Aisling Maher: 'We must show what this Dublin team can really do'
Michael Bolton
After a disappointing 2025 for Dublin camogie, captain Aisling Maher is keen to show what the women in blue are capable of.
2024 saw Dublin reach the All-Ireland semi-finals, but they failed to push on in 2025.
Relegation from Division 1A was followed by a championship, which saw Dublin fail to reach the knockout stages, with a change of management also occurring during this time.
Having shown the country what they are capable of two years ago, Maher is determined to bring the good times back.
"It was definitely not the season we wanted to have", said Maher.
"Coming off the back of the All-Ireland semi-final the previous year, we had been in a similar position in 2017, getting to the All-Ireland semi-final and failing to go back-to-back.
"We had a difficult league campaign with a lot of injuries. Going into the championship, a change of management is not what you want to be doing in the lead-up to the championship.
"Ultimately, it was not where we wanted to be, really."
One of the biggest sporting stories in 2025 was the skorts debate, as players took a stand for their right to be able to have the choice to wear shorts.
After a vote was overwhelmingly passed, camogie players across the country now have that choice.
Despite the huge support from the public on this issue, it unfortunately did not translate into huge attendances at games and viewing figures.
However, Maher says the quality of the sport should be the way to gain more fans.
"I think it definitely got more eyes on the championship and more eyes on camogie, which is always a positive thing. I would love to see the number of people who were supporting the skorts issue translate to attendance and ticket sales.
"I don't think you can force it either. I don't think you can force people because they care about advocating for camogie players' right to choice means they have to attend games.
"Giving out to people who have supported us not attending matches is not the right way to go. We have to promote the game and product for what it is, and hopefully build a product people want to come and want to support."
If on track, 2027 should be the year of integration between the GAA, LGFA, and Camogie Association.
It is hoped this would bring greater clarity over fixtures, facilities, and venues to the women's games.
However, the Dublin captain is not confident that it will come together next year and wants to see more progress in achieving this goal.
"I am definitely concerned by what the plan is or what it is going to look like.
"I would be hopeful that the approach people would take is let's start, let's integrate and let's have points for improvement and things that are going to take longer.
"We are not going to wake up one morning where everything is integrated, and everything is sorted. I would like to think we made a commitment to 2027, and we will see it as a pathway rather than a point in time."
