The Ladies Gaelic Football Association is facing calls to explain why this year’s Senior Post-Primary Schools All-Ireland Final can’t go ahead when the boys have already played theirs.
The final, between Moate Community School and Loreto Clonmel, was due to be played in March but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The boy’s match was also cancelled; however, their Leinster Final was held earlier this month.
Both girl’s schools have written numerous letters to the LGFA asking for the match to be played; however, the organisation has insisted it is sticking with its original decision.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Moate Community School student and footballer Shannon Mulvihill said both teams are “really hoping they will change their decision.”
She said the organisation has allowed several other games to go ahead since COVID-19 restrictions were eased.
“They have just said they are sticking with their original decision and they have had to make many difficult decisions with the circumstances,” she said. “But it doesn’t really make any sense.”
Ms Mulvihill said both teams decided to go public after the LGFA said it would not be changing its stance.
“It is the highest possible game you can play with secondary schools,” she said. “It is the top game. It is the two best teams in the country playing.”
Both the @LadiesFootball and @officialgaa have, in unprecedented times, organised both club and county champs for 2020. All we are asking is for one additional game to that calendar for this year. We will play any time, any place, any day, behind closed doors if needs be pic.twitter.com/wNiaPOSFae
— Loreto Clonmel (@LoretoClonmel) July 28, 2020
Huge respect for Shannon Mulvihill Emma Kelly & all the players from @moatecs @LoretoClonmel who are fighting to have their All Ireland played. It takes courage to raise your head above the parapet. Delighted to see young women standing up for themselves #letthemplay #20x20 #LGFA
— Lauralee Walsh (@walshie101) July 29, 2020
She said the situation is “really time sensitive” as many of the girls will be going off to college next month.
“They might not be around if they want to play it in October or September,” she said. “But then again, the girls would come back to play it because we all want the game played whenever it can be.”
You can listen back to the interview here:
