Dowling says fundraising no holiday for triumphant Cats

The Kilkenny camogie squad is currently trying to self-finance a team holiday following their recent All-Ireland championship win.

And manager Brian Dowling says there is a growing frustration within the camp that they have to fund the entire trip themselves – that's if the team holiday even goes ahead.

In recent years, pre-Covid, the GAA has provided grants of around €80,000 to the finalists of the men’s All-Ireland senior hurling and football championships.

"But there is no grant for either Kilkenny or Cork, who played in this year’s All-Ireland camogie final," Dowling told RTÉ Sport.

"We are all aware that funds are tight everywhere and not every governing body supplies such grants, but at the same time, I wonder are people aware that the girls have to fully fund the trip themselves – that is if the trip is even affordable in the first place.

"Having a team holiday is not a priority for us but when you see the contribution that is made towards the men's teams, its something we feel we would like to see change going forward for all teams that reach All-Ireland camogie finals.

"You would be looking at having to raise at least €70,000 and that would be a conservative sum based on today’s prices.

"But the big thing for me in all of this is that the girls do not get any help whatsoever. We have a fantastic county board here working hard to keep everything on track but they already have sufficient demand placed on their resources.

"The girls last went on a team holiday in 2016 and they were out with buckets before senior hurling championship games trying to fundraise. That was for a four-day holiday which was booked as cheaply as possible.

"It’s like the girls are having to beg. I am not having a go at anyone, but instead I am just