THE LADIES GAELIC Football Association has explained why the footballers of Limerick and Offaly had no access to dressing room facilities at Parnell Park for last Saturday’s Tesco National League Division 4 final.
It is understood that the newly-formed Womens Gaelic Players Association (WGPA) has received correspondence from a Limerick player involved, expressing disappointment with the weekend arrangements.
Limerick and Offaly players got ready for the televised decider away from the Donnycarney venue and after the game, they walked from the ground still dressed in matchday gear for a cooldown and showers.
Half-time team talks were conducted in Parnell Park function rooms as players and management could not enter the dressing room area.
But the LGFA has explained the background to the situation, insisting that both county boards were contacted well in advance of the fixture to inform them that dressing rooms were off-limits.
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The dressing rooms at Parnell Park were off-limits to the Offaly and Limerick ladies footballers on Saturday Tommy Grealy / INPHO
Tommy Grealy / INPHO / INPHO
The presence of the Tipperary and Tyrone U21 mens football teams at the venue meant that ensuring privacy for all concerned would have proven problematic.
An LGFA spokesperson told the42.ie this afternoon: “Both the Offaly and Limerick county boards were contacted in advance of the Division 4 final and the situation was explained to them that because of the layout of Parnell Park, changing rooms would not be available in the usual area.
“Instead, arrangements were made for warm-up facilities, plus changing rooms, within a half a mile of the ground at top-class facilities.
“Limerick togged out at Parnell’s and Offaly were given a choice of St Vincent’s, Na Fianna and DCU but chose to use St Aidan’s secondary school.”
Both teams accepted these arrangements rather than move to a different match venue with a much smaller crowd and no TV coverage.
Mairead Daly scored 3-1 for Offaly in their victory over Limerick on Saturday Donall Farmer / INPHO
Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
The LGFA spokesperson added: “We would like to thank the Dublin county board and Parnell Park for facilitating us with this fixture.
“Other grounds would have pulled our match considering the weather conditions and possibly decided to prioritise the All-Ireland U21 final, due to the surface water on the pitch earlier in the day.
“Issues with changing rooms were addressed with county boards in advance but the decision was made by LGFA and the county boards that playing in front of a huge crowd coming in for the U21 final, plus the fact that the game was televised (on TG4), was worth it.”
WGPA chairperson Aoife Lane confirmed that she is aware of player concerns arising from the Parnell Park decider, and that the fledgling organisation is investigating.
She told the42.ie: “Firstly, we’re happy that players are coming forward and starting to expect more.
“The second thing is that TV coverage and the opportunity to promote our games is fantastic but fairness and respect for players at all level must be considered within these partnerships.”
Meanwhile, it is also understood that players from Irish Daily Star National Camogie League Division 1 finalists Cork and Galway are unhappy that they did not receive an allocation of tickets for family members attending Sunday’s Semple Stadium final.
Lane acknowledged: “There is a disappointment among players that they didn’t get tickets.
“The main issue is minimum standards for players and at recent meetings in Limerick and Enniskillen, we have begun to fully understanding that.
“We’re still at the early stages of finding out what the story is and where we’re at.”
Limerick and Offaly ladies footballers denied access to Parnell Park dressing rooms last Saturday
THE LADIES GAELIC Football Association has explained why the footballers of Limerick and Offaly had no access to dressing room facilities at Parnell Park for last Saturday’s Tesco National League Division 4 final.
It is understood that the newly-formed Womens Gaelic Players Association (WGPA) has received correspondence from a Limerick player involved, expressing disappointment with the weekend arrangements.
Limerick and Offaly players got ready for the televised decider away from the Donnycarney venue and after the game, they walked from the ground still dressed in matchday gear for a cooldown and showers.
Half-time team talks were conducted in Parnell Park function rooms as players and management could not enter the dressing room area.
But the LGFA has explained the background to the situation, insisting that both county boards were contacted well in advance of the fixture to inform them that dressing rooms were off-limits.
The presence of the Tipperary and Tyrone U21 mens football teams at the venue meant that ensuring privacy for all concerned would have proven problematic.
An LGFA spokesperson told the42.ie this afternoon: “Both the Offaly and Limerick county boards were contacted in advance of the Division 4 final and the situation was explained to them that because of the layout of Parnell Park, changing rooms would not be available in the usual area.
“Limerick togged out at Parnell’s and Offaly were given a choice of St Vincent’s, Na Fianna and DCU but chose to use St Aidan’s secondary school.”
Both teams accepted these arrangements rather than move to a different match venue with a much smaller crowd and no TV coverage.
The LGFA spokesperson added: “We would like to thank the Dublin county board and Parnell Park for facilitating us with this fixture.
“Other grounds would have pulled our match considering the weather conditions and possibly decided to prioritise the All-Ireland U21 final, due to the surface water on the pitch earlier in the day.
“Issues with changing rooms were addressed with county boards in advance but the decision was made by LGFA and the county boards that playing in front of a huge crowd coming in for the U21 final, plus the fact that the game was televised (on TG4), was worth it.”
WGPA chairperson Aoife Lane confirmed that she is aware of player concerns arising from the Parnell Park decider, and that the fledgling organisation is investigating.
She told the42.ie: “Firstly, we’re happy that players are coming forward and starting to expect more.
“The second thing is that TV coverage and the opportunity to promote our games is fantastic but fairness and respect for players at all level must be considered within these partnerships.”
Meanwhile, it is also understood that players from Irish Daily Star National Camogie League Division 1 finalists Cork and Galway are unhappy that they did not receive an allocation of tickets for family members attending Sunday’s Semple Stadium final.
Lane acknowledged: “There is a disappointment among players that they didn’t get tickets.
“The main issue is minimum standards for players and at recent meetings in Limerick and Enniskillen, we have begun to fully understanding that.
“We’re still at the early stages of finding out what the story is and where we’re at.”
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Aoife Lane Cork camogie Galway Camogie Ladies Football LGFA Limerick ladies off limits Offaly ladies Parnell Park WGPA