Twinning of camogie and U21 hurling finals ‘absolutely wonderful’

THE President of the Camogie Association, Liz Howard, paid tribute to the GAA for agreeing to Sunday’sdouble-header in Croke Park involving their senior camogie championship decider and the All-Ireland U-21 hurling final.

Cork and Tipperary will be meeting in the camogie final for the seventh time in eight years and Tipperary and Kilkenny will be involved in the hurling game, which is first on the programme.

Former president Sean Kelly and current president Nickey Brennan had both been influential in the decision, but Liz Howard singled out Leinster Chairman Liam O’Neill — the liaison officer between the two bodies — for his special support.

“The twinning of the two games is absolutely wonderful for a number of reasons,’’ said Ms Howard. “It brings the hurling family together and to me that is very important. For a number of years we split that audience. Can you imagine the reaction if we had the Tipperary hurling fraternity at one venue next Sunday and the camogie fraternity here in Croke Park?

“Basically, we’re drawing from the same catchment area. Those who love camogie love hurling as well.’’

From the Camogie Association’s perspective, she said the ‘twinning’ was a wonderful example of integration at its best. Last year (when the two finals were again played on the same day), there was a small attendance at the U21 final in Thurles. To have ‘split’ the games this time would be ‘a travesty.’

“I am very happy this is happening on Sunday, because you have the best exponents of camogie in action. In terms of fitness, Tipperary probably raised the bar in terms of fitness and skill with Michael Cleary, but Cork, great learners that they are, outsmarted them last year. I am expecting a wonderful game between two extraordinarily skilful teams, probably two of the greatest teams I have ever seen.

“And then you have the old rivalry in the hurling between Tipperary and Kilkenny, and you are building on the success of Kilkenny in the senior final on Sunday and Tipperary in the minor final. All that brings a new excitement and a new zest to Sunday. I just hope that people will travel in numbers.”

“It is also a great opportunity for family people to attend, who couldn’t get tickets for last Sunday.’’

One result of the decision to play the hurling and camogie finals together is that the All-Ireland junior camogie final had to be taken out of Croke Park. Ms Howard’s view was that while she was concerned the junior counties had been ‘discommoded,’ they had to take account of the bigger picture.

“At times you have to offend people to achieve what you really want,’’ she said — “and that is to raise the profile of camogie. We will look at the junior final next year and maybe fit it in with a hurling or football qualifier game.’’

In terms of the U21 hurling game being first on the programme, she said that counties had no problem with this. And, while she agreed that it would be counter-productive to be putting a priority on either game, the fact of the matter was that the camogie final ‘was the major fixture.’

Cork have a doubt about the fitness of full-back Caitriona Foley (Rockbawn) who was injured playing in a ladies football game. She had taken over the position from Rosarie Holland, who has gone from last year’s team, along with Vivien Harris and former captain Stephanie Dunlea.