Stripeywomen on top as skort issue highlighted
By Aoife Lanigan, PRO
Leinster Senior Camogie Semi Final
Kilkenny 4-11 Dublin 2-12
Kilkenny are through to the Leinster Senior Final after they defeated a determined Dublin in St Peregrine’s GAA, Dublin last Saturday.
The match went ahead after the two teams had come out for the warm up wearing shorts in protest of the ‘skort’. Both Captains went for the coin toss when match officials noticed them wearing the shorts, they were told that the match would be abandoned if they did not go back into the changing rooms and change into their skorts. So both teams went in and changed, so the match could go ahead.
When the match did start, Dublin opened the scoring with a point through Aoife McKearney from a placed ball. A minute later, Kate Nolan pulled on the sliotar towards the Dublin goal. Dublin’s goalkeeper came off her line, but Kilkenny’s corner forward Steffi Fitzgerald was quickest to react to the sliotar and she doubled on it to the back of the net
Sinead Wylde & Laura Murophy (f) traded points. In the 6th minute, Kilkenny were awarded a free in their own half, but due to a Dublin players dissent, the free was brought forward. Niamh Deely took the free, sending in a high ball, both backs & forwards went for the sliotar, but Aoife Prendergast connected and it ended up in the back of the Dublin net. Kilkenny added another three points through Laura Murphy (2fs) & Steffi Fitzgerald.
In the 13th minute, Dublin’s Aisling Maher ran at speed towards the Kilkenny goal & she hit an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner of the net. Aoife McKearney added another pointed free for Dublin.
Aoife Prendergast got in for her second foal for Kilkenny when the sliotar was played out of the visitors defence by Niamh Deely, Steffi Fitzgerald caught the sliotar and laid off a perfect handpass to Prendergast & she rattled the back of the Dublin net.
Dublin then hit the final three scores of the first half, through Aoife McKearney (f), Aisling Maher (f) & Claire Gannon to leave the interval score 3-4 to 1-6 in favour of the Cats.
On the resumption of play, Kilkenny extended their lead further, scoring 1-2 without reply. The points coming from Laura Murphy (f) & Aoife Prendergast. The goal was scored by Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, after receiving a pass from Aoife Prendergast.
From the 35th to 50th minute, both teams exchanged three points apiece, Kilkenny’s points came from Katie Nolan, Mary O’Connell & Laura Murphy (f) & Dublin’s points came from Aisling Maher (f), Grace O’Shea & Sinead Wylde.
In the 51st minute, Dublin were awarded a 45m free, Aisling Maher struck a well taken shot towards the goal, it was blocked out by the Kilkenny defence but Dublin’s Grace O’Shea reacted quickest to the loose sliotar & doubled on it to the back of the net
Heading towards the full time whistle, Sinead Wylde & Aisling Maher (f) added a point each for Dublin, while Kellyann Doyle & Sophie Holden slotted over a point apiece for Kilkenny to leave the final score Kilkenny 4-11 Dublin 2-12
Kilkenny will now play Wexford in the Leinster Senior Final on 17th May, time & venue to be confirmed.
