Former Donegal fooballer Nadine Doherty and nine-time camogie All-Ireland winner Aoife Murray believe the time for stalling has passed and that a clear road map is needed towards the merger of the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Associations.
A motion by the GPA, which now represents both male and female inter-county players, will go before GAA congress on 26 February demanding that the association "prioritise integration with the LGFA and Camogie Association".
Speaking to 2fm's Game On, Doherty said she believed the will was there, on the GAA side at least, and that tangible targets needed to be set towards ending the gender-divided administration of Gaelic games.
"There has been talk about this for a long time. If something is going to change it's going to be through the player voice and that’s what we have here," she said.
"In 2005, there was an integration task force set up. In 2017 we had a 'one club’ model, which I’ve heard people aren’t happy with now.
"We’ve heard past presidents calling for this, massive media hype, and what’s key to (GPA CEO) Tom Parsons statement is that they’re looking for a road map. We can have all these strategic plans but a road map is what’s necessary.
"I think it will pass overwhelmingly because I think the majority of the GAA are in favour. And if it is it will put pressure on the people responsible for the delay to come out publicly and say why it has been held up.
"Since November the GAA have overseen camogie’s commercial rights, and that’s a very clear statement that they’re willing to work together."
GPA board member and former Cork camogie star Murray echoed the call for a roadmap and said stalling should no longer be tolerated.
"I can see (the Camogie Association) putting up barriers to be honest," she said.
"You mentioned 2005, 2017. It's now 2022. It has taken the players to take a stand on it. Once again they’re showing the way.
"The WGPA and GPA came together in December 2020. That didn’t just happen overnight. There was a lot of ground covered before but it has been an amazing success.
"The question I would ask is 'Whatever about the past, why can't we do it now?’
"What are the milestones we have to achieve in the next 12 months so that next year we don’t have to be having this conversation?
"The question I would ask is 'Whatever about the past, why can't we do it now?" - Former Cork goalkeeper Aoife Murray tells @GameOn2fm the time for stalling has passed on the merger between the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Associations pic.twitter.com/Oy356bf3n6
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) February 9, 2022
"At the end of the year, examine have we hit these milestones. If not why, where are the barriers and who are the barriers?
"Why can’t we get the three of them in one room and understand how the hell we get there?"
