Derry head to Croke Park on Sunday in search of more silverware 

Very Camogie League Division 2A Final

Derry v Westmeath

Sunday 14 April

Croke Park, 2.30pm

AFTER a glorious 2023 for Derry Camogie winning the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship, the Oak Leaf girls are heading to Croker on Sunday in search of more silverware. 

This time they are looking to land the Division 2A league title while also hoping to savour that Croke Park winning feeling having drew last year against Meath before winning the championship in a replay in Clones. Standing in their way will be Westmeath who remain unbeaten and topped the division thanks to a last day victory over Derry, but PJ O’Mullan’s side were already safely into the decider at that stage while the Lake County had to win to make sure of their place in Sunday’s encounter. 

Twelve months ago a last day defeat to Meath ended Derry’s league ambitions. This time around they have had a very solid campaign and had their work done before the last round. Victories over Cavan, Carlow, Meath and Offaly made sure of their place in the decider. It has been a campaign that has given O’Mullan a great opportunity to see his squad with players all getting plenty of valuable game time. 

A  number of new faces have also been added from last year with the likes of Brid Rogers, Megan Kerr and Cliodhna NíMhainain just some of the names that have come in. Key players such as joint captains Aoife NíChaiside and Aine Barton along with Dervla O’Kane, Aoife Shaw and Aine McGill are still very much involved. 

While little can be read into that league meeting won by Westmeath, 5-9 to 1-9, the concession of five goals will have been a concern. No doubt the fact that Megan Dowdall hit four of those will make her a marked women this time around. In all they rattled the net on 19 occasions in their five  games, Dowdall notching 11 of those. She will be well supported in the forward line by Sheila McGrath and Holly Dowdall. 

Speaking at the launch prior to the final was Slaughtneil’s Aoife Ní Chaiside, who is looking forward to the final.

“We are looking forward to the Very 2A League final against Westmeath. We have used the league to integrate new players into the panel, so it’s great to get an extra game in before Championship starts,” she said.

“We feel like we didn’t do ourselves justice against Westmeath the last day out, we want to perform better and look forward to the challenge.”

Also at launch was Westmeath midfielder Aoife O’Malley who said:“We are really looking forward to the game. Heads have been down preparing for it, and getting ready for the occasion. 

“We have been training hard and putting in tough shifts since November. Hopefully this will be a good start to a long year.”

The game will be shown live on RTE with throw-in 12:30pm.