Camogie Association to probe staging of Clare-Wexford
The Camogie Association is "investigating the circumstances" around the staging of last weekend's Centra Camogie League clash between Clare and Wexford, following criticism of the playing surface after the game was moved to Meelick.
Originally scheduled for Clareabbey in Clare, the Division 1B encounter was switched at late notice to the new venue.
However, video and photographic imagery posted on X by Wexford journalist Dean Goodison captured heavy underfoot conditions, particularly around one of the goalmouths.
After first contacting Clare camogie, RTÉ Sport was informed that the original venue for the game was unplayable and that a men's match was played at the Meelick ground before Clare and Wexford took to the field.
Wexford Camogie: New venue for league game against Clare 'horrendous
Wexford camogie chairperson Martina Donnellan, who was present at last Saturday's game, told RTÉ Sport "that on health and safety grounds the pitch was not playable on the day".
She added: "I have never seen a game go out on such a horrendous pitch. We were afraid someone was going to get injured."
Donnellan also went on the say that the original venue for the game should have been inspected the night before and again in the morning.
To the best of her knowledge, she was "not aware" that that was done, before revealing: "The pitch was inspected when our actual kit man was parked up at the pitch when we were told it had changed. That's how late the call came."
In response, the Camogie Association issued a statement, which read: "The Camogie Association is aware of concerns around the conditions for Clare vs Wexford last Saturday. We take such concerns seriously, and are investigating the circumstances
"The Camogie Association has regulations around pitches for intercounty games, and protocols on matchdays to assess playing surfaces.
"Player welfare is central to every decision we make as an association.
"We thank our county boards for their continued efforts and assistance in delivering a programme of games, in what has been an incredibly difficult period of bad weather in recent weeks."
Image courtesy of Dean Goodison
Ursula Jacob won four All-Irelands in her playing time with Wexford and the Oulart-The Ballagh clubwoman says that these things shouldn't be happening to elite camogie players in the 2020s.
"It was hugely disappointing and it's totally unacceptable at this level that any team would arrive and play on a pitch that I deemed just not playable," she said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland.
"These are the basic requirements. It's a player welfare issue, in my opinion, and there has to be a minimum standard across the board.
"That's for the male players and the female players when it comes to things like changing facilities and standards of pitches."
One of the big talking points in the Gaelic games world is the integration of all codes into one body; men's and women's football, hurling and camogie all together.
The most recent suggestion was that would happen in 2027 at the earliest, but for Jacob, players shouldn't have to wait that long for decent pitches.
"I don't think we need to wait for integration to happen before (we get) access to decent facilities and adequate pitches," she added.
"I'd wonder was there cooperation there from Clare GAA in relation to access to the best pitches in the county? I'm not sure.
"Cusack Park was made available for the Clare men's football game on Sunday, and they were playing Laois. Then Clare ladies football were playing Laois on Sunday, but on an astro pitch.
"So, there's no reason why things like that - facilities and pitches - can't be made available now."
