All-Ireland champions Cork set to defy skort rule for Munster final even if game gets abandoned

LAST UPDATE | 28 mins ago

CORK CAPTAIN MÉABH Cahalane has confirmed that the All-Ireland champions intend to protest against the Camogie Association’s skort rule in Saturday’s Munster final with Waterford on Saturday.

Waterford are expected to also take a stance at The Ragg, with the counties set to make a collaborative stance on the issue similar to that taken by Dublin and Kilkenny in last weekend’s Leinster final.

That fixture came close to being abandoned when both panels lined out in shorts, with the majority of camogie players in the country believing skorts to be uncomfortable and a greater majority still believing that players should have the option of wearing shorts instead should they so prefer.

Play between Dublin and Kilkenny commenced only when the players all changed into skorts, leading Dublin captain Aisling Maher to describe the incident as a “career low” in an Instagram post which subsequently received national attention.

And speaking to Cork’s 96FM GAA reporter Finbarr McCarthy on Wednesday, Rebels skipper Méabh Cahalane confirmed that her side intend to wear shorts against The Déise in Tipperary this Saturday even if it results in the match being abandoned.

“Us as Cork players, we’re with the majority of camogie players around the country,” Cahalane said. “That’s something that camogie players are feeling strongly about. That’s something we support.

“We’re hoping to make our own stance this weekend but we really hope that it doesn’t come to that.”

Cahalane confirmed to 96FM that Cork had voted among themselves to wear shorts this weekend, adding of the potential consequences that “we got wind that the match might be abandoned if that was the case but we’re just hoping that it won’t come to that.

“We have the support of all our panel. We respect the decision of every camogie player around the country. And we’re willing to stand with that.

“The thing is, you just don’t want young girls or any camogie players around the country feeling that they can’t play camogie because they’re uncomfortable or they don’t like the image of wearing a skort. I know people are complaining about photos that might have gone on papers or social media of them playing camogie. That’s probably the main thing.

“The LGFA (women’s football), they wear shorts. I don’t see the difference between the two sports, so if that’s something that camogie players feel strongly about around the country, the change has to be made. We’re willing to support that.”

A Gaelic Players’ Association survey published last week revealed that 70% of inter-county camogie players found the skort to be uncomfortable, while 83% believe that the individual player should be allowed to choose between shorts or the skort.

However, four separate motions brought to the Camogie Congress in 2024 relating to playing gear were defeated.

It has been suggested that the 2027 Camogie Congress will be the next available opportunity to address this issue, amid growing calls for the association to relax these rules, although RTÉ Sport have reported that the Camogie Association will bring forward a motion to be discussed before their Annual Congress in 2026.

Ahead of Saturday’s Munster final, Cork manager Ger Manley told 96FM that he and his backroom staff would support their players irrespective of the consequences of their intended protest.

And Manley, who guided The Rebels to All-Ireland success last year, called on Camogie Association president Brian Molloy to intervene sooner than next year’s Congress to protect both players and the game.

“We’ll fully back them,” Manley said of his Cork players. “To wear a skort, the girls find it awkward.

“At times, there’s uncompromising pictures taken of the girls and I think they’re not comfortable. They train in shorts, all the training gear they get. The ladies’ footballers play in shorts.

“Common sense should prevail, really. The president, Brian Molloy, needs to step in now and say, ‘Look, enough’s enough. If this is what they want, give it to them.’

“There’s no matches without players. You won’t have camogie if there’s no players playing.”

On Tuesday night, county champions St Vincent’s and opponents Good Counsel were among the Dublin clubs who opted to defy camogie’s skort rule.

All players from St Vincent’s and several Good Counsel players opted to wear shorts for their Division One encounter.

The Mirror reported on Tuesday that Dublin County Board had instructed referees not to abandon club games in which players chose to wear shorts. The County Board will instead fine clubs €1 so that they are technically compliant with the association’s rule.