Cork's Aoife Healy says more must be done to help dual players

In a busy time of year for young inter-county players, Cork's Aoife Healy has never known it any other way.

Currently preparing for the Ashbourne Cup with UCC, Healy also juggles life as a dual player, and all the difficulties that come with it.

Alongside Hannah Looney and Libby Coppinger, Healy has experienced in the last two seasons why the dual player is becoming more rare.

From matches clashing to the workload involved, Healy says more communication is needed between the different organisations, and hopes integration can help solve the issues faced by the Cork trio.

"The fixtures are announced so far in advance it is difficult to see why they cannot be changed.

"The fact that they're clashing is really frustrating as a dual player because it makes it feel like dual players aren't wanted.

"If the fixtures don't facilitate them, the dual players will drop off and you can see that already.

"It is tough. My first year playing with Cork, there were two or three occasions where the fixtures clashed. Two of us went to play camogie and two went to play football on those days.

"But you're missing out and as a result, it drives people out of it. Orlaith Cahalane ended up picking camogie. Me and Libby missed the football matches then, and that puts you on the back foot.

"I think it takes a lot of communication. Hopefully the integration will make that much easier, where they will have to be fixed properly."

Since coming into the Cork Camogie team in 2023, Healy has been a driving force in the midfield, and was crucial to their two All-Ireland titles in a row.

Alongside Healy at the heartbeat of the Cork team is Ashling Thompson, a player Healy admired growing up.

The duo has formed a partnership that has been vital to Cork's