, which may yet ¬resolve the matter in a way that satisfies the players' legitimate concerns.
In a move to end the crisis, Camogie Association president Brian Molloy issued a special congress note, sent to all clubs and secretaries confirming that he supports the proposal to add the option of shorts for players.
Two similar motions were defeated at last year's congress — but the motion that will be put will give individual players the option to wear shorts or skorts and a team will not have to adopt shorts en masse.
The rule amendment reads: 'Uniformly dressed means players can chose to wear skirt/skort/divided skirt/shorts on an individual basis, with no requirement to wear the same item as other players in the team, as long as they are the same colour and similar design.'
A two-thirds majority will be required by delegates to pass the new motion.
If the motion is passed by delegates, the new rule will take effect from Saturday, May 24.
The controversy escalated last weekend after the Munster senior camogie final between Cork and Waterford was postponed just 16 hours before throw-in after players had threatened to walk off the pitch if they couldn't wear shorts instead of the mandatory skorts in line with the rules of the Camogie Association.
The Munster final will now be played at a later date.
In a joint statement, the Cork and Waterford senior camogie panels expressed their disappointment that the final was postponed: '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.'
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The issue was raised under Any Other Business (AOB) by Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern who requested that Cork County Council write to the Camogie Association and the Cork Camogie Board giving full support to the Cork camogie team on the progression of moving from skorts to shorts. 'I do want to fully stand behind the players on this and their choice to be allowed to wear the sports wear appropriate to them when representing their county.'
Fianna Fáil councillor Gearóid Murphy who seconded the motion said: 'It has become abundantly apparent that whatever might have been decided at the congress of the camogie association last year, the strong preference of the players at all levels is for an option to wear shorts while playing competitive games.
'Any other possible arguments supporting a skort as part of a uniform kit become irrelevant in light of this fact. I do believe the congress of the camogie association will make the right decision next week,' he added.