Giles: cutbacks are inevitable

A SMALLER cost base has allowed ladies football and camogie to avoid the worst of the economic downturn so far, but both sports will need to brace themselves in the months ahead, according to Cumann Peil na mBan president, Geraldine Giles.

Their GAA counterparts are budgeting for a €6 million shortfall this year and president Nickey Brennan even felt the need to warn delegates at Monday night’s Leinster Council convention that counties “will have to cut back”.

Giles said: “It hasn’t hit us unduly as of yet but there is no doubt that it probably will in the next 12 months or so.

“Everyone is going to have to cut down. Sponsorship and the flow of money will decrease. Our most successful counties will probably hold their own but others will probably struggle a bit more.

“Our counties have always been resilient and resourceful. They survive on a lot less than their male counterparts and I have no doubt but that they will be able to come through these tough times.”

Finance isn’t the only asset being squeezed. Playing personnel is being sapped by a rising tide of emigration.

“It will definitely affect us too,” said Giles. “A lot of girls coming out of college can’t find work and they will have to go abroad. Others will take career breaks or a year out where before they would have stayed around to play with their county.”

There was news of a more uplifting nature yesterday with Cork’s Aoife Murray and Monaghan’s Ciara McAnespie named camogie and ladies football player of the year respectively at a reception in Dublin.

Murray’s nomination, as well as CIT’s Sigerson Cup triumph last weekend, have been welcome shafts of light in what has been the Rebel County’s darkest hour but the camogie star doesn’t believe the hurling dispute has increased the onus for success on the female sides.

“We just have to concentrate on ourselves. As the camogie team, we have a lot to live up to in Cork anyway. People expect that we are going to get to an All-Ireland final. A semi-final or a Munster wouldn’t be a good year now.

“With everything that is going on with the hurlers, I do find there are more people asking us how things are going. There seems to be a little bit more attention being paid to the camogie and ladies football. Hopefully, it will be another good year for both of us.”

Murray’s award caps yet another superb season for the Cork senior camogie side who have now claimed three of the last four All-Ireland titles and competed in every final since 2001.

Yesterday’s announcements were unusual for the fact that McAnespie was on the losing side last September and Murray was her side’s goalkeeper.

“It’s not often that goalies get awards like these, so that does make it even more special for myself, but it is hard to accept it without thinking about everyone else on the team. I really believe that I am here representing the team.”

Murray enjoyed an eventful day in last year’s final against Galway when, after conceding a soft goal in the first-half, she redeemed herself with a succession of superb saves. “I was just doing my job,” she said.