AS BOTH the Camogie and Ladies Football Championships continue along under protest, Limerick senior hurling manager John Kiely has given the cause his wholesome backing.
Female players want minimum standards of care and welfare to be introduced.
“The girls, first and foremost, are dead right to be looking for standards that I would consider to be the basic standards. Like having a doctor at training,” said Kiely at Monday night’s media conference at the Gaelic Grounds.
“They need to have access to a gym. Surely that’s a basic requirement that could be met without there being an inordinate cost involved.”
“I just think it’s more having the will to do these things rather than the money or financial resources to do it.”
He added: “How can we possibly expect elite athletes to travel around the country for nothing? Surely be to God, those attributes are just part and parcel of being an elite sportsperson.”
“We can’t expect there to be an elite level if you don’t resource it so it’s not an option, being honest with you. It’s a consequence of what we expect as a cultural organisation as the GAA is.”
As for the spend on the flagship Limerick team, Kiely stated: “We (Limerick) are certainly not spending any more money now than we did six years ago. We’re just spending on the right things. And when we spend it, it’s value.”
He added that injured leader Declan Hannon will be afforded every opportunity to prove his match fitness ahead of the All-Ireland Final.
“Declan is so experienced, we can afford to give him the full length of time to leave it happen because we don’t have to worry about him in terms of his preparation,” said Kiely.
GAA Chiefs are due to announce the referee for the final imminently.
