Ballymaguigan hoping for a change in final fortunes

By Michael McMullan

THERE is a buzz and fluttering green and gold flags up around Ballymaguigan this week but senior ladies captain Annie Crozier is hoping for a change in final fortunes.

They take on Magherafelt in the refixed Derry intermediate final hoping to bridge the gap from underage success.

“It’s a nice place to be…it’s really what we’ve been aiming for all year,” said Crozier, who has been part of the club’s underage glory days.

After losing senior finals at the hands of Ballinascreen and Steelstown, the focus is on getting over the line to cap off a season that included success at the All-Ireland Sevens in Dublin.

“We saw it advertised and we were like ‘oh, it’ll be a good weekend’s craic’ so it was a bonus just to win that…but the real one we’re after is on Sunday, so fingers crossed we can continue the success.”

Ballymaguigan have been knocking on the door. They just now want it to open. The core of their all-conquering u-16 and minor groups are through to adult level.

“It’s hard to take whenever you’re used to all the success and then you come up and it’s just not as easy to get over the line,” said Crozier, chatting of the worry of getting to another final withing coming home with the silver.

They face a Magherafelt team who impressed in their semi-final win over Lavey who have had a magical journey of their own.

Crozier, from a family stepped in Gaelic Games, has been excited by the number of clubs joining the Derry ladies football story. Lavey went all the way to last year’s All-Ireland junior semi-final.

The fact Magherafelt overcame a team of that quality in their semi-final wasn’t lost on the Ballymaguigan camp.

“We went to see it and it was a really good spectacle of football,” said Crozier. “Magherafelt were very good against Lavey so this final is definitely not going to be an easy one.

“It’s absolutely brilliant to see,” she added of a club scene in Derry that is becoming more vibrant with every season. Sleacht Néill have the wheels in motion to start next season.

“It’s unreal to see so many new clubs starting up each year. From whenever I was playing underage, the standard and everything (about the game) is just on the rise, so it’s exciting to see what’s coming up in the future from all aspects and hopefully we’ll see more of it in the future.”

As they bid to take on Magherafelt, the excitement is on two fronts with the club’s men bidding to defend their junior title with a semi-final showdown against Lissan.

“It’s just class,” Crozier said of the build-up around the club. “When you’re driving down the road and you’re seeing the flags up…there’s just a real sense of community.

“You know that everyone’s just behind you. With the boys preparing and with our build-up this week, it’s good so fingers crossed that we can both go far.”