BOYLAN TALKS SPORT To smash the the glass ceiling you have to be able to get in at it

Late September 1994, the boss at home informed me that the Meath Ladies were taking on Donegal in the All Ireland Junior final and that “The two girls who work in Sean (Boylan)’s - Dorothy McGoldrick and Lisa Kane - are on the panel”. We’d no tickets, but we said we’d chance it as we knew the lads on the wheelchair gate like the back of our hands at that stage.

Indeed our usual assistants were in situ and admittance was no issue at all. However, in a crude illustration of how little was thought of the place of ladies in the GAA as a whole at the time, not only was the regular wheelchair spot in front of the Nally Stand not open, the Hogan was the only accommodation available to ordinary patrons on the day too.

As alien as all that might sound to a younger generation, now consider that, at the same time, senior, top level camogie teams were (i) 13-a-side, (ii) played on juvenile sized pitches and (iii) players were OBLIGED to wear skorts (skirts) rather than shorts.

Anyway, on the day in question, our point of entry was in under the old Hogan Stand, from whence the Artane Band emerge to strut their pre-match and half time stuff.

As it happened, Meath - under the direction of Summerhill’s Brendan Dardis - ran out comprehensive winners by 5-13 to 1-03. While the senior final on the day was between brilliant Monaghan and Laois sides. On one side, you had Monaghan’s Jenny Greenan and Lisa Byrne, opposed by the late Lulu Carroll, Mary Kirwan and, in particular, the great Sue Ramsbottom - who went on to be Aide De Camp to at least one President Of Ireland in the aftermath.

Now, blessedly, by the time Meath were back in Croker for the All Ireland IFC finals of 2018, ‘19 and ‘20 and the two senior finals they contested and won, respect for and the profile of ladies sport has got to where it should be.

Meaning that, on the occasions Meath have been back in GAA HQ on the greatest days for the two ladies’ games in the Association, not only were things (slightly) better for disabled patrons, the popularity of both ladies GAA sports has become such that anything under 40,000 would be considered a disappointment.

Now, owing to what has been a remarkable, uplifting summer for anybody with even a scintilla of interest or involvement in Meath GAA, the big field in Dublin 3 is becoming more familiar again. Where once it was like a second home to us.

Now, you will be aware at this stage that I’ve been doing everything in my power to highlight the paltry nature of disabled viewing facilities in Croke Park.

Truth be told, things have changed a bit for the better in the big field since I had the two pieces published in the Sunday Independent. That, however, couldn’t legislate for some of the hurdles which have presented themselves in the last week alone.

Whilst simply trying to attain match tickets for next Sunday’s latest showdown between the Royals and the Dubs. The infuriating manner in which one was redirected from Tom to Dick to Harry reinforced the feeling that (a) disabled patrons remain an afterthought in far too much of society and (b) the unification of the sporting bodies under the GAA umbrella cannot happen quickly enough.

Before going another yard, though, I must pay tribute to Tara Rowan and Caroline Halton in the Meath GAA office who always go above and beyond to ensure disabled supporters (and media personnel) are looked after.

Utmost credit is also due to Meath LGFA Secretary Karen Clynch for her prompt and courteous response and, particularly, for pointing out how the Meath (Ladies) board themselves are hamstrung by the manner in which the LGFA at national level appear to have some class of arrangement with either Ticketmaster or Ticketfast.

Though in fairness to Runai Coiste Na mBan Na Mi, she did furnish yours truly with contact details for the LGFA at national level but in reality that was when the quagmire of frustration turned to quicksand.

An email was dispatched to said address from whence a reply including an application form for ‘normal’ tickets with no mention of disabled tickets or the disabled viewing area at all. So, as it stands, yours truly is without means of admittance to Croke Park on Sunday next bar the ‘chancing my arm’ route which will hardly be as well received as was the case 31 years ago.

The one thing I will say in mitigation for the individual with whom I was dealing in LGFA HQ - whom I won’t name because in fairness she was operating within the mesh of bureaucratic nonsense - she did send me contact details for the Association’s head of PR Jackie Cahill whom I know for the better part of three decades with him being a former disciple of this trade.

But here’s the thing, even if the no doubt jubilant Tipperary man is able to afford me media accreditation through the auspices of his employers, which would be incredibly appreciated - as one has been pointing out ad nauseum in various locations for as long as cows have been milked - there’s no guarantee it would be physically possible to avail of the gesture.

So, at the time of typing it is genuinely unknown whether I will be on Jones’ Road next weekend, but, either way, what is guaranteed is that there will be no bother filling this column next week!