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Niamh Mulcahy was unhappy with a recent article about women's rugby.
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Limerick camogie star laments media depiction of female athletes

Niamh Mulcahy has criticised a recent article on women’s sport that appeared last weekend.

LIMERICK CAMOGIE STAR, Niamh Mulcahy, has described the recent depiction of female sportspeople in a newspaper article as “disappointing” but feels that the Our Game Your Game campaign by the Camogie Association for championship 2014 will help to break down lazy stereotypes.

The article in question appeared in the Sunday Independent newspaper and was the subject of heavy criticism.

Mulcahy, a grand-niece of the legendary Mick Mackey and former underage soccer international, is a key component of the Limerick team that will play Waterford in today’s Liberty Insurance All-Ireland intermediate camogie semi-final.

The 24-year-old primary school teacher and former Young Player of the Year represents all that is positive about women’s sport. She is aware of the stereotypical labels bandied about and feels that gender should never be an issue. And just because you are a woman involved in a tough, physical sport, that doesn’t automatically mean you belong in a category.

“Yeah, you’re portrayed a certain way. Hopefully the camogie campaign this year will make people see camogie players anyway in a different light. It’s taking a different stance and even with the videos and things that have gone up on the website, there’s been a really positive attitude towards the campaign.

“We put in just as much effort as the lads do but we get maybe 50 or 60 at our game and they get maybe 30-40,000 at their average championship game. But that’s what you’re dealing with.

“It’s the love of the game. No-one is forcing us; no-one has a gun to our head making us play the game.”

She read the article on Monday and wasn’t impressed.

“It was really controversial. With the women’s rugby team doing so well and portraying women in sport in such a positive light, it was a bit disappointing to see that.

“Especially the timing of the article. The women’s rugby team have been doing absolutely brilliant and that’s all the media should be focussing on. So it was disappointing to read.”

Liberty Insurance Intermediate Camogie semi-finals

Limerick v Waterford, 1.45pm, Dr. Cullen Park, Saturday 16 August
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