IN what can only be described as an unbelievable three weeks in August for Derry camogie, county teams brought home THREE All Ireland titles.
Derry seniors secured the All-Ireland Intermediate trophy, defeating Meath 1-17 to 1-9 in a final replay.
The U16s powered to a 3-18 to 2-06 victory over Kildare in the All Ireland B final while the U14s won the All Ireland A Blitz tournament, defeating Cork, Waterford and Laois and drawing with Offaly.
To win one All Ireland in a season is a fantastic achievement but to win three is the stuff of dreams, reflecting the hard work and commitment of all the players and their coaching teams.
Clones staged the final replay for the seniors and Derry’s class told the story as they won their second All-Ireland intermediate title in style.
The Oaks led by three points at half-time and pushed five clear before a Meath penalty had the Royals back in contention.
Aoife Shaw and Mary Hegarty hit points before Shannon O’Connor’s goal broke Meath’s resolve.
Despite a turnaround of 13 players from last season, Derry camogie has continued to rise as the success of the U14s and U16s showed.
Derry started the replay in fine fettle and deservedly led 0-3 to 0-1 after 10 minutes with points from Shaw (2) and Mairead McNicholl.
Meath did have a lively attacking threat, but Rachel Downey, Aoife Ní Chaiside and Player of the Match Lauren McKenna had a fine opening half.
Niamh Quinn twice put her body on the line as Meath tried for goal and Leah Lennon had a huge game in her first season of senior camogie.
Aine Minogue hit Meath points to shoot them 0-4 to 0-3 ahead but it was Derry who took a grip of the game.
A Shaw free appeared to go over the post but the point was given after consultation with referee Dempsey and Derry went 0-6 to 0-5 ahead.
Meath had a slice of luck when ‘keeper Murphy dropped Mary Hegarty’s shot, but the post came to the Royals’ rescue.
Shaw, Dervla O’Kane and Hegarty added points as Derry pushed 0-9 to 0-6 ahead at the break.
Eimear McGuigan lofted over with Derry’s first score of the second half in the first attack before Aoife Minogue fired over a first Meath point in 25 minutes,
Mairead McNicholl blasted over the score of the game to put Derry 0-12 to 0-7 ahead before Meath found a way back from the brink.
A Minogue penalty, followed by a Sonia Leonard point, had the margin back to the bare minimum and the ghosts of Croke Park and Meath’s comeback looked like haunting Derry.
This time it was different. Shaw and Hegarty hit points and when O’Connor finished to the Meath net, there was no stopping Derry from making it All-Ireland number two in style.
