The annual Leinster Camogie convention is taking place in Kilkenny this afternoon.
Carlow’s Linda Kenny, chair of Leinster Camogie is entering the final year of her three-year term with this afternoon set to see former Kilkenny Camogie PRO turned vice-chair Martin Quilty named as Cathaoirleach Tofa. There won’t be many changes at the top table for camogie in the province, however, Phyllis Breslin (Dublin) will take up the role of honorary vice president.
As part her chairperson’s address Kenny suggested that the return to full competitive fixtures in 2022, coming off the back of the pandemic, was like a new beginning though challenges still remain for the organisation.
“2022 was like a new horizon as we returned to doing what we do best, promoting our game at club and county level and ensuring development initiatives among our strong underage membership were to the fore following the restrictions brought about by COVID 19.”
“The introduction of the split season has brought some form of certainty to the overall fixtures calendar but new challenges have emerged for the Provincial and Club competitions. However, we all must work together to ensure a meaningful games programme at all levels including the provision of games for our club players during the inter-county season.”
“The introduction and move to online ticketing for our games has been a huge success in 2022 and I wish to say a huge thank you to all those who covered gates, scanning tickets at our games no matter what the weather. I would encourage everyone to continue showing your support to all our players with your attendance at our games.”
Among motions to be tabled in Kilkenny this afternoon include the introduction of a minimum €200 fine up to a maximum of €1,000 as part of Rule 44.1.2 (mandatory penalties) concerning “abusive or threatening language, gestures or behaviour” towards a referee, match official, any player or team official.
Wexford will table a motion for an exception to Rule 28.7 where combination or divisional teams may not currently enter the provincial or All-Ireland club championship competitions, the exception being where clubs have been competing as an amalgamated team for three years or more.
The report to convention this year does outline a marginal decrease in youth membership in Carlow though the county has shown an overall increase in the number of full playing members again in 2022, a trend duplicated by Kilkenny. Of the 1,570 registered members in Leinster for Carlow, 201 are full playing, with 998 represented at youth grades. In Kilkenny, there are 742 full playing with 4,039 recorded at youth level with 6,298 registered members in the county for 2022, an increase on 91 in total on 2021.
