BY RONAN SCOTT

Camogie National League Division two group one

Down v Derry

Sunday, Mayobridge, 2pm

New Derry manager Ciaran Cunningham has admitted to being surprised and frustrated at the lack of players available to him for this season.

Cunningham was only ratified a couple of weeks ago and had great ambitions for the county when took over.

He was in as a manager four years ago when they reached a league final and won Ulster. But the attitude in the county has changed.

He said he’s contacted a string of players but none of them have been able to commit to the cause.

“It is very tough to get players out. I don’t know what has happened. Players are getting back to me and saying that they can’t commit.

“The really strange thing for me is that we are only training one night a week.

“I could understand if we were asking players to come out three or four nights a week.”

He said that he can barely get a full team together at the moment. That calls into question their participation in this weekend’s opening game in the National League, which is against rivals Down.

Cunningham says that he’ll make sure that they fulfil the fixture but they are at the bare bones

“It has put me in a difficult situation. I could just step away, but I actually really like the challenge. But when I came in I didn’t realise that the numbers were this low.

“We will struggle to get a team for Sunday, but we will field.”

Cunningham feels a connection with Derry. In his successful run with them four years ago he was getting 27 players out to training and their bench was strong. When he left that role, he was offered the coaching job at Down.

“I was going to take it but then I decided not to. I felt that it wouldn’t be right to do that to Derry.”

He says he’s been surprised by the turn around in fortunes with the county because they have such great potential.

The county has the Sleacht Néill players in an All-Ireland final. Some of them will be coming into the squad when their All-Ireland campaign finishes.

“The thing about it is, there is great potential in the county.”

r.scott@gaeliclife.com