O'Meara looking at Mayo's long-term camogie future

Mayo manager Colum O’Meara could not have been prouder of his young side after a storming a second half Of the 28 members of his panel, eight of the side play minor camogie also but they produced an accomplished display despite the challenging playing conditions.

But it is the long game that the Longford native is interested in and not thee quick fix. Mayo Camogie was in turmoil before the season began with a real danger of no team being able to compete in the league and championship this year as efforts to get a manager were in vain until O’Meara’s appointment.

“Great win. I'm just happy with the effort” O’Meara told the Western People. “My job coming in as manager is about developing the players. Whatever we win on the way is a bonus.” “We've eight minors playing. The differences between the lower tier and the higher tier is training is a must. If you miss training above in Galway or Kilkenny, you're not on the panel.

“I have 28 at the moment so I have to work with the 28 I have. I don't have anyone else to bring in but they're a wonderful bunch of girls. Very young, very raw, very green but willing to learn and it's very positive from our side.

O’Meara added: “We're only training once a week and they're so willing to learn like eight minors played today and eight minors last week. For Mayo camogie, it's baby steps now to get to where we want to. It's going to be a few years the project.

“We're enjoying what we're doing and the score today, the passing, the work and the rooking. The effort and the interest in the girls is second to none and I'm proud to be with the girls.

“That's the will and the learning that they want. We were training the other night at 7 o'clock and we started at ten to seven. Everyone on the pitch, coming from Donegal, one girl from Limerick, one girl from Dublin. We need to drive it on now because we have the players and try and get more of a panel in. It's hard because some are playing football and a few gone travelling. I 'm delighted with what I have, but it's about developing every player and giving every girl the same time and same respect and drive it on.

“That's my job, that's why I took it. I love the challenge, I adore it and that's why I'm here.” Central to Mayo’s scoring power was Emer Delaney, who struck 2-5, with the goals coming just before half-time. She will hope to continue her form into the league game away to Wicklow next week. While O’Meara is not ruling out any short-term success, developing Mayo camogie in the long run is the main goal.

“I asked Emer in the first half to go and get a ball, win a ball and get a goal and she had it done in a minute and a half.” “I have no real goals, it's just to develop the players because they're all so young and win as much as you can on the way.

“Of course I'd love to say I want to get up to steps of the Hogan and win the Premier and Junior but that is the picture. It might be two years, might be three years but you never know. We have a young bunch willing to learn and we might surprise a few when it comes to the crutch.”