Mullaney calls for changes to improve U23 competition

By Therese O’Callaghan

The new Under 23 Camogie Championship was introduced to bridge the gap between minor and senior. It also came about after second teams were removed from the intermediate and junior championships, but Tipperary manager Bill Mullaney has mixed views on the competition.

“I started out not agreeing with it,” he admitted.

“I think it should be aligned with the minor competition. That finishes in April before the pressure comes on.

“We have to remember hurling is 15, 17 & 20. We are 14, 16, 18 & 23 which is a huge range.

“I know we’re all talking about development, but I think they are just throwing a competition together and we will learn a lot this year and that is fair enough.

“It should be aligned before the Leaving Cert finishes and college exams or put it into an August competition.

“I don’t think the Camogie Association gave it a lot of thought.”

He added: “We were at matches where we had no umpires, no lines-people. So how is the Camogie Association promoting the game when they don’t treat women with the respect that they deserve by organising it properly. If you want to develop, think about it a bit better and commit to it.

“My point as well is, we won a junior (All-Ireland) last year and we’ve lost two-thirds of that panel that will never play for Tipp again because they are over 23. The likes of Jenny Grace who hurled for years and others who can still offer something, give guidance to younger players.

“The Camogie Association thought counties are not getting a chance but if they can’t beat Tipperary’s second team what hope would they have in senior.

“For a woman’s sport to put added pressure on young people to try and build camogie, I find it very difficult to align the consciousness or the thought of it. How you’d think to do that to players.

“Because we’ve texts every night from players doing their Leaving Cert - and this is the same for all counties, not just Tipperary - I’m not just giving out about Tipp.

“I think the U23 could be a brilliant competition and it turned out to be a great competition.

“Get a better time slot for it, and a commitment from the Camogie Association to have it organised better.”