DERRY camogie manager PJ O’Mullan has stepped away from the post after two seasons in charge.
When the Loughgiel man took over in the autumn of 2022, he said that he would give the job two years. During that time he hoped to develop some of the talented teenagers coming through the county at under-age level and build a team to win the All-Ireland intermediate title.
Despite not having several first choice players available through long-term injuries, Derry did just that in his first season in charge.
While there was a changeover of players this year, some leaving and others coming back into the squad, it seemed reasonable to expect that they would consolidate their position by winning Division 2A league as well as giving the Ulster title a shot.
However, despite scoring 16 points in the league decider, they were chasing that game after Westmeath hit three first-half goals. The Ulster final was also disappointing, particularly in light of a re-match with Antrim a fortnight later in the All-Ireland championship that ended in a 3-17 to 2-10 victory.
Nevertheless that result in Cushendall, coupled with a win over Limerick a fortnight later in Owenbeg, secured Derry’s position in the O’Duffy Cup for 2025, while both their Ulster rivals, Down and Antrim, were relegated.
O’Mullan had a strong management team around him, including his wife Ciara as goal-keeping coach, and no doubt there was a temptation to remain in situ to chase the league and provincial championship silverware.
The Derry County Board, I understand, were also keen to have him back for another term and didn’t pressurise him into making a decision. The last county game was at the end of June and O’Mullan took nine weeks to decide to move on.
He has been much in demand in both hurling and camogie circles since heading the management team that brought a second All-Ireland club hurling title to his parish over a dozen years ago and he will soon come under pressure to take on other challenges.
Derry though have already begun their search for his successor.
