Skorts saga comes to an end as Camogie Association votes overwhelmingly in favour of letting players wear shorts
CAMOGIE chiefs have voted in favour of allowing players to wear either shorts or skorts with immediate effect after recent protests.
At tonight's Special Congress, 98 per cent of delegates voted in support of giving players choice.
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Camogie players will have a choice between shorts and skorts
Credit: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Camogie Association President Brian Molloy said: 'We are pleased to announce that delegates have voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of giving players greater choice in their playing attire.
'From midnight tonight, each individual player will have the option to wear skorts or shorts - adding choice while maintaining the professionalism and uniformity of our team kits in both colour and design.
'I want to sincerely thank our incredible volunteers for their ongoing support over the last few weeks, and to our delegates for voting on behalf of over 120,000 members, including 94,000 playing members.
'As the All-Ireland Championships begin this weekend, we ask everyone to support their teams, drive higher attendances at all upcoming games, and help us fill Croke Park for the finals on August 10th.'
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It brings to an end a controversy that has dogged camogie and has seen player-led protests against the hugely unpopular use of skorts.
Reacting to the vote, the GPA said: 'We welcome the result of this evening's vote for choice at the Camogie Association Special Congress.
'The GPA would like to put on the record our admiration for camogie players across Ireland and beyond, both at inter-county and club level, who made their voices heard to ensure this outcome.
'To our own membership who have led the campaign for choice, we salute your willingness to stand up for both yourselves, and future generations of camogie players.
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'We thank the delegates who listened to players' call for choice.
'The last few weeks have once again shown the necessity of putting players at the heart of decision making within Gaelic games.'
Dublin and Kilkenny camogie players wear shorts in protest against skorts
While contentious for years, the issue came to a head at the start of May when the Leinster semi-final between Dublin and Kilkenny was nearly called off.
Both teams came together to protest skorts by wearing shorts for the game, only to be told by the referee that the game would be abandoned if they did not change.
The fall-out from that controversy was swift.
Cork and Waterford both declared that they would wear shorts for the Munster senior final, which was eventually called off on 16 hours notice.
This outcry led to a change in approach from the Camogie Association.
In 2024, motions seeking to give players choice failed to amass the 66 per cent support required to pass.
The issue was not due for another vote until 2027, only for the recent row to force chiefs to bring the vote forward to Thursday night.
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Irish Independent
30 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
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The 42
an hour ago
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Irish Daily Mirror
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- Irish Daily Mirror
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'He's doing a phenomenal job and did so with Na Fianna as well. 'It was a great appointment by the Dublin county board and there was a lot of good candidates in the mix. True to Niall's form, he hasn't let anybody down. 'He's done a brilliant job and he continues to do so. We wish him the best of luck from here on out.' DUBLIN: Stephen CLUXTON 8; Eoin MURCHAN 7, Seán MacMAHON 6, Davy BYRNE 6; Brian HOWARD (1-0) 7, John SMALL (0-1) 8, Lee GANNON (0-1) 7; Peader Ó COFAIGH-BYRNE 8, Ciarán KILKENNY (0-1) 6; Killian McGINNIS 7, Seán BUGLER (0-5, 1tp) 8, Niall SCULLY (0-1) 6; Paddy SMALL (0-4) 8, Lorcan O'DELL 5, Cormac COSTELLO (0-5, 0-2f) 7. Subs: Cian Murphy for O'Dell (45), Luke Breathnach (0-1) for McGinnis (57), Tom Lahiff for Gannon (59), Nathan Doran for Scully (68). CORK: Micheál Aodh MARTIN (0-1 '45') 7; Neil LORDAN 6, Daniel O'MAHONY 6, Maurice SHANLEY 7; Brian O'DRISCOLL 7, Seán BRADY 7, Mattie TAYLOR 7; Ian MAGUIRE (0-1) 7, Colm O'CALLAGHAN (0-2) 7; Paul WALSH 5, Seán WALSH (0-1) 7, Seán McDONNELL 6; Mark CRONIN (0-4, 0-2f) 7, Bran HURLEY (0-2) 7, Chris Óg JONES (1-4) 8. Subs: Eoghan McSweeney for Paul Walsh (48), Conor Cahalane for McDonnell (49-58, temp), Cathail O'Mahony (0-1) for Hurley (55), Seán Powter for Taylor (58), Luke Fahy for Lordan (63). REFEREE: Seán Hurson (Tyrone). QUOTE ME ON THAT 'We took the decision not to bring him on there. We sort of run the gauntlet on it a little bit for the last 10 minutes or so.' Dublin manager Dessie Farrell on Con O'Callaghan. STAR MAN - Chris Óg Jones (Cork) May have finished on the losing side but Jones was the best forward on view with 1-4 from play and gave Seán MacMahon a difficult evening. Will rue his other first half goal chance, however. AN OTHER - Peadar Ó Cofaigh-Byrne (Dublin) Perhaps didn't scale the heights of Newry seven days earlier, but it was still a very efficient performance from Ó Cofaigh-Byrne in the engine room, which is becoming less of a problem area for Dublin. UP NEXT DUBLIN: All-Ireland quarter-final, June 28/29. CORK: Season ends.
