By Niall Gartland

DERRY camogie is making massive strides across the grades and they had another successful day out last weekend with an All-Ireland u-16 title win against Wexford.

It was their second successive All-Ireland at u-16 level, but arguably this was even more impressive than last year as it was played at a higher level.

Manager Paddy Downey, who is also the county’s camogie chairperson, was delighted with the result and is already looking forward to playing at the very highest level possible in next year’s competition.

“Last year was Division Two, this year we moved up a division and won the All-Ireland u-16 1A Shield,” he began.

“We’ll be up in the very top division next year and that’s where you want to be, competing against the Corks, Kilkennys and Tipperarys to see where you’re really at. It should be brilliant preparation for senior level in years to come.

“We’ve a very good underage structure in Derry, last year’s u-14s won their All-Ireland title so they’ll be u-16 next year – we’re strong all the way down really.”

The Oakleafers ran out 0-17 to 2-6 victors on the day and Downey said a strong work ethic backboned their latest All-Ireland triumph.

“The Wexford manager commented on it afterwards, that they never have never experienced that intensity or hard work ethic that the Derry girls had.

“It was a case of, we’re going to die for this. Not to be biased about it but my own daughter Hannah in the half-forward line, she hit four tackles in the second half when they were coming out with the ball and we overturned those four balls and got two scores from them.

“It’s wee things like that that made all the difference. The girls were exhausted and the subs coming on did a really good job for us as well. We were lucky to be able to bring on fresh legs and that’s testament to the panel we have.”

Derry’s flagship senior team have shown the way in recent times, winning last year’s All-Ireland Intermediate title with a brilliant replay win over Meath, and they’ve shown it was certainly no fluke by retaining their Senior Championship status this season. Equally important is the buy-in from the clubs across the county.

Downey commented: “I keep coming back to it, I think every club in Derry is represented on a county team at some level, and that just shows the work that is going on.

“They’re not just picked because we want that spread, they’re picked because they deserve to be picked, and that’s the beauty of it.

“There’s a real appetite in Derry, last year we won an All-Ireland Intermediate and success breeds success.

“When your senior team is going well, the girls coming through who want to be the next senior player.”