Aisling Maher: 'A lot of other female sports around us are doing a lot better'

Dublin Camogie captain Aisling Maher fears the financial costs facing players in camogie and ladies' football will see players leave the game.

Maher's comments come as a protest by the senior intercounty players in ladies' football and camogie continues, as they aim to raise awareness of player welfare.

Last weekend saw players join together in solidarity during the national anthem prior to throw in by wearing T-shirts with the slogan #Unitedforequality. The recent protests have also been backed by the captains of the men's intercounty football and hurling sides.

A vote last year for a step towards integration of the GAA, LGFA and the Camogie Association was seen as a step forward in welfare issues, but players feel change has been slow in a chaotic year for female players in football and camogie.

Speaking to breakingnews.ie, Maher says the lack of clarity around when integration may happen has been a factor in finishing the season in protest.

"The GAA own pretty much all the GAA pitches and stadiums, and definitely all the high pitches across the country, Camogie and LGFA have no access to the grounds. If we were to amalgamate the associations to just one, then that would give players better access to pitches.

"What has become clear so far, that the process of integration is going to be long, it's going to be slow, and it's going to be complicated. What that basically means, is that for female players, we won't see any improvement in our playing conditions until that integration process is complete.

"If we were to amalgamate the three organisations to just one, then that would give players better access to better pitches, as well as better access other resources.

"That integration process could take three years, could