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Tyrone All-Ireland winner Conor Meyler is undertaking a PhD in sport, leadership and gender [Getty Images] Conor Meyler believes "it will be very hard" to meet the target of gender integration in gaelic games by 2027. In February 2024, the Gaelic Athletic Association [GAA], Ladies Gaelic Football Association [LGFA] and the Camogie Association announced an intention to merge into one body. The Integration Steering Group for Gaelic Games is being led by Mary McAleese, the former Irish president, but in December the GAA's management committee said the deadline for full integration by 2027 was "unrealistic".

McAleese, who acknowledged there was "pockets of resistance" to the merger, felt the target was still achievable. Speaking to BBC Sport NI, Meyler said that while an integrated association could happen by 2027, "there is a difference between integration and equality" and it is not something that should be rushed. The 2021 Tyrone All-Ireland winner is currently undertaking a PhD in gender equality, leadership, and governance in sport, which is particularly aimed at examining the lack of genuine equality for women in gaelic games and indeed wider sport.

"Equality is not a moment in time, it's a commitment to a direction of travel," Meyler said. "I think we could integrate the federations [by 2027] but it could take five or 10 years before we have that whittle down to every club, county and province. "I think it gets tricky at a county board level and there has to be some strategic map or plan to get a direction of travel.

I think that is more important. " You can watch the full interview with Conor Meyler at half-time of Louth v Derry on Saturday, with throw-in at 15:00 GMT. Begley calls for 'positivity' on Gaelic games merger 'GAA can lead gender equality campaign' - Meyler Meyler said that gender division in gaelic games "wasn't something I was ever aware of" in his early days as a player.