Ballinderry need to hit top form to see off Errigal

NOW for the hard part. Errigal Ciaran took three games to overcome the might of Armagh champions Crossmaglen in the Ulster club championship.

A mountain scaled. But now another one looms into view in the shape of Derry and All-Ireland champions Ballinderry.

Ballinderry haven't kicked a championship ball in anger for a month, since squeezing past Mayobridge. And while the resilience of Crossmaglen has

wearied Ballygawley legs, Ballinderry manager Terence McGuckin fears the long lay-off will have an adverse effect on his troops. "We are worried we might be rusty. You have to be. We saw that in the summer, with some of the provincial champions who spent five or six weeks on the sidelines and then had to come back and play an All-Ireland quarter-final. It does a team no favours to spend so long out of action."

The match, live on TG 4, promises to be a barnstorming encounter. Ciaran will be buoyed by finally seeing off the masters in club football, while Ballinderry have made no secret they want to retain, not only their Ulster crown but also their All-Ireland title.

The victory over Mayobridge, a repeat of last year's Ulster final, was only Ballinderry's second competitive fixture in eight weeks. Ciaran have played more in the past three weeks.

Mickey Harte, apart from being the new Tyrone manager, also looks after Ciaran and agrees with McGuckin's assessment. Last weekend they lost their skipper Eoin Gormley and brought Dara Tierney into the fray. No sooner was he on than he scored a brace of points. "That was the big positive to the three games against Cross, young lads like Dara, Rory McCann, they got experience in that game that sometimes it would take a season to acquire. We are worried about fatigue but the lads' tails are definitely up after last weekend. It is a good sign when Eoin has to go off the pitch and we don't even miss him."

While Ballinderry report a clean bill of health, half-back Paul Wilson has got over the flu and Adrian McGuckin has regained full fitness after breaking his leg earlier this year.

"Adrian's back to full training, back in full fitness and that creates somewhat of a dilemma for us," said the manager of his nephew's recovery. "But we might stick to the winning formula. Adrian will be on the line if we need him."

Sticking to the winning formula is in Harte's mind, too. While Gormley will miss the start of the game, he could be called upon if circumstances dictate. "Eoin is keen to play and is putting in a tremendous effort to get fully fit. But with a hamstring injury, you can't cheat it."

Gormley wasn't missed last Sunday, as Peter Canavan gave one of his vintage displays to propel his club into the Ulster semi-final. The Tyrone side will be looking for the maestro to perform tomorrow, but Ballinderry may have a couple of aces Ciaran will find hard to counter.

Although, Errigal's defence did superbly on the likes of Oisin McConville and the McEntees, Enda Muldoon offers a different proposition. The

inventive forward may just swing the game in favour of the All-Ireland champions. But, don't be surprised if it goes to a replay and another handsome gate for those progressive minds in the Ulster council.