'I'd say 99% of camogie players are against skorts', believes Sarsfields' Clodagh McGrath

McGrath said she is largely in favour of the ongoing trials of new rules in camogie though would love to see officials also do away with 'ridiculous' skorts.

SARS STAR: Clodagh McGrath of Sarsfields, Galway, pictured at the launch of this year's AIB Camogie All-Ireland Club Championships and the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

A top camogie club player chasing a three-in-a-row of AIB All-Ireland senior club titles has hit out at the 'archaic' and 'outdated' rule regarding players wearing skorts.

Sarsfields' Clodagh McGrath, Player of the Match in last weekend's Galway senior decider, reckons '99% of players' would agree with her too.

Camogie is currently trialling a number of new rules in third level league games with a view to potentially implementing them across the board.

The trials include quick puck-outs, shoulder to shoulder contact and a 'mark' for clean catching beyond the 45-metre line from your own puck-out.

Speaking at the launch of the AIB club championships, McGrath said she is largely in favour of the trials though would love to see officials also do away with the requirement for players to wear 'ridiculous' skorts.

Camogie Association rules state that playing gear 'must consist of', among other things, 'skirt/skort/divided skirt'.

"I would say that if they took a vote of every player in Ireland, I would say there'd be 99% of players (against it)," said McGrath.

"If you go down to the training pitch, players are wearing shorts to training. They're not comfortable, the skorts. It's such an archaic thing, it's so outdated.

"I don't even think that's an opinionated view. I think that's just common sense. Nobody wears a skort down in training. I don't get it. I think it's ridiculous.

"I just think in this day and age when we're talking about progress and everything else, like, if I was to go out and play against the Munster champions in the All-Ireland semi-final in a pair of shorts, our club would get fined. I welcome that being changed to be completely honest.

"I think it's a little bit petty, I think it's just a bit silly."

The one trial rule that McGrath isn't fully sure about relates to the handpass. A player must demonstrate a 'clear striking action'.

"I think that's a hard one to police because it is a very fast game," said McGrath.

"It puts a lot of attention on referees to make calls and then if they pull for one hand-pass the consistency has to be there. That's the only thing I'd be a little bit concerned about, I don't know how they'll police it."