Camogie players 100% out of pocket each month, says Kilkenny player Katie Power

Kilkenny star Katie Power says cash-strapped camogie players regularly have to borrow money from their partners and parents just to keep their inter-county careers going.

The four-time All-Star said she personally is significantly "out of pocket" at the end of each month as she picks up the tab for various expenses.

The new minimum standards player charter, revealed earlier this month, has addressed that situation by providing players with a 50c per mile expense rate, among various other entitlements.

According to the scheme, the value of the player expenses equates to €1,528 per player per year.

Speaking at the launch of Insomnia's five-year partnership with the GAA and Gaelic Players Association, experienced Kilkenny player Power said the mileage allowance will be a massive help.

Asked if she has received mileage payments up to now, she shook her head.

"No, we don't," said Power. "I can only speak for myself and in Kilkenny but from chatting to other female players in other counties, we don't get any travel expenses.

"You are 100% out of pocket at the end of your month. That aspect alone would be a massive help. Genuinely there are some girls who have to borrow money for diesel at the end of each month.

"It's tough going, to ask your partner or your Mam and Dad for a few bob to put in the car because you have to go training. I know for a fact that there are people on our team who have had to do that. So that alone would be huge.

"I haven't thought about how much exactly it will be worth to me. You could be putting €80 or €100 a week into the car. Even if it covered half of that, at the end of the month when you're adding it all up it wouldn't be so bad."

Power and Kilkenny will return to National League action this weekend