Cork footballer and camogie player Hannah Looney has raised concerns that dual-sport athletes could be forced to retire as the fixture schedule continues to take its toll on dual-sport players.
While Cork's camogie team prepare to take on Clare at 2pm on Saturday, the women's football team will take on Mayo in Castlebar where they are looking to win their All-Ireland group stage clash.
Looney isn't the only one with a decision to make this weekend, with Aoife Healy set to line up alongside Libby Coppinger in the camogie side.
This situation is not new to Looney, who has always combined both sports. She emphasizes that more needs to be done to highlight the difficulties faced by players who play in both codes.
“There used to be a lot more respect for dual players. If you look back ten years, the changes were significant and continue to happen.
“When I first started, there were male players who would occasionally return to dual, but now it has completely disappeared from men's sports, and unfortunately it seems like the same thing is happening to us.
“For me personally it's OK – I'm at the end of my career – but I can see it being a lot tougher for the younger players. In Cork, if you have a 17- or 18-year-old player who wants to break into the senior side, I can't see how he could start a career in two sports if things continue like this.”
In past years, some players have been forced to play two matches in one day. Looney expresses frustration at the lack of action to improve the current scheduling conflicts.
“Ultimately, I feel that, unfortunately, there is less interest, respect and value has also decreased.
“Even the conflict between the teams this weekend – a few years ago that would have caused a huge stir. You would have the support of the media and the county councils trying to force change. But it's just a series of failures.”
“Aoife and I are playing football this Saturday – it's a knockout game against Mayo. Libby will be in the camogie game. Libby is coming off an injury and working hard to get game time in camogie but she will be a huge loss to us in football.
“It's really frustrating. It gets to the point where you don't even try to change anything.”
In camogie, Cork and Looney are aiming to make history as they bid to win a third successive All-Ireland title.
Cork have had a good run of form this season, winning the league title and winning two of their last two matches in the Irish Premier League.
Having come close to this before, Luni knows how difficult it is to achieve such success.
“The goal is three in a row, but you have to get through each workout first before you think about anything else.
“You look at the Cork camogie teams of the past and the legacy they left behind and the inspiration they brought.
“This is an opportunity for us to leave a legacy because we have a significant legacy ahead of us. We've failed three times in a row recently and this is our chance to do that.
“I've tried it twice before – in '16 and '17 – and it took us a long time to get back up on Hogan's steps.
“To be honest, it's a huge incentive for me – three in a row. It's something I've never done before.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
