Camogie president challenges skorts critics to put money where mouth is for final

Big talk!

Camogie president Brian Molloy has challenged the public to come out and support this Sunday's All-Ireland finals at Croke Park.

Armagh take on Laois in the junior final at 1pm, Kerry play Offaly in the intermediate final at 3pm, before Cork face Galway in the showpiece at 5.15pm.

It has been a tumultuous year for the sport, with the skorts controversy coming to a head.

The rise against the mandatory wearing of skorts began in earnest before the Leinster semi-final between Dublin and Kilkenny.

Both teams warmed up in shorts, but were forced to change when officials threatened to abandon the game.

More protests followed, with the the Munster senior final deferred when both Cork and Waterford announced that they would not play in skorts.

Following much criticism from fans and LFGA and GAA greats, a Special Congress was called where members overwhelmingly voted in favour of allowing players to choose between skorts or shorts.

Molloy has called on anyone who was vocal at the time to use their platforms once again and promote Sunday's finals.

He said: “There was a huge amount of comment all through May on the skorts issue.

“There were TikToks and WhatsApps and all sorts of Instagram and Facebook (posts) and all that. All really good, all really positive.

“There were loads of media interviews, the vast majority of which, I’d say, was positive. There were some who didn’t really understand the situation, but those who understand camogie, understand Gaelic games and understand sports understood what the process was.

“And we got there. The vast majority of those people that commented at that time made it very clear they wanted to make a point in support of the voice of the female athletes, in support of female participation in sport.

“And if that’s the case, and I have no reason to believe it isn’t, their social media accounts should be as lit up this week calling on all of their followers, their constituents, their supporters to get to Croke Park on Sunday and demonstrate physical, tangible support for the women that in May they called on the Association to support.

“A lot of politicians were involved, a lot of senators, a lot of TDs, a lot of ministers. I want to see all those people using their position of influence in a positive way now for the camogie players and urging their supporters to come to Croke Park on Sunday.”