McDonagh urges link with women's game

GAA president Joe McDonagh has called for closer relationships between the GAA and women's Gaelic games organisations. He was speaking at yesterday's launch of the National Forum on Women in Gaelic Games, launched by Sports Minister Jim McDaid, which takes place in Dublin this weekend. Three-hundred delegates will attend the forum sponsored by the Bank of Ireland.

Neither the camogie nor women's football associations come under the aegis of the GAA. "It is one of my dearest and fondest ambitions that there be a strategic alliance under the one umbrella which would facilitate reaching a greater potential," said McDonagh.

The forum's origins lie in the Increased Participation Workgroup established by McDonagh at the start of his presidency three years ago in order to examine ways in which the involvement of women in the GAA could be encouraged and facilitated.

McDaid emphasised the importance of the forum. "The GAA is at the forefront of Irish sporting organisations in its efforts to increase the quality of participation for women and girls. We are starting to see not only greater numbers of players but also more women in sports administration."

Liz Howard, chairwoman of the workgroup, said the initiative was not a cosmetic exercise and had revealed important information about women's involvement in the GAA. "We surveyed women's involvement and found that whereas at county level it was abysmal, at club level it was quite good - particularly at under-age. Most men are open on the subject but there are some barriers which remain.

"We have invited camogie and women's football representatives from all the counties, (along with) a friend who is interested in getting involved but isn't yet involved. In this way the weekend is about recruitment as well as gathering opinions."

Meanwhile Leinster have named the team to face Ulster in Sunday's Railway Cup semi-final in Casement Park, Belfast. It features six of the Meath side which won last year's All-Ireland and nine of the Ireland team which was victorious in the autumn International Rules series in Australia.

Limerick's county board have backed the wishes of hurling manager Eamonn Cregan and will request their championship match against Cork is played in Thurles. Were the county to initiate a home-and-away arrangement, Cork would be guaranteed a home fixture this June because of development work on the Limerick Gaelic Grounds.

Leinster (SF v Ulster) - C Sullivan (Meath); B Lacey (Kildare), D Fay (Meath), F Cullen (Offaly); P Christie (Dublin), G Ryan (Kildare), P Reynolds (Meath); C Whelan (Dublin), C McManus (Offaly); D Earley (Kildare), T Giles (Meath), P Barden (Longford); D Dolan (Westmeath), G Geraghty (Meath), O Murphy (Meath). Subs: F Byron (Laois), C Daly (Offaly), A Hoey (Louth), D Conroy (Laois), E Sheehy (Dublin), S Kelly (Laois), E Barden (Longford), J Nevin (Carlow), A Corden (Carlow), T Doyle (Wicklow), M O'Reilly (Meath), P Curran (Dublin).