Limerick dual players must choose code over latest fixtures clash
The Limerick ladies footballers are scheduled to play Wicklow in the Division 4 league semi-final at Portarlington, while the county’s senior camogie team are also in action against Galway in the Division 1 semi-final.
Throw-in times have not yet been confirmed for either fixture, but both games, at the time of going to print, were pencilled in for Sunday.
Not willing to accept the clash of fixtures, a letter on behalf of the Limerick camogie set-up was sent to Croke Park requesting a change of fixture. The Limerick ladies football board also travelled a similar route, with a letter, dated Saturday, April 10, sent to LFGA chief executive Helen O’Rourke.
In the letter from the Limerick ladies football board, it is speculated that the ladies football game will throw-in at 2pm in Portarlington, with the camogie match commencing in Birr at 4pm.
Such start times would make it impossible for Delee and Richardson to line out in both games, therefore leaving the two players with the unenviable task of having to choose one team over the other.
Such is their desperation to ensure that the dual pair, starting members of both teams, do not have to choose one code over the other, officers of the Treaty ladies football board, with the agreement of management, have offered to play Wicklow at 11am on Sunday morning or at a Dublin venue under floodlights on Saturday evening.
“Limerick camogie have requested, unsuccessfully, to change their fixture to accommodate the two players involved. We have requested that Wicklow play the match on Saturday, April 16, at any time that suits them but they have refused our request due to girls working and playing soccer,” the letter states.
“Our understanding was that every effort would be made between the LGFA and the Camogie Association to ensure that dual players from every county would be accommodated to play their respective games and that solutions would be found where a fixture clash occurs.
“Limerick, as you know, is a proud dual county, with a strong sporting tradition. We are very conscious of player welfare and player burn out.”
Both Limerick camps are hopeful of a resolution being found after the camogie team saw their play-off against Cork last month brought forward by 24 hours to avoid a clash of fixtures concerning Cork dual players Rena Buckley, Briege Corkery and Hannah Looney; the Cork camogie and ladies football teams had both, initially, been earmarked for action on Sunday, April 3.
Limerick players and management are determined to ensure that all counties are treated equally, irrespective of grade or standing.
In her recent report to Congress, Camogie Ard Stiúrthóir Joan O’Flynn said: “At the end of the 2015 inter-county season, I proposed a protocol to the LGFA to avoid, minimise and manage the unnecessary clashing of national (and particularly championship) fixtures involving dual players in 2016.
“The Camogie and Ladies Football Associations agreed that: direct clashes between the same age groups in both codes at national level will not occur.”
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