Scorers – Kilkenny – Aoife Prendergast 2-1, Laura Murphy 0-5 (5f), Steffi Fitzgerald 1-1, Caoimhe Keher Murtagh 1-0, Katie Nolan, Mary O’Connell, Kellyann Doyle, Sophie Holden 0-1 each
Dublin – Aisling Maher 1-4 (4f), Grace O’Shea 1-1, Aoife McKearney 0-3 (3f), Sinead Wylde 0-3, Claire Gannon 0-1
Kilkenny: Aoife Norris, Michelle Teehan, Tiffanie Fitzgerald, Ava Brett, Niamh Deely, Caoimhe Dowling, Katie Power (Capt), Sarah Barcoe, Laura Greene, Mary O’Connell, Laura Murphy, Caoimhe Keher Murtagh, Katie Nolan, Aoife Prendergast, Steffi Fitzgerald
Subs – Kellyann Doyle for Katie Nolan, Aobha O’Gorman for Laura Greene, Sophie Holden for Sarah Barcoe, Ali Kennedy, Ciara Phelan, Miriam Bambrick, Danielle Quigley, Asha McHardy, Carlise Comerford, Maria Brennnan, Sophie O’Dwyer, Sinead O’Keeffe, Mairead Kennedy, Claire Doheny, Katiie Byrne, Niamh Crowley
Dublin: Eimear Hurley, Abby Ryan, Hannah Leddy, Emma O’Byrne, Claire Gannon, Kerrie Finnegan, Sarah Power, Gaby Couch, Aoife McKearney, Sinead Wylde, Grace O’Shea, Sibeal Cherry, Aisling Gannon, Emma Moran, Aisling Maher
Subs – Jennifer Moore for , Aisling O’Neill for , Aoife Heffernan for , Mia Farrell, Niamh Comerford, Aoife Kenny, Emily Adderly, Christine Shanahan, Aoife Higgins, Aine Rafter, Emma Flanagan, Grainne Skelton, Roisin Ni Chathasaigh, Zoe Couch, Issabel Davis
>>> SHERRY SAYS…….
Let’s stop ‘skirting’ around the issue
The year is 2025, the world is an unpredictable place, but one thing that can be guaranteed is the rights of our camogs to be ignored when it comes to their playing attire. Let’s get one thing straight – the players make the game, without them, there are no games. Both Dublin and Kilkenny made the point last weekend, ahead of their Leinster semi-final clash at St Peregrine’s GAA club, Blanchardstown, both teams took to the field wearing shorts, but were advised by officials, that if they didn’t change into the ‘traditional’ skort, the game would be abandoned. Shocking.
There are many that believe the sides should have refused to change and stood firm, but perhaps now this ‘dated’ tradition can be addressed and the views of the players respected, but more importantly, acted on. The traditional skort is mandated playing attire for camogie players, a rule maintained at the 2024 Camogie Congress, at which four motions related to changing the rule were defeated. The Association’s president, Brian Molloy said he would continue to engage with players on the issue of wearing skorts. ‘Continue to engage’, why thank you Mr. President.
A recent Gaelic Players Association study revealed that 70% of inter-county camogie players find skorts uncomfortable and a whopping 83% of players at least want the right to choose between wearing skorts and shorts. Interestingly, 65% expressed concerns that wearing the skort exposed them in media content, which affected their mental state. While 49% experienced feelings of anxiety around period leaks.
This policy paper that the GPA prepared, in conjunction with the European Athletes and Players Association, examined the wearing of skorts from a player welfare perspective. Alongside Sport Ireland’s Women in Sport Policy, which encourages National Governing Bodies to ensure that women and girls feel safe, respected, and confident in their sporting environments, the paper also refers to UNESCO’s International Charter of Physical Education, Physical Activity and Sport, which advocates that athletes should feel safe, confident, and respected when participating in sport, without discrimination or fear of discomfort.
Following Kilkenny’s victory over the Metropolitans, Dublin captain, Aisling Maher posted an important statement on Instagram: “Career low for me today when 60+ players ready to play a championship game in shorts are told their match will be abandoned if every player doesn’t change into skorts.” “I love this game but I’m sick of being forced to wear a skort that is uncomfortable and unfit for purpose.” “How are female players still having to push for permission to wear shorts while they compete at the highest level of their sport.” “In no other facet of my life does someone dictate that I have to wear something resembling a skirt because I am a girl. Why is it happening in my sport?”
Camogs across the island of Ireland need to stand firm on this, players have spoken and made their views and wishes known. One thing is certain, our female sports people cannot and should not have to wait until 2027, when the Camogie Assocation are due to next vote on this urgent matter. Perhaps disruption to the playing schedule is needed to bring change about, but it doesn’t need to come to that. The minister for sport, Patrick O’Donovan may need to step in and ensure the right thing is done.
