Derry in Slaughtneil struggle

Derry Junior Camogie team got back to winning ways on Sunday when they defeated Armagh in the Ulster Junior Championship semi-final. After last week’s defeat in the National League Div 2 Final, the Oakleaf girls could not afford to drop their heads against a physically strong and aggressive Armagh side. Somewhat of a rivalry has been established over the past few years between these sides quarter was neither asked nor given from the throw-in. Almost immediately Derry took the lead with a Sinéad Cassidy goal and directly after Aileen Laverty extended Derry’s lead with a well taken point. The early signs pointed towards a comfortable Derry victory but Armagh settled and scored three unanswered points to leave the bare minimum between the teams. Although Derry threatened, Armagh’s defence held well, particularly the full back line and held Derry scoreless until the 25th minute when Grainne McGoldrick split the posts. Two more points from full-forward Katie McAuley before half-time left the score at 1-4 to 0-3 in favour of the Oakleafers. Derry started the second half as they had the first with a pointed score from the impressive and pacy Cassidy. The Ballerin player was central to a lot of Derry attacks and looks to have a promising future but Derry’s failure to totally get to grips with the Armagh midfield left the Orchard girls always within range. It took another 20 minutes for Derry to register a score with a free from Grainne McGoldrick and further points from McGoldrick and McAuley secured the points for Derry. Armagh failed to score in the second half but threatened the Derry goal on a number of occassions. Good work from goalkeeper Clare O’Kane and full backs Emma McIlvar, Catherine Pickering and Helena Kelly was instrumental in Derry’s. Some fine play in the sweeping role of half-back from Slaughtneil’s Clare Docherty averted the Armagh threat time after time. The loss of Briege Convery in midfield for today’s game meant that manager Ó Mianáin had to reshuffle his pack somewhat but a return to the formation that proved so effective during the National League campaign should put Derry in a strong position approaching an Ulster final clash with Down. 

Derry can look forward to the Ulster final clash with Down, who beat Antrim in the other semi-final, but need to improve in attack, where they depend too much on one or two players to deliver scores.

Derry Team: C.O’Kane, H. Kelly, C. Pickering, E.McIlvar, K. Laverty, C. Docherty (Capt.), C. Cushnahan, A. Laverty (0-1), J. Carey, C. McCloy, D. McCann, G. McGoldrick (0-3), J. Kelly, K. McAuley (0-3), S. Cassidy (1-1).

Subs: C. McCrory for J. Kelly (42); A. O’Kane for S. Cassidy (inj. 52); K. O’Kane for A.Laverty (50); E. Henry for C. Pickering (inj. 53).