Pictured in early 2020 ahead of the AIB All-Ireland camogie club finals, from left: Michael Green (Sponsorship Marketing Manager, AIB), Áine Lyng (Gailltír), Emma Corcoran (St Rynagh’s), Niamh McGrath (Sarsfields), Gráinne Ní Chatháin (Slaughtneil) and then Camogie Association President Kathleen Woods. Picture: INPHO/Brian Reilly-Troy.

Reprieve for Rynagh's as club camogie championship reinstated

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St Rynagh's Camogie Club's Leinster and All-Ireland dreams are back on track after mediation talks this week resulted in the 2020 provincial and All Ireland club campaigns being reinstated.

A recent decision by the Camogie Association to cancel the 2020 provincial and All Ireland club competitions had caused significant anger and upset.

In a statement last month, St Rynagh's players said they were “devastated and infuriated with this decision”

Offaly champions St Rynagh's were due to play Rathnure of Wexford in the Leinster intermediate championship.

“After winning a hard-fought battle on September 26th, 2020 in our county final, we have put in countless hours of at home, in isolation training with the belief that the association would uphold their promise of the 2020 AIB provincial and All-Ireland championships.

"Faced with lockdown after lockdown over the past 12 months, the vast majority of our training has taken place in our own front gardens; slogging through the winter months and struggling through the mental blocks that is training in isolation without any access to facilities," the statement continued.

The players said that the prospect of playing their Leinster quarter-final against Rathnure was "a constant goal" in their minds. But within hours of returning to training after the lifting of Covid restrictions, they said "devastation hit".

"Why is it that the association has shown such disregard for its club players?" the Rynagh's camogie players asked.

A number of clubs had brought the matter to the GAA's Disputes Relation Authority (DRA) – and a hearing was due this weekend. However, mediation on Tuesday night facilitated by former GAA director general Paraic Duffy, between the association and representatives of the clubs still involved in the 20202 championships, at senior, intermediate and junior levels, resulted in a solution being agreed.

It's understood the remaining games will get underway in mid-November and be concluded before Christmas.

No formal announcement has yet emerged from the Camogie Association.

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