A CAMOGIE final has been cancelled in Ireland – after players from both teams attempted to wear shorts.
Cork and Waterford players claimed they had been “completely let down” by league bosses after the postponement.
Waterford players refused to play their final against Cork in shortsSportsfile
SportsfileThe camogie clash was postponed with the rules stating both teams must wear skorts[/caption]
Camogie is the women’s version of hurling and is hugely popular in Ireland.
The teams had been due to play in the final of the Munster Senior Club Camogie Championship on Saturday afternoon.
But because players wanted to wear shorts in the hot weather, the match was called off shortly before the off.
Per Camogie Association rules, players are required to wear skorts – a skirt cut to the length of shorts.
Refusal to wear skorts under the rules can lead to sanctions for breaching rules on dissent.
Munster Camogie wrote in a statement: “As the current Camogie Rules of play are still in place and the players have indicated they would not be prepared to play the game in skorts, the decision has been made to defer the game in the best interests of all players and officials involved.”
Players from both sides had made it clear in the build-up to the game that they would be wearing shorts.
Cork star Ashling Thompson told Her Sport: “We’re going to wear shorts and if we’re asked to return to the dressing room we won’t.
“It’s not about us versus the association. It’s about standing up for what is right.”
The teams later penned a joint statement in response to the postponement.
It read: “As a united group of players, we want to express our bitter disappointment that today’s Munster Senior Camogie Final has been postponed.
“It shows scant regard for the preparation of players both physically and mentally to be ready for a provincial showpiece, to make this decision just 16 hours before the scheduled throw-in.
“We feel completely let down. Both panels had meticulously planned to peak for today.
“Training schedules and workload will now have to be readjusted, while not even knowing when the game will take place.”
A Special Congress is set to take place on May 22 at Croke Park.
Members will vote on a rule that would allow players to choose between either skorts or shorts.
Speaking to RTE Radio One, Camogie Association president Brian Molloy said: “I’m very comfortable that we will get the support [for shorts] to get it across the line.
“I don’t set the rules of the association. The association rules are set by the members and they do that in Congress.
“And my role as president is to make sure that those rules are respected and those decisions of Congress are respected.
“We spent the last few days trying to resolve this issue and it’s been difficult.”
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