Derry keeper O’Kane looking forward to home comforts

Claire O’Kane has been standing between the posts for Derry for 17 years and admits she is coming to the end of her Inter-County career. It has been 10 years since the goalkeeper captained her county in the last Ulster Championship Final to be held in Derry. This Saturday looks likely to be the last championship action that she will see at home and believes winning another Ulster Championship is a great way to go out.

“In the last couple of weeks we have talked about the game being in Owenbeg and in 2003 there was only Grainne McGoldrick, Katie McAnenly, maybe Katrina O’Kane and myself in the squad when the last Ulster Final was in Derry. I remember the game being in Castledawson as I was captain of the side. It’s not often we get home All-Ireland Championship games and I can’t actually remember the last one we had so it’s great to be at home on Saturday. We only had one league game in each of the last two years”.

With Derry having a great campaign in 2012 sweeping League, Ulster and All-Ireland honours Castledawson club member O’Kane believes there is a buzz about Derry camogie that is encouraging for players and management.

“When we have home games they are well supported. Last year we had people talking about Camogie in the county that maybe never did before. John A (Mullan, Derry Manager) has said that round the likes of Dungiven he had men coming to talk to him about Camogie that never would have discussed it before such was the buzz in the county last year. That’s great to see and hopefully there’ll be another big crowd there on Saturday. Owenbeg is a great facility with a big pitch and hopefully there’ll be a bit of noise in the stand and create a good atmosphere”.

Derry will be aware they will not have it all their own way on Saturday regardless of the home advantage. Asked whether Derry stole a victory in the 2012 NWP Recycling Ulster Semi-Final Claire was honest to admit that certainly was the case “We definitely did steal it for sure. Going into the last few minutes of extra time we were five points down and with three pucs of a ball we got two goals and a point to steal it by a point or two. We certainly escaped that day and Down should have beat us but sometimes you get a bit of luck. John A said that game was a big reason why we were able to be confident in closing out tight battles later in the year”.

After those 17 years a last home game ending with another Ulster Championship medal might be fitting for Claire O’Kane but the girls in the red and black of Down won’t be so sentimental come Saturday.