Diamond shines at Camogie All Stars

Bellaghy’s Aisling Diamond created history on Saturday night when she became the first Derry player, and only the second Ulster player, to be selected on the Camogie All-Stars. Selected at centre forward, this prestigious award has come at the end of a highly successful year for Aisling, having played prominent roles in Derry’s All-Ireland triumph and more recently in Ulster’s senior interprovincial victory.

Derry had three nominees in the running for awards on Saturday, with Slaughtneil’s Claire Doherty nominated in defence and Eoghan Rua’s Gráinne McGoldrick in midfield. The only other nominee from Ulster was Down’s Fionnuala Carr.

Since coming into the Derry senior panel at the beginning of the 2006 championship, Aisling has experienced something of a meteoric rise. Having already made a name for herself at underage and college level in the province, she soon established herself as a regular in the Derry team, and was an everpresent in last year’s run to the All-Ireland Final.

In 2007 Aisling has become one of Derry’s leading players, and was to the fore in all the crucial battles this summer. On a difficult day for Derry’s forward line, she was the catalyst for Derry’s narrow one point victory against Down in the Ulster Final at Páirc Esler, and she carried that fine form into the group decider against Waterford, where her strength and athleticism were particularly evident in the second half, when Derry pulled away. Her finest hour, however, was in the All-Ireland Final in Croke Park where a series of spectacular points from play was followed by that famous injury time goal that edged Derry home by the slimmest of margins.

Aisling’s national honour has been warmly celebrated by all involved in camogie in the county. “This is a tremendous achievement for Aisling, for her family and for Bellaghy,” said Susan Uí Mhianáin from the county team management. “It is hard earned recognition not only for Aisling’s performances but also for the progress Derry are making at all levels, and it’s a tribute to all those who have coached and helped her at club and school. This is a great boost to all those players, coaches and administrators who devote a large part of their lives to camogie in the county, and Aisling is a great example to all our young players.”

Pádraig Ó Mianáin was also delighted for Aisling, and was also proud of Derry’s other two nominees: “While obviously we feel for Claire and Gráinne, who were unfortunate not to be selected, it’s brilliant that Aisling has been rewarded for her impact this year. Aisling, like the other two, was there on merit, and owes nobody any apology for her award. Her display in Croke Park was of the highest calibre, especially for someone so young and inexperienced at that level. Despite some media experts trying to cast doubt on the selection process, and despite a quite outrageous comment on the night by someone who should know better that the Junior nominees were there because ‘they excel at their own level’, Aisling and the other Ulster nominees have proven this year that they excel at any level. Maybe if some of the influential people making disparaging comments would actually attend more matches, they might get their eyes opened.”