DERRY camogs have a lot more to offer despite retaining senior status according to Irish News Camogie Player of the Year Áine Barton.
The Oak Leafers are now the only team in the northern province to be in the senior camogie championship next year after both Antrim and Down lost their places, failing to win a game between them.
Barton, a consistent scorer for the side, knows that her side can make a bigger impact, given that they lost the Ulster Camogie final to Antrim.
Responding to host Neil Delamere’s question about last season, Barton said: “I suppose we had a few targets this year, Ulster was obviously one of them, and the National League final, two of them [targets] didn’t go our way unfortunately.
“We’ve maintained Division One status in the championship and that is something to remain positive about and it’s something, as you said, to target moving into next year.”
Derry are now entering into a transition period after their manager PJ O’Mullan stepped down from his position following the championship season, but they are ambitious and have got a taste for the big-time now, as Barton eludes to.
“I suppose last year [2023] we won the Intermediate All-Ireland title, that was a massive achievement and something we probably should have achieved that bit earlier as we were knocking on the door for a long time,” said the Magherafelt-based Primary School teacher.
“I think that has pushed Derry Camogie in the right direction and it has encouraged girls to go out and represent for their county.
“There’s a lot more to give, we maintained Division One status and we deserve to be up in Division One so it’s about trying to push on from there and do things within the division and Ulster as well.
In and around 2020, Barton answered the call from Derry LGFA for her to join the Ladies’ Football panel and was a dual player as the split season allowed for her to better divide her time between the codes.
“It’s a hard one, whenever I did do it, the two years fell during the two years of Covid so it was that wee bit more manageable with the split season,” said the Ballinascreen clubwoman.
“For any player that does do it, my hat goes off to them because it’s a tough thing to manage, especially if you’re doing the two codes at club level as well but I think that with the right communication and wth bot managements on board, it’s a possibility.”
