'The vote was for choice. I think the skorts are just more comfortable'

She might be in the minority, but you will find Sorcha McCartan donning a skort in Sunday’s All-Ireland senior camogie final.

The issue was the subject of much controversy in the springtime. And this week Camogie President Brian Molloy urged the multitude of people who rowed in on the debate to come out and back up their words by supporting the women on the biggest stage of all.

The Down-now-Cork forward appreciates having the option to wear a skort or shorts.

“The vote was for choice,” she says. "I think the skorts are just more comfortable, they flatter me a bit more and give me a bit more coverage. I like the look of them and the feel of them a bit more than shorts.

“The choice was brilliant and that is what players wanted. I don’t like to be superstitious but that is a part of it as well. I’ve always worn a skort in matches. I wear shorts at training.”

The former Mourne star, who will come up against her old teammate and now Galway leading light Niamh Mallon in GAA headquarters, is daughter of 1994 All-Ireland football medallist Greg.

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She relocated south four seasons ago on an UUJ placement to MTU and upon the completion of her studies is currently enjoying downtime by working at Sam’s Coffee (Sam Ryan) in Togher.

She scored 1-1 in the 2023 All-Ireland decider against Waterford and following her second-half introduction against Galway in 2024, the impact sub fired a pair of crucial points.

Competition for places meant she wasn’t in from the start, and even though her contribution was pivotal in a tight game, it’s only natural the Castlewellan native felt it was a missed opportunity.

“Last year was hugely disappointing for me and that drove me when I came on in the final. I had a bit of grit between my teeth and I wanted to prove myself.

“I took that into the club season (won a county championship with St Finbarr’s) and then Ger (Manley) rang me at the start of the year and told me he could see a place for me if I would be willing to put in the work.

“I did put in the work and I got a bit of an injury (a leg fracture in the league final) but I got myself back and thankfully he’s given me the jersey back.

“But look, Orlaith Mullins came on and made such an impact against Waterford, I’ll definitely be training hard right up to the final and see how I get on.”

She mentions coach Liam Cronin - now part of John Kiely’s backroom team with the Limerick senior hurlers - as somebody who had a positive influence on her career after manager Matthew Twomey invited her to join the senior panel in 2022.

Two years previous she secured an All-Ireland intermediate medal with Down, but the move up the ranks would prove to be a formidable challenge.

“I never expected to be asked to join the Cork set-up. I was just testing how good I could get or how I fared out amongst the Cork players. What got me through it for the first two or three years was sort of ignorance. I was just throwing myself into training.

“Liam Cronin coached me properly and he taught me how to play. It wasn’t just winning a ball and fling it over your shoulder, it was using your brain and movement and stuff. So I feel like I’ve come on coaching wise since I’ve moved down to Cork.”

As the game evolves, the physical exchanges do too and they have become more intense. As a result, her role, she believes, can be self-sacrificing at times.

“To be fair, I give it as good as I get so I can’t complain about that,” she laughs. “I throw my body anywhere and sometimes I would pick up a bit more of the niggles and stuff. I think I use it as my strength. It makes me different from the Amy O’Connors. Katrina Mackeys and the Orlaith Cahalanes that I can use a bit of physicality in a positive way. I suppose that is what management sees.

“It is a bit of a selfless one as well when you hold the ball up and you are not the one getting the scores or the fancy stuff. But I don’t mind as long as I do the job for the team. Sometimes it is about getting the job done.”

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