Divisional camogie sides back in senior championship

There was good news for Cork divisional camogie sides yesterday as they are now able to enter the senior championship for 2025.

Earlier this year they were technically able to enter but any player that played at senior level with a divisional side would then not have been able to play with their club at a lower level, i.e. intermediate or junior.

This was not a Cork Camogie Board ruling but came from the Camogie Association.

The rule states that: “Any player who plays a higher-graded championship is not eligible thereafter to play in a lower-graded league or championship in the same year. This applies to all graded competitions e.g. adult and under-age A, B, and C competitions.” 

As such any player who plays on a divisional team at a higher grade, is not permitted to play back at the lower grade with their club as they would be 'graded' as a senior player. Cork were granted a derogation for one year only, in 2024, from this rule.

So under the rule, if a player decided to play at divisional level, the likes of St Vincent’s Amy O’Connor or Brian Dillon's Niamh O’Leary, they couldn’t return to club duty after.

 However, correspondence to the divisional boards in the last day or so has confirmed that Cork has received another derogation from the rule for 2025.

The Cork Camogie board have been working on this quietly in the background for some time and got the good news earlier this week which will now allow the divisional sides back into the championship.

The correspondence sent out from Cork Camogie Board states: “Ard Comhairle have approved the request for derogation for 2025 to allow divisional teams to enter senior championship.

“Please note the derogation is for 2025 only and will require a motion for a rule change at Congress 2026. It should be noted that there is no guarantee that any motion brought to congress will pass.” 

Over the last number of years, the divisional sides gave players a chance to play at a higher level and also was an opportunity to be seen by Cork selectors, both at adult and underage levels.

This now means that Carbery, Carrigdhoun, Avondhu, Seandun, and Muskerry can now enter divisional sides in the SE Systems Cork Senior Camogie Championship.

They have until Monday next, May 19, to confirm if they are going to enter or not.

Credit must go to the Cork Camogie Board for their work on this issue over the last few months.