Derry Manager John A eager to avoid an upset

Derry Manager John A Mullan will see his side go in as hot favourites ahead of this weekend’s NWP Recycling Ulster Senior Championship Semi-Final against Armagh but has warned his side that any complacency could see them overturned. Derry swept all before them in 2012 winning the National League Division II title, Ulster Senior Championship along with the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship in what was a fantastic game for the Oak Leaf county.

This year Derry have been competing in National League Division 1 and this has been of a huge shock to the system according to John A. ‘ The first game against Kilkenny was a shock with the level of intensity being nothing like what we have experienced before. This has helped us to raise our game. It’s a learning curve and a good place to be’.

Antrim had been the dominant force in the Ulster Championship for a number of years and winning an Ulster title was a big boost for the Derry Squad. ‘Winning Ulster was a big target before we could do anything else last year. Winning the Ulster title helped lift that monkey off our back and the girls could relax for the rest of the year and play to our potential’.

(Derry celebrate winning the 2012 NWP Recycling Ulster Senior Championship)

It wasn’t all plain sailing for Derry the whole year with extra time needed to overcome Down in the Semi-Final with two late goals in the dying minutes sealing a Derry victory. The Down game was always going to be tough and we’ve never had it easy against Down. If you are not prepared then it becomes a dogfight. We were lucky to get out of that game’ according to John A.

That tough Semi-Final battle in 2012 will have Derry on alert as they face a trip to Granemore on Sunday at 2pm. Although Armagh are playing in the Premier Junior grade Dungiven man Mullan insists they must be treated with respect ‘ We’ll treat Armagh with a serious amount of respect. If we are less than 100% committed then you are into a dogfight. It’s going to be difficult and with the long break in between the last league game and this Semi-Final it is difficult to prepare for’.

There is a rare incentive for Derry if they come through this weekend’s game- a home Ulster Final. With many of their National fixtures being played at half way venues then there are not many opportunities to play Senior Inter-County camogie at home and certainly not finals. The Derry manager believes this would be great for Derry Camogie. ‘If we beat Armagh we have the potential for a home final at Owenbeg and with it not being often we get home games it’ll be great for the county. With all three finals (Junior, Intermediate and Senior) being held on the one day it will be a great day of Camogie and hopefully there will be a good crowd there regardless of who is playing’. 

NWP Recycling Ulster Senior Championship Semi-Final

Armagh v Derry

Granemore 2pm 9/6/13