Cork star Ashling Thompson has called out the Camogie Association for the timing of this year's All-Star tour, confirming that she and her teammates were set to boycott the event.
Seven players from the Rebel County were set to take part in the 2023 tour to Canada, being rewarded for making the side over the last two seasons.
However, the dates of the trip has caused quite a bit of controversy.
The players involved are scheduled to travel to Calgary from May 19th-25th, meaning it would end just one week before the start of the All-Ireland championship. The first round of the competition has been put down for June 3rd/4th.
Not only that, but those who travelled on date could also miss a potential Munster final. While the provincial competition is not linked to the All-Ireland series, that decider is set to take place on May 20th/21st.
Cork star calls out Camogie Association over All-Star tour
Unsurprisingly, the timing of the tour has not been well received by those who were due to take part. Asking players to go away one week before the start of championship seems like a ridiculous request, with many wondering why it could not be done at a more convenient date.
The Camogie Association previously went on All-Star tours to Madrid and New York in 2017 and 2019 respectively.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Ashling Thompson said that herself and her teammates would not be taking part in the tour. She also said this was an example of why camogie should fall under the umbrella of the GAA, who she believes would not treat players in such a manner.
How could you expect seven players to turn their back on their teammates at probably the most important time of the year leading up to championship. We wouldn't have All-Stars only for our teammates.
Even if they move the start of the championship, we had a meeting, we spoke about it, and we all agreed that no matter what date the championship starts on, there is absolutely no way we are going to leave the country during the season while all of our teammates are breaking their backs in training and at the gym five and six days a week.
If I was somebody else on the panel who is not travelling, I couldn't imagine seven players being like, 'see ye in a week'. That wouldn't be something I would accept as a teammate.
But more so, it is something I would never expect a teammate to do, and we won't be doing it here...
We are looking to be the one association. That's the goal. We are constantly looking for equality. How can you look for equality when it doesn't come from the top down.
How can you possibly look for equality when women don't support women?
The GAA wouldn't make decisions like this and put players in such an awkward situation.
Her teammate and fellow All-Star Laura Hayes also took to social media to share her stance on the matter.
Very disappointing to be missing out on this once in a lifetime trip. We feel extremely let down by our own association. How can we leave our teammates in the middle of championship preparation when we wouldn’t have an all-star without them? @CorkCamogie @MunsterCamogie https://t.co/VNNYNoPupg
— Laura Hayes (@LHayes_2000) February 23, 2023
Meetings are set to take place this week between the GPA and Camogie Association, where a possible change of date is likely to be discussed.
However, to even suggest this window in the first place seemed like a very poor move.
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