Considering that Cork claimed their second successive All-Ireland camogie title earlier this year, you would assume that manager Paudie Murray, would be using these festive days to reflect on their achievement and level of progression.
But speaking to the Irish Examiner, Murray confesses that he cannot allow himself to dwell on their silverware because he has witnessed the depth of inequality that continues to stifle Ladies GAA.
The Cork senior camogie manager recalls an incident in 2013, when his side were presented with sub-standard dressing room facilities on the day of their national league semi-final against Clare. According to Murray's memory, there was a gaping hole in the ceiling of the dressing room, allowing a stream of water to pour through, thus making it an unacceptable environment for players to adequately prepare for the challenge that lay ahead.
Some of the players endured the inhospitable conditions while the rest of the squad retreated to the team bus for somewhere more appropriate to get changed.
President makes his way out to meet @GalwayCamogie96 and @CorkCamogie_ pic.twitter.com/wJ3QGy8SqS
— sportswomen_ie (@sportswomenIRL) September 13, 2015
Further to that, Paudie Murray is still seething about the fixture clashes that forced dual players into a scenario where they were asked to line out for the inter-county football and camogie outfits in championship fixtures that were literally hours apart. He also laments that referees are- for the most part- not obliged to summon neutral linesmen for round-robin league games.
''No one will give you respect. You have to get it. How can you get it if you tolerate that? I brought that to the attention of someone in Croke Park and they did nothing about it. We have gone into pitches where the grass is a half a foot long and it is considered acceptable.
Super stars 4 a super cause-launch 12/10/15 @carrigoon 4 @anchor_centre with @AshlingThompson & Ciara O'Sullivan RT👠pic.twitter.com/vGzDAWulkS
— Barry-John Ryan (@BJRYAN1977) October 6, 2015
“The issue with linesmen is acceptable by Croke Park because surely they have to know what is going on. It is something that I have raised on a couple of occasions and nothing has been done about it. It is unfair on the girls.”
''The way referees are assessed has to be looked at too. I can’t understand, with the technology they have today, that every game isn’t videoed and then shown to the referee afterwards as opposed to bringing in an assessor who marks the referee during a match. It is only when you sit down and watch the game back that you see the things you missed.''
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