Kennedy: Cutting camogie second teams is punishing big counties
Michael Bolton
Kilkenny's Mairead Kennedy has warned that leaving second teams out of the All-Ireland camogie championship risks stunting the development of players in counties with big squads.
A decision was made to banish second teams from the second-grade competition this year, providing them with an All-Ireland U-23 competition as a replacement.
Kennedy was previously part of the intermediate panel and says the likes of Kilkenny, Cork, and Galway are being punished as part of the reform.
"I learnt so much playing intermediate and got such good roots, you really get to develop your game with a little less pressure.
"I definitely think it is such a pity. I live in Cork. I know a lot of the Cork intermediate girls, they are girls that are good enough to play with their county, they have just been unlucky with trials, unlucky when they were called in.
"There is a big pick in so many counties, it is hard to make those 36 on panels. There is a lot of talent that is just playing club.
"If I stepped away and didn't play intermediate this season, it would be very hard to get back in."
From the skorts controversy to Galway stopping Cork's three-in-a-row charge, it was a season to remember in camogie.
However, despite the country talking about the scandal, the All-Ireland finals did not deliver the attendances that were hoped for.
For Kennedy, coverage across the season needs to improve to get people to games.
"It was slightly disappointing that it got so much coverage but died down again after, but it was for all the right reasons.
"It was good that the good result came from it; we drew a line in the sand and moved on. We didn't dwell too much on it. It was really good for us to come together as a group, make a plan and go with it.
"I think in terms of coverage and promoting the game, there is more that could be done in every county.
"Getting bums on seat is the hard thing. We need to build more of an atmosphere around the championship to build it up. Hurling has done such a good job on the lead-up to the championship.
"There is such good skill on display, the game has come on so much."
