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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Michael Scully

Dubs star Sinead Aherne says 'phenomenal' Katie Taylor underlines potential of Irish sportswomen

Sinead Aherne says Katie Taylor's "phenomenal" success is a reminder of the potential still to be tapped by resourcing female athletes in Irish sport.

But Dublin star Aherne warns that while the LGFA's merger plans with the GAA will understandably take time due to the complexity of issues on the ground, claims that it could take 10 years to happen is too long.

"The whole country is immensely proud of Katie overall, and by what she did at the weekend," said Aherne. "She's been a phenomenal athlete, such a great role model.

"Obviously we've had Rachael Blackmore doing great things and even the women's rugby team - there has been so much talk, so much coverage of it in terms of where the game is going and the resourcing of it.

"To see the passion that they played with at the weekend, it was just a great weekend for women's sport.

"To see that being covered and talked about, to want to raise the standard of all sports that we're involved in, that's what we wanted as athletes, to have the resources and investment to be able for us to perform at our peak.

"To go from where we've come from, the dial has shifted in terms of what our expectations are as female athletes.

"We want to be invested in, we want to be seen for the potential that we have and when we've had those great sporting occasions there's no reason why it can't keep going up so many more levels."

Aherne wants to see increased standards in Ladies Football on the pitch by ensuring the level of coaching improves across the board and believes the planned merger will play a key role.

"We need to have a good spectacle for people to come and see Games at all stages of the competition," she stressed.

"I think 10 years (for the merger) is certainly too long. The momentum is there, we want to obviously start it and get it going.

"But I'm realistic about it, it is going to take time. There's a lot of things to be talked through in terms of administration, we're talking about amalgamating county boards, fixtures, level playing field for access to stadiums for games, expenses issues.

"There's a lot of things that need to be thought about and not just at county level, obviously that has to seep down through all the clubs.

"You have the one club model that's happening in clubs but you really want this to be seen as there is no difference between boys and girls growing up in terms of how they see their path going through the GAA for life."

The Blues star will most likely miss Saturday's eagerly awaited clash with Meath at Parnell Park, a Leinster championship game between the two provincial rivals.

Although they met in the League this year, it's their first meeting in the championship since last year's All-Ireland final won by the Royals.

Dublin ladies footballer Sinéad Aherne putts, watched by golfers Louise Mernagh, left, and Rachael McDonell at the launch of this year's AIG Men's and Women's Cups and Shields and AIG Men's and Women's Irish Amateur Close Championships at Elm Park Golf Club in Dublin. AIG also revealed online discounted offers on new car and home insurance policies for Golf Ireland members - for more details go to www.aig.ie/golfer or call 1800407407 (David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile)

The veteran forward injured herself in training ahead of last weekend's hammering of Westmeath, over-extending her hamstring, but will return for what is expected to be a Leinster final meeting of Dublin and Meath in a few weeks time.

"They had a great year last year, they are going well this year, they were top of the League," said Aherne of Meath.

"So for us to be playing them in these kind of high quality matches, we look forward to it, we relish the challenge.

"It's great preparation for us to get good games in Leinster going into the All-Ireland series."

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