THE Derry camogie manager has sought to give his team a better footing in 2021 by strengthening his management team.

Ciaran Cunningham is the Oak Leaf boss and wants to build on the work he did last year.

The number one appointment is Paddy Downey from Bellaghy. He will be assistant manager to Cunningham this season.

Downey was county minor manager for the last two years and that experience will be vital as Cunningham and the Oak Leaf management seek to bring younger players up into the senior ranks.

Cunningham said: “I am trying to integrate youth into the senior team and build a connection between minor and senior.”

He has also added a level of professionalism to the team with a larger backroom team that will include a new head coach, a stats person, logistics as well as strength and conditioning coach.

Cunningham also wants to further connect with the clubs in the county and is in the process of reaching out to all the secretaries in Derry to ask them to nominate players who might join the squad. Derry are under pressure to achieve this year as they will have watched last year as Down and Antrim’s camogs clashed in the All-Ireland Intermediate final.