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GAA must bring LGFA in under its umbrella

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4 years ago

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Aislinn Desmond (then Kerry captain) and Shauna Ennis of Meath at a media day at Croke Park in 2021. Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile.

Former Kerry goalkeeper Eamonn Fitzgerald believes the time is right for the men’s and women’s governing bodies to join forces

There will be plenty of business on the agenda for this weekend’s GAA Congress. I will be keeping interested eyes on the motion to bring the LGFA and the Camogie Association fully under the umbrella of the GAA. Larry McCarthy can make his name as President by curing this long festering sore.

In some cases, women in the GAA have been treated as though they are of lesser importance than men. Misogyny, or a fear of a takeover? Who does so much of the work for the GAA?

The women, of course. Conceiving and bearing the players of the future. Encouraging them from the sidelines.

Go to any Saturday morning academy and see who does most of the ferrying of the young boys and girls to the local pitch? Mná na hÉireann for the most part. Click and collect in action. Only the broad-minded clubs give equality of access to the ladies, for usage of the pitches for training and playing matches.

Increasingly, clubs are depending on the female members to take up demanding positions on the executives. The Kilcummin GAA club has set out a marker with ladies in all of the main positions on the executive. What’s more, far too often the LGFA has to raise its own funds to continue its programmes.

I was delighted to see that the FAI and the IRFU have moved towards some equality for the sexes, especially in respect of the international teams getting equal remuneration for representing their county. Begrudgery curtailed that enlightened approach for far too long, but better late than never.

I hope the GAA will do the right thing tomorrow and support this move for equality. The LGFA is not under the official banner of the GAA. It’s time to get in under that umbrella, otherwise there will be a new storm brewing to equal Eunice et al.

LONG WAIT

When I interviewed Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh many years ago for this column and asked him for his wish for the GAA in the future, he had no hesitation in his reply.

“That the GAA will elect a woman as Uachtarán (President) for the first time ever, to lead us on to great things for the organisation.”

I think that was for Mícheál’s 80th birthday. He is still hale, hearty and enthusiastic as ever heading for 92. Mo bhrón and o chón, no sign of a breakthrough on that enlightened vision.

I know of a least one lady in waiting - ready, willing and able to wear that symbolic chain. There may be other unannounced candidates. Maybe Patrick O’Sullivan, the chairman of the Kerry County Board, will help expedite Mícheál’s vision.

The LGFA are a separate entity to the GAA and do not have the resources of their male counterparts, such as playing pitches etc. The Laois ladies team could not play in the county’s centre of excellence because they were priced out of it.

I do recall when Liam O’Neill was president of the GAA he tried to get the LGFA to come in under the GAA umbrella, but the LGFA didn’t come in. I wonder why? Hopefully, there will be support for the motion tomorrow, but knowing how the civil service of the GAA works, especially at convention and at congress levels, the best one can hope for is agreement on principle and a committee appointed to look into it. Reporting back will be a slow burner.

Over to you Larry, the President of the GAA (with strong Killarney connections).

EMBRACING

Many years ago Denis Conroy (Cork) highlighted the growing problem of how difficult it was to get men to become club officers. He made a passionate plea at congress, cocluding: “In the name of God, to save the GAA, what we need to do is to embrace the women of Ireland.”

Gerald McKenna, Chairman of the Kerry County Board at that time, who was famous for his witty one-liners, replied.

“I would like to assure Mr Conroy that we are doing just that in Kerry for centuries.”

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Home cup tie for St Paul’s could be epic

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3 weeks ago

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7 November 2025

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Paudie O’Connor National Cup (Round 1)

Utility Trust St Paul’s v GCU Brunell

Saturday 7.30pm

Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre

The St Paul’s women’s team will be hoping to get their National Cup adventure off the ground on Saturday when they welcome 2024 champions Brunell to Killarney. Tip-off in the Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre is at 7.30pm.

Paul’s have displayed some fine early season form, although their unbeaten start in the Super League came to an abrupt end last weekend when they lost to the Trinity Meteors in Dublin. James Fleming’s side weren’t at their best on the day but they were well in contention heading into the final quarter with the scores at 47-45 in favour of the hosts. The Meteors pushed on in the fourth, however, eventually running out 63-53 winners.

St Paul’s scorers on the night were Maisie Burnham (13), Tara Cousins (12), Lorraine Scanlon (12), Lovisa Hevinder (9), Denise Dunlea (5) and Leah McMahon (2).

The Killarney club are now joint second in the table alongside the Meteors with both teams holding a 4-1 record. Killester are top having won each of their first five games.

Paul’s opponents on Saturday, Brunell, have won three out of five league matches so far.

LAKERS

The Utility Trust St Paul’s Lakers have now won three of their last four games in Division 1 of the Men’s National League following an impressive home victory over Moycullen in Killarney.

Eoin Carroll and Jack O’Sullivan made significant contributions of the Boys in Black; Carroll hit 17 points and collected 13 rebounds while O’Sullivan had 14 points, 12 rebounds and some spectacular blocks.

Steve Kelly posted 30 points and the durable Sam Grant played every second, adding 21 points along the way.

The Lakers started well before the visitors found their footing and the sides went in level at the half-time break after scores by home captain Carroll. There was still nothing to separate the teams entering the fourth quarter (68-65) but buckets by Carroll, Pablo Murcia and Grant opened up a nine-point lead. Moycullen fought back admirably, however, cutting the deficit to just four, but Luke O’Hea’s charges held firm to prevail by eight (88-80).

Next up is a cup tie against the Tipperary Talons, a side they defeated by 30 points just a couple of weeks ago. The cup can be very different to the league, though, and they will need another solid performance to advance to the next round. Tip-off in in Killenaule is at 6.30pm on Saturday.

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Chances of Kerry v Cork Munster final in 2026 decrease as Munster GAA delay seeding plan

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4 weeks ago

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7 November 2025

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After facing a backlash from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipperary players, Munster GAA have postponed their plan to keep Cork and Kerry separate in the 2026 Munster Football Championship.

The new seeding system – which gives the two highest ranked Munster teams in the National League byes to separate semi-finals – will now come into play in 2027, twelve months later than initially planned.

This will give Clare and Limerick a chance to earn promotion to Division 2 of the league, potentially overtaking Cork if the Rebels were to get relegated to Division 3.

Despite traditionally being the two main contenders for Munster football honours, Kerry and Cork haven’t met in a provincial decider since 2021. The Kingdom have won each of the finals since then (one versus Limerick and three versus Clare) by an average margin of 15.75 points.

More high-profile Kerry v Cork finals might be desirable for fans of those teams, businesses in Killarney and Cork, and neutrals alike but Munster GAA’s plans to effectively keep the great rivals on opposite sides of the draw understandably drew criticism from the other participating counties. A statement by the GPA confirmed that players from Limerick, Clare, Waterford and Tipp had met via Zoom to discuss the matter. They were said to be “deeply disappointed and concerned” by the decision.

The 12-month delay will at least give two of those disaffected teams an opportunity to benefit from the new seeding process.

The draw for the 2026 Munster Football Championship will take place on November 27 under the old rules. As 2025 finalists, Kerry and Clare will get byes to the last four (but they will not necessarily be kept apart).

Nine members of Kerry’s squad are up for All-Stars at tonight’s awards ceremony in Dublin with Joe O’Connor and David Clifford also in contention for the prestigious Footballer of the Year award.

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