Camogie Association bow to pressure and confirm Special Congress on skorts
Saturday's Munster final between Cork and Waterford had been under threat. Picture: ©INPHO/Tom Maher
Saturday's Munster camogie final between Cork and Waterford may not go ahead, with both teams expected to persist with plans to play the match wearing shorts.
On Thursday, the Camogie Association bowed to pressure from players over the ongoing skort controversy and confirmed it will hold a Special Congress on May 22nd at Croke Park.
The Congress will consider one or more motions on providing players with the choice to wear shorts or skorts. Any new rule on skorts would come into effect from later this month.
It remains to be seen if the Association's announcement will change players' plans to refuse to play if they are required to change into skorts.
The Munster Camogie Association was due to meet Thursday night, with some sources suggesting the game may yet be postponed until after the skort issue has been resolved.
Last Saturday, Kilkenny and Dublin players wore shorts for their Leinster semi-final, but changed into skorts before the throw-in to allow the game take place.
Dublin captain Aisling Maher welcomed the Association's announcement.
“I really welcome the news that Camogie are recognising how significant this issue is for players, that they've obviously realised that postponing this issue until 2026, never mind 2027, is just not seen enough. So I really welcome news that it'll be addressed this year,” she told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
“I would hope that this can be dealt with in a common sense way. Obviously, the conversation that we had at the time of our game against Kilkenny last weekend was that if we proceeded in shorts, the game would be abandoned."
Maher suggested the Cork and Waterford players should be allowed to play in shorts on Saturday.
“I know a number of games have since been held at club level in a number of the counties where the approach that has been taken has been to ask the ref to note any players that are wearing shorts and as it is in breach of present playing rules to report it to the county board or the organisation that's governing the game at that time.
“So I would like to think that the players in Cork and Waterford who have made it very clear that they want to play their Munster final on Saturday in shorts, that they'll be there ready to go, play, put on a great display for everybody who's going to hopefully go to support them.
"I would like to think a similar approach can be taken to ensure that they are allowed to continue to play this game in what feels comfortable for them, because it would be a backwards step to expect players in the interim of getting this across the line to wear skorts.”
When asked if the referee would be expected to “turn a blind eye” if players come out in shorts for the Munster final, Ms Maher said that the onus should not be on referees “in the middle of the pitch” or the players on the day to deal with the issue.
“It should be dealt with at a higher level by the administration. So between the Camogie Association and the county boards involved, I think both Waterford and Camogie county boards have come out in support of their players wearing what they feel is comfortable and appropriate for them to wear on Saturday. So I would rather see it dealt with on an administration level than for players and referees.”
Cork's GPA respresentative Laura Treacy, speaking before the confirmation of a Special Congress, told 96fm that Cork and Waterford were united on the issue.
"We’re both singing from the same hymn sheet. Both teams will be going out in shorts and we won’t be changing. What happens after that... it’s been made quite clear that the game will be abandoned and I guess there is a high likelihood that is going to happen now on Saturday. It’s something we as players don’t want to happen."
The Camogie Association confirmed that the skort motions will be decided by Congress delegates as usual, not players, stressing that "delegates represent all members of the Association including all of our players".
It adds: "The Association had proposed to deal with this issue at next year’s Congress but having listened to player feedback, the Association recognises that waiting until 2026 is not acceptable for many.
"Although similar motions did not pass at the 2024 Congress, the Association is committed to representing the voices of players who wish to have a choice in their playing attire. If the motion(s) passes, the new rule(s) - allowing the option to wear skorts or shorts - would take effect from May 24th 2025."
As previously announced by the Association, a working group to examine the comfort, fit, design and overall performance of playing wear will remain in place.
Camogie Uachtarán Brian Molloy said: "Our goal is to deliver, as quickly as possible, a best-in-class playing uniform designed for female players and allowing for individual choice.”
It adds: "The Camogie Association remains committed to respecting the democratic process in all decisions that affect all of our members, while ensuring the game evolves in a way that reflects the needs and voices of its players."
